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
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
I'll let you in on a secret. The best hobby shop on the planet is Home Depot. The Atlanta-based home improvement warehouse has just about everything you need to completely build a model railroad... minus track, locomotives, and freight cars. That limitation nonwithstanding, I've found that if you wander the aisles with a prototype-modeler mindset … Continue reading Tanks Fer Nuttin’
"Just when he thinks he can lay down and roll He's seen the place he's looking for coming up the road" -N. Ashford/V. Simpson- On this Thanksgiving Eve, I know I'm supposed to be grateful for the truly-important things. Good health, good family, good fortune. But to be honest this year I find myself grateful … Continue reading One More Bridge to Cross
