8.9. A (White) River Runs Through It
The original layout had what amounted to a creek, which I filled with Ambroid cement.
I've come a long way since then making water. This layout has a number of different water features, including an animated spillway, rapids, a placid meandering stretch with fishermen, and so on. The placid portion will be simulated with thick gloss medium applied to a smooth sheet styrene surface. I started by making a paper template for a single piece of styrene that would run the length of the placid part of the river. The challenge was getting the bifurcated portion to fit around the fishermen.
The spillway would require even more precise shapes, which I fabricated from layers of ⅛"-thick black sheet styrene to meet the bottom the falls as well as the mill. I used a table saw to make the rough slope from the falls down to the placid part of the river.
I frequently placed the mill and spillway in position to test the fit.
Above the animated spillway, the river crosses over the tunnel track.
The stone arch bridge at White River Junction allowed me to complete the riverbed.
By 28 May 2021 I was fleshing out the rapids below the spillway.
On 4 June I completed the upper rapids, which are located near the beam bridge. It consists of clear silicone sealant mixed with some paper pulp from a tiny amount of non-colored Sculptamold.
Two days later I did the lower rapids.
By 18 June 2021 I had pretty much wrapped up the river.
Reference
RIVER
RAPIDS
