Section 14 - Satsop River Bridge - Part 2

In the last blog (Section 14 - Satsop River Bridge - Part 1) I identified the layout design elements of the Satsop River Bridge Module and laid out the roadway lines. 

In this blog I am identifying the scenery construction concept and laying out the landforms.

As a refresher, here are the scenic elements.

Creating the landforms

On this section, I did not build the roadbed portion of the module per the section construction diagram. Instead, I built two small roadbed panels and installed them on both ends, leaving the center roadway area clear. Once I figure out where the bridge abutments are located, I can shape the river and the river banks, adding foam as necessary. The embankments are formed with the 2 inch styrofoam and open spaces under the masonite and above the plywood are filled with 2 inch stryofoam cut to fit, and using expanding foam as necessary. 

For this module, having the bridges built in advance will be an asset to forming the banks, and installing the abutments and piers. See Satsop River Bridge N5 for construction details.

In the meantime, I'm starting to rough in the landforms. 

1. Form and install the distant river bank. The far riverbank is modeled with 3/4 inch foam sheet base. Cut in the river bank at a 45 degree angle to form the bank.This will give me the low gravel and stone bank seen in the photograph. Against the backdrop I will add a two inch styrofoam piece again cut in a 45 degree angle to provide a better foundation for planting the treeline. That styrofoam insert will be concealed by small growth along the river treeline.

2. The north river bank (left ) is a natural occuring slope. I found a picture of the timber trestle bridge being used by the Mount Ranier Scenic Railroad. The slope is essentially flat for quite a distance. I will selectively compress the distance and create a greater slope. The 2 inch stryofoam is cut at about a 20 degree angle to model the slope with the base reflecting the effects of erosion caused by the occasional high river in spring. Building the trestle in advance is indicated in order to locate and cut in.the north abutment, and locate and place the trestle piles. 

3. The south river bank (right) is a manmade embankment. The AREA standard for an embankment is a 60 degree angle from the edge of the roadbed to the river bottom. I'm cheating a little bit by cutting the foam terrain on the backside of the embankment to a gradual slope while the visible side is AREA standard. See 4.1.1.2 Embankments for construction details. Using to total length of the bridge complex, I will locate the south abutment and cut it in. Pieces of styrofoam and expanding foam will complete the basic landform.

4. Once the basic landform is completed, it will be covered with Sculptamold on the flats and hydrocal plaster on the slopes. 

Soil color is to be determined based on the Northern Division Overview color scheme. Other scenery aspects will be discussed in Section 14 - Satsop River Bridge - Part 3.

Satsop River

The critical piece of river construction will be the location of the bridge piers. A wood footprint of each pier type will be constructed and temporarily screwed into the section base from below. See Satsop River Bridge N5c for construction details.

The river bottom is to be gravel strewn. I have two gravel sources: 1) an unknown brand of gray kitty litter, and  2) a bag of Quikcrete general purpose paver mix. I am not sure yet what product will be ultimately used, probably both - the kitty litter for the water covered gravel bottom, the paver mix for the dry rock shoreline.

The water product is also undetermined. I have not poured a river yet, and am not sure whether epoxy, decoupage resin, or a Woodland Scenics product will be right for the river. It all depends on how the gravel bottom looks (dark and wet enough to pass as gravel).  The river's edge is a continuation of that product at double to triple thickness (depending on the distance from the river's edge. See Streams for construction details.