Let's Rock!
My order of rubber rocks from Cripplebush Valley (or most of it—one piece was backordered) has arrived, and thus begins the process of creating rockwork for the Z Scale Gorre & Daphetid. I selected a range of shale molds; these offer a high degree of detail and visual interest, and to an extent mimic some of John Allen's original rockwork.
The trickiest parts were cutting and fitting around the tunnel portals, which is why I opted for this product. It's pricey stuff, but well worth the investment considering what can be accomplished with it that would otherwise be nearly impossible using any other process. As a consequence, I've taken some liberties with some of the specifics of the original; for instance, I'll change the angle of the strata in certain areas, such as around the twin tunnels, and I'll be incorporating much more rock around the wooden trestle.
The profile of the terrain behind the wooden trestle is another example of taking a degree of artistic license. Like other aspects of the G&D, it morphed over time: first it was subtle, then it was dramatic, and then, by Phase III, it was nearly non-existent. For my Z Scale adaptation I chose dramatic, which I further exaggerated, for a few reasons. I felt it more firmly established the back perimeter of the layout. It also seemed to better justify the existence of the wooden trestle, and created a better visual balance with it as well.
With respect to the wooden trestle itself, I deliberately didn't begin building it until the basic terrain contours were established and the bulk of the rock and other scenery was completed; the other way around, it would be considerably more difficult to accomplish, given that I don't have the luxury of substantially more space in which to work, as John had in HO Scale.
Original Gorre & Daphetid images courtesy of Peter T. Prunka.