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Even when it's nothing more than a base layer of scenery, seeing bare benchwork turn into a real-world representation is both cathartic and gratifying. My methods on The Hills Line are nothing ground breaking and follow well-established practices in the hobby. My base material of choice is Scenic Textures Farm-Pasture Blend, available from Scenic Express. By … Continue reading From the Ground Up
Time to get to work on the signature scene of The Hills Line, the Iowa Interstate's deck-girder bridge over the Iowa River. The first detail needed are the cutwater retaining walls that wrap around each of the bridge piers. I searched for a suitable commercial product, but all were too bulky to simulate the prototype. … Continue reading Bridge Over Troubled Water
In the category of "one of those simple things to add to a layout that takes all of five seconds but helps establish era and locale", today's entry covers the Iowa River Corridor Trail. The 13-mile path rolls through Iowa City, Coralville, and North Liberty. As the name implies, it follows the Iowa River... and … Continue reading Rails and Trails
Finishing up US Highway 6, a major arterial thoroughfare in Iowa City, and the first road constructed for The Hills Line. Last time I built out the curbs, medians, and other elements. On this entry we'll paint and detail the road to match the prototype. My weapons of choice are, as always, whatever cheap and … Continue reading Curb Appeal, Part Three
The Hills Line 