Thanks lemosteam, or, I built some bridge supports.

[craigolio1]

This post is a thank you @Lemosteam, who not only instructed me on how to make cutstone but also sent me his molds to do it!  With out this help I could not have produced this. It’s exactly what I had hoped for.

He sent me some molds he made and recommended the best putty to use.



I poured 10 or 15 pieces.



I made styrene templates and proceeded to cut shapes, beveled the edges on my belt sander, and make assemblies. I superglued them together. Then built dams and filled them in. Finally I filled in the edges and carved the lines in the corners.













Once the assemblies were finished I painted them with four shades of grey, then shades of green and brown.








The last step was to add lots of moss on the areas that would be below the forest canopy.



And then work them into the scene.







The bridge I’m building is on Vancouver Island. I had the opportunity to hike up to it for the first time a couple of years ago, and then again this past October, when I was able to measure the masonry supports.

Here’s what I am trying to model.











Thanks again, lemosteam, for getting past this stage of the project.

Craig

[ATSF_Ron]

A great spot to model in N scale. And…really nice work!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Schnikies those are nice! @Lemosteam really IS the best dude.

[cgw277]

That's really nice modelling. I like the coloring of the stones and especially the moss. That  moss really adds to the realism.
 Looks like you had some rugged terrain to deal with while getting your measurements.

What is your preferred method for measuring bridges? Tape measure, laser?

I measured a bridge several weeks ago as soon as the leaves had dropped and vegetation was dead, removing obstacles  for photos. But measuring it with a tape measure was more difficult than I imagined. All the corners of the concrete supports were mitered at a 45 degree angle, impossible  to securely attach a tape measure and keep it taut fore accurate measurements. I got the measurements I wanted, but thought maybe it's time to reconsider using a laser to measure.

Scot

[craigolio1]

That's really nice modelling. I like the coloring of the stones and especially the moss. That  moss really adds to the realism.
 Looks like you had some rugged terrain to deal with while getting your measurements.

What is your preferred method for measuring bridges? Tape measure, laser?

I measured a bridge several weeks ago as soon as the leaves had dropped and vegetation was dead, removing obstacles  for photos. But measuring it with a tape measure was more difficult than I imagined. All the corners of the concrete supports were mitered at a 45 degree angle, impossible  to securely attach a tape measure and keep it taut fore accurate measurements. I got the measurements I wanted, but thought maybe it's time to reconsider using a laser to measure.

Scot

It was not an easy hike but it was awesome.  My wife told me it was “not as advertised”, haha. But we all enjoyed it.

I didn’t need to measure the bridge itself. When it was built it was an engineering marvel and was well documented in an engineering periodical of the day. So at some point a blueprint made it on line.

For the masonry towers I was able to get access to the shorter one on the north side of the bridge. I measured the base and the blocks. Then I counted the number of blocks in the height and the width at the top. This allowed me to estimate its dimensions. For the tall one at the south end I tried to hike to its base but it proved to be perilous so just estimated its height. No one can tell me I’m wrong as I doubt anyone’s ever seen it. It’s down a cliff and burried in 100 foot tall trees.

For the end abutments I was able to access both and use my 200ft tape to get accurate measurements.

I’m ok with close enough.

Craig

[Dayliner]

A very impressive model of a very impressive prototype--even more compelling when you realize that this is its second location, having been moved here after two decades of service on the CP mainline.

Your depiction of weathering and moss is very effective, as is your ground cover--what are you using for that?

[cgw277]

It was not an easy hike but it was awesome.  My wife told me it was “not as advertised”, haha. But we all enjoyed it.

I didn’t need to measure the bridge itself. When it was built it was an engineering marvel and was well documented in an engineering periodical of the day. So at some point a blueprint made it on line.

For the masonry towers I was able to get access to the shorter one on the north side of the bridge. I measured the base and the blocks. Then I counted the number of blocks in the height and the width at the top. This allowed me to estimate its dimensions. For the tall one at the south end I tried to hike to its base but it proved to be perilous so just estimated its height. No one can tell me I’m wrong as I doubt anyone’s ever seen it. It’s down a cliff and burried in 100 foot tall trees.

For the end abutments I was able to access both and use my 200ft tape to get accurate measurements.

I’m ok with close enough.

Craig

Craig, thanks for your information. Close enough certainly looks good to me. That's what I've been doing, is estimating measurements  from my photos when I can't physically measure them.  Your bridge looks very good, would like to see it when it's finished.
Scot

[Lemosteam]

@craigolio1 , I had completely forgotten about this! Those turned out great! The paint looks so familiar, lol, and I am so happy they met your expectations! Looks so good the color and moss are perfect. Well done.

[craigolio1]

A very impressive model of a very impressive prototype--even more compelling when you realize that this is its second location, having been moved here after two decades of service on the CP mainline.

Your depiction of weathering and moss is very effective, as is your ground cover--what are you using for that?

Thank you.

This bridge has always been a favourite of mine particularly because of its history. Building this thing at that time was such a massive undertaking… and then moving it!  Imagine if they dropped a piece in the Fraser. Not like they could email the home office and over night the part.

It’s plaid old dirt from the garden. Baked in the oven. And I leave all the leafy bits and little sticks in it. This will get covered in moss and ground cover and small trees. Then the big forest canopy goes in.

[craigolio1]

@craigolio1 , I had completely forgotten about this! Those turned out great! The paint looks so familiar, lol, and I am so happy they met your expectations! Looks so good the color and moss are perfect. Well done.

Thank you. I’ll hang onto the molds for a bit as I have other projects for them…. But anytime you want them back or anyone else could use the. I’ll send them right back or pay it forward.

Craig.

[Lemosteam]

I can't recall if I shard this with you or not:  Keep in mind that individual blocks can be cast by filling the mold to the tops of the mortar joints and then broken out into stone faces that can be glued onto a thinner material like cardstock if you find that you need a thinner wall thickness than the full casting.

[Bob]

I just wanted to add to the other comments: what nice work!  The piers look great and the moss was a really nice touch (and so typical of the great northwest!).  DId you use ground foam for the moss or something else?

[craigolio1]

I just wanted to add to the other comments: what nice work!  The piers look great and the moss was a really nice touch (and so typical of the great northwest!).  DId you use ground foam for the moss or something else?

Thank you. Yes I used Woodland Scenics fine foam.

[craigolio1]

I can't recall if I shard this with you or not:  Keep in mind that individual blocks can be cast by filling the mold to the tops of the mortar joints and then broken out into stone faces that can be glued onto a thinner material like cardstock if you find that you need a thinner wall thickness than the full casting.

That’s what I started with the intent of doing but after casting my first thin layer, and thinking of just how many I would have to apply I opted to go the slab route.

[Lemosteam]

Makes sense, that would definitely take a long time on those tall supports.