Slowly but surely Options

[TrojanUK]

Brad,

Looks fantastic well done. What was the process to painting the track? I love the grey.

Keep the pics coming

Peter

[jmswms]

Brad,

It's hard to suggest anything. I'd love to see it in person. You're doing just amazing work.

Bill

[Brad Korando]

Thanks Bigford 550, TrojanUK and jmswms. I'm looking forward to the next steps of the underpass as I think that they will be a lot of fun to do.

TrojanUK: Here's a link to the threads that I posted about painting the track. Have a look and let me know if you have any questions. Paving at Priaire Ridge Road Course I'm very happy that I painted the track. I added the tire marks with an airbrush. Innitially, I was concerned that the finish might not be very durable, but it is proving to be very durable indeed. The process I chose to was time consuming, but well worth the effort.

Bill: I know you're in California, but if you ever make it to Chicago or Milwaukee let me know. I'm right between either city and and would greatly welcome a visit.

Brad

[astro]

Looking really good! What's happening at the end of the road though? It seems to end in a wall rather than a tunnel under the track? Is this a temporary thing, or does it have to stay?

[taxi]

I wonder how many times we're all going to say 'Wow, Brad' before you finish your track?

It looks very good though, love the detail on the walls and butresses. Like you say, the gradient is a little steep but I don't think it's a problem. In your scenario you can just imagine the owner thinking "shorter tunnel = less cost, how steep can we make the exit ramp?"!! I was surprised you said you weren't happy with the road surface, it looks fine in the pics.

cheers,

Rob

[bigford550]

you said butresses

[Brad Korando]

Thanks guys!

Astro: There is a wall at the end of the road. I'm not sure that I'm making the right decision, but I plan on painting the wall to look like a continuation of the right side wall of the tunnel. In hindsight (from just the work I've done so far); the small side walls under the bridge were easy to make, probably more so than painting the back wall. Originally, I thought it would be easier to paint the continuation of the side wall in perspective. Trust me that I have already slapped my forehead and uttered, "What was I thinking?", more than once now!

Rob: The road surface doesn't look too flat in person. I wasn't able to work the grout flat for a couple of reasons; 1. The grout went on a little thick and I was not sure what I could use to thin it (probably water I guess) and 2. The curving narrowness of the road prevented me from using a nice wide putty knife. I ended up with more than a few tool marks from the putty knife. I was thinking of another possibility on my commute home tonight. I may give the "concrete look" one last attempt using spakling compound. I figure that the mortar may be flat enough to allow the spakle to go on thin, just filling the voids. It should be thin enough to work flat. It should be easy to score concrete joints into too. I'll give it a try and post the results.


bigford550: Big smile on the Beevis and Butthead reference! Uhh...you said big. Yeah, yeah big... like sproing!

Thanks to all for your continued interest and patience, I appreciate both!

Brad

[astro]

If the wall is staying - I'd suggest turning into a steel security shutter like a garage door or something - but I am sure that whatever you do is going to look amazing anyway.

[Brad Korando]

That sounds like a great idea! I think I'm going to give the painting idea a try first - I always like a good challenge. When that doesn't turn out so good, I'll follow up with a door or gate. A gate with a somewhat open frame work of steel may provide just emough screening of the painting that it won't look too bad. The openess may create the illusion that there is in fact a tunnel under the bridge. Look for proper credit if the gate or security shutters make the scene . I'm thinking that they were manufactured by the world's first choice for security enclosures. Astro Industires, of course!

Thanks for the idea astro.

Brad

[dreinecke]

Brad,

You sick, sick, man....stop it, you're killing me! I swear I'm ready to tear mine up everytime I look at your track. Get out here and help me redo my layout!

[Brad Korando]

I've made a little more progress on the underpass that I'd like to share with you all. I've completed the storm drains that are located at the base of the underpass and have completed the road surfacing. Thanks to a timely suggestion from Spamodeller, I used drywall joint compound for the road. It proved to be a great material to simulate concrete. The apprearance is spot on and it is very easy to work with. It's even cheap to boot! Thanks again, Spamodeller! Here's what it's looking like at this moment:













I plan to add some rubble in areas at the base of the retaining walls as well as some weeds and such sprouting up the some of the cracks in the concrete. I'll also be adding some lighting under the bridge and possibly a couple of fixtures on the retaining walls. I'll be making the bridge railing and fence/railings on the tops of the retaining walls. Thanks for checking in on my progress.

Brad

[356speedster]

You really put some effort into details, this track is going to be awasome. I'm looking forward to follow the progress.

[astro]

Looking really good! The wall at the end is pretty well disguised in the pictures The drainage grills set it off nicely too.

[taxi]

Very, very nice

Those photo etched (?) grills look the business, and your painting and weathering is superb. Ah, I have so much to learn...

Keep the pics coming Brad

cheers,

Rob

[Mb.]

That looks cool man I Wish i had a big area in which i could make these stuff