Golden Valley Route
Two 16 degree curves
This is a pair of 16 degree curve modules (1 meter radius) that can be used for either Märklin (3-rail that uses a pickup shoe, AC) or regular 2-rail (DC/DCC).
The result:
The journey
First the frame. Here I have used 9mm plywood:
The roadbed (Woodland scenics) has also been glued and pinned down.
Pink foam
Pink foam makes a good tree planting base. I glued it with latex.
Plastercloth
On top of the pink foam, I randomly added some crumbled pieces of newspaper. All covered with strips of
plaster cloth
Ground foam
I paint with a brown latex paint to remove the snowy look, and put some Woodland Scenics "Blended Turf, Earth blend". I then salt-n-pepar other turfs (burnt grass, soil, etc)
Wiring
My wiring to be able to run either 3-rail or 2-rail. (I use a Double Pole Single Throw)
Rail
Instead of using Märklins own track, I use Peco code 83 (more US prototypical...)
The Peco code 83 was easy to solder, but the Erbert-Herei 'strip' was quite hard. Hopefully it'll stick...
I use latex to glue things
Rail glued and painted. the ties have been painted with Polly Scale Tie brown, grimy black and a light gray. The rails got a coat of Roof Brown
Low vegetation
The track has been ballasted (WS mixed gray) and some low vegetation glued (using regular white glue).
Weathering
Rail weathered: I first add a wash of Polly Scale 'Earth' to the inside/outside of the rails, then a wash of grimy black on top of the ties.
After this I tried some 'dark rust' powder by Bragdon Enterprises. It came on too weird looking, so adding water with a thick brush, I 'watered' it down
