"Porto Corsa" (Cars2) Project

Just sitting back and watching! Got my beer and popcorn! It a very entertaing show! the plot thickens!

QUOTE (Frank T @ 5 May 2012, 17:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>inspirational to all of us. It´s an honour to see your "crasy" ideas growing.

an admirer of your skillsMutual admiration, to be sure.

Lots of work this past week, and it's coming together slowly. The 2nd larger bridge is looking good, but it's very heavy with all the individual cast blocks. I'm sure that Graham's styrofoam version was much lighter! Here's a little glimpse at the progress.

The "High" Bridge in Progress





Working on the Channel




Completing the Rocks on the End

QUOTE (Ember @ 6 May 2012, 22:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Looks fantastic Bill. And I'm sure even better in reality than the photos.

Wondering about your brick bridges. Whilst the brick by brick approach gives an exceptionally realistic finish it seem very time consuming process and, as you say, weighty. Have you considered other methods of construction which could be quicker whilst still producing a similar overall effect and solidity? A basic construction of styrene sheet could be coated with a thin layer of DAS Pronto a la Leo Cerante's Modelland Project. Others are now using this method to great advantage. I've tried styrene sheets, and it's quicker. In this case on the high bridge, I wanted an especially realistic look and I have the molds. The weight isn't a huge problem, and Hydrocal by the 100ib bag is cheap. I've never tried the DAS for anything, but I'm an admirer of Leo's work and I'm thinking that I may have some uses for it on this layout. DAS isn't cheap in quantity, and building with blocks takes less skill!

...I always wounder about the speed you build your tracks! 25 hours per day? Very great stuff. Regards Jens

QUOTE (Ember @ 7 May 2012, 07:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'm sure I'm not going to be the only one to get a laugh from these words coming from you.

I guess my point with the DAS is that it doesn't actually need to be a very thick skin. If you can roll it out thin enough (old pasta machine to roll it?) a skin of a millimetre or two would suffice. The DAS itself is not a structural component. You would just need it thick enough to take an impression. Therefore a little block can go a very long way.

Embs

It is probably a bit misleading the amount of time it takes to build these things, the building process is actually pretty quick and because the bricks are a uniform shape it goes pretty smoothly. I have discovered and I am sure Bill will concur that the casting of the bricks is the time consuming part, but in times of need you can even hurry that a bit as well.

The other methods DAS or Styrene would for sure weight less, BUT would actually require not only skill, but artistic flair and would be time consuming in it's own way. Building with the bricks still requires some skill and artistic vision, but it's really a bit more mecahnical in nature, like wooden blocks, Lego or Erector sets! Additionally the bricks add an sense of consistency from structure to structure, if you are doing things by hand there is a tendency to vary in size and structure, finish, etc. . . .

Speaking for myself I REALLY enjoy building with the bricks and would not wan't to give that up, I just need to find someone to cast them for me!

Fairy Nuff.

QUOTE (masmojo @ 9 May 2012, 06:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I just need to find someone to cast them for me!
Victorian style child labour, maybe?

QUOTE (Ember @ 8 May 2012, 23:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Victorian style child labour, maybe?

Hmmmmmm . . .

Casting bricks can go fast (with Hydrocal you can remove them every 15 minutes), but it takes a while for them to properly dry...

I finished the building of the high bridge, and the task for this weekend is finish the channel and to integrate the high bridge into the rocks on either side...

The channel along with the low and high bridges is now complete. I need to start working on some buildings for the island and along the cliffs, and next is the tunnel across from the high bridge. Here are a few photos of the progress.

...pure arts! I always cant wait for mondays - just to see what happened during LA weekends . Regards Jens

QUOTE (Kellerkind @ 14 May 2012, 04:26) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>...pure arts! I always cant wait for mondays - just to see what happened during LA weekends . Regards JensWell, don't expect much this weekend. I've gotten to the point where I need to start building houses, and this will be a slower process. I'm building houses as well as framing in the tunnel this weekend. I also will lay the magnabraid (which I prefer to do before putting in the tunnel). Here's my starting point--just a little progress this week in the evenings.

The cliffside castle villa still growing...