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As progress continues on Lafayette Street in Iowa City, I find myself dealing with the dual nature of the scene. On one hand, it's the largest single road on The Hills Line. On the other, it'll be primarily blocked by structures between the road and the aisle. Like before, I painted the entire street using … Continue reading Lafayette Street Continued
“Like it? Well I don’t see why I oughtn’t to like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?"-Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer- It's always fun when you can get to the point on any layout where you're able to add those little details that bring a scene … Continue reading Fences, Sawyer Style
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
The Hills Line 