Thanks Steve,
Presuming you want the masses to post within this thread, (if not, please move it!) herewith a few more photos and some words & music..
My motivation is that we have a clear horizon from our patio overlooking the Channel, and I wanted some form of plank on which to place my 0 Gauge models outdoors, for photography, so the pictures do not feature our rather tatty patio table. Hence an embankment type of plank seemed the ideal choice. I may examine the possibility of a removable backscene for indoor photography at some point, but I do have the layout for that option.
My plank is constructed from an offcut of 4mm ply, (900 x 270mm) left over from my Porth Dinllaen locoshed baseboards, (see RMWeb) and a 3’ length of 4” x 1/2” whitewood - planed up it’s approximately 95 x 12mm which used to be part of the backing board for the curtain rail in our bedroom, until we decorated.
These were held apart be three lengths of 2” x 1/2” whitewood, again left overs from the PD baseboards. These were screwed & glued together after chamfering the separators. I deliberately angled to trackbed to the base, to give varying slopes to the embankment.
Then I attacked it with my sliced up paketo cornflako, and more Evo-stik woodwork adhesive.
During last week, I wove horizontal strips through the slopey ones, and I covered the ensemble with brown paper ex grocery bags (reuse, recycle...) which gets you to the photo in the previous post.
I also had a go at making an accommodation crossing, which uses foam board, with DAS glued on, and carved whilst not quite set. Painted with acrylics. Never done this before, seems to have worked, but I was pleased to be doing random stone. Not sure, but rather suspect that I’ve overdone the mortar course gaps. Comments & suggestions most welcome.
Two extra bits of foam board, with brick plasticard glued on, form the liners for the accommodation crossing. Inspiration came from a picture of a somewhat grander crossing in the C C Green Cambrian history, which shows a rusty iron gate to keep the livestock in or out, perhaps... I also have in mind some rusty iron handrails across the top.
One cork tile provided three strips 75 x 300, long edges chamfered, glued to the top with contact glue, to make the track bed.
I took an old length of Peco flexi, cut away the webs beneath the rails, and put two pairs of half-cuts through the rail. I split a couple of pairs of C&L plastic fishplates & superglued them over the dummy rail breaks, and then spaced the sleepers appropriately between the joints, and glued the lot down on top of the cork, and that’s where I’m up to now.
The cobbled road was an offcut of Howard Scenics embossed card from an even earlier layout (never throw anything away here!) and will be overgrown - cobbles in such a location are probably not that appropriate, but we’ll see.
Next step, painting the rails rust brown, but not today.
I will eventually grass the embankment. Suggestions & recommendations for a good static grass device most welcome.
Best
Simon