Page 42 - All Scale Rails Magazine Issue 4 September October 2015

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Here is where the layout turns and
curves to the south, passing cliffs cut from
the earth, clearing the way for the locomo-
tives and their cargo. Jim’s talent in model
building is evident throughout his layout,
details layered in details, but this area
shows a special set of scenic building tal-
ent. On their way south, the trains pass by
magnificent cliffs created from Hydrocal.
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But that’s not what makes them special.
After the Hydrocal is mixed and placed,
Jim presses aluminum foil against the rock
face. The crinkles in the foil help to shape
the face of the rocks. Before the Hydrocal
is fully cured, Jim pulls the foil off and
chips away at the surface, creating fissures
and impressions in the rock. Once dried,
he paints the surface with acrylic paints.
The effect is remarkable, giving a look of
realism and making them unique; not one is
exactly the same as another.
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42 All Scale Rails