18
18: (previous page) The highway bridge high above the
tracks at Belden was a favorite spot for D&RGW rail-
fans when the tracks were still in service. See photo 16
for a lower level view of this scene and the cover of this
month's magazine.
MRH:
How do your crews keep track of the trains in the helix?
Rob:
Each lap has occupancy LEDs for each track. I also left a
peek-a-boo hole at the top so crews can peer inside to see if
their train is still moving.
MRH:
Do you have advice for people building a double-deck
layout in terms of the sequence of building?
Rob:
Oh man, I thought about that quite a bit before I built
mine. I did the benchwork for both decks at the same time. But
I did all the lower deck track work first while I could still see it
and so I wouldn’t bump my head in some of the deeper areas.
Once most of the track work was in I started adding scenery
on the upper deck first so scenery materials wouldn't dribble
down onto the lower deck and ruin finished, super-detailed
structures or scenes.
So wherever possible I'd suggest building from the bottom up
but doing scenery from the top down.
MRH:
There’s a lot of great looking scenery here. Where did
you get the idea for the landforms?
Rob:
Scenery landforms are easy when you’re prototype model-
ing. Just look at pictures of your area and you'll know what you’re
trying to achieve. Problems come from prototype scenery because
when you’re selectively compressing a scene with industries, they
compress differently than the landscapes. That makes trying to
achieve a prototypical look a little difficult.
The compressed curves at Mitchell are a good example. I
belong to a group that meets on Monday nights and we try to
get the flavor of the prototype. If we can achieve the flavor,
Tennessee Pass - 11
MRH-Jun 2013
