So I'm progressing on the layout and I have a question someone here might know the answer to.
Do you know the preferred angle or ratio of height to width of a raised portion or track? I have a section of track that is four inches high in HO scale. I would like to have a natural terrain slope on the landscape along the sides of the track to avoid having enormous long retaining walls along the entire length of the raised track.
If the raised section is four inches high how far out would a typical railroad berm extend from the side? A 45° angle would be four inches out. Is this realistic or would I have to go out further. I'd like to go out at a realistic angle and then cut the hill short with small 1 to two inch berms where necessary.
Any thoughts?
~CamdenLine
Country: USA ~
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Member Since: July 02 2010 ~
Last Visit: August 22 2023
You could go 50 degrees and remain plausible but 45 degrees is more in keeping with reality. Any steeper than that and you'll get into retaining walls and timber cribs. If you're modeling rocky terrain, you could go much steeper.
Posts: 2465 ~
Member Since: April 15 2007 ~
Last Visit: December 01 2023
If I go with the 45° then I could do two inches out with a two inch retaining wall, three inches out with a one inch wall or one inch out with a three inch wall. All of those sound like reasonable options on my layout.
~CamdenLine
Country: USA ~
Posts: 178 ~
Member Since: July 02 2010 ~
Last Visit: August 22 2023
Two great books on the subject...while Dave Frary's "Realistic Model Railroad Scenery" is great on technique, the out of print but fairly easy to find "Scenery for Model Railroads" by Bill McClannahan really gets into the why of scenery...erosion, rock strata and such. Try to find both if you can.
Posts: 2465 ~
Member Since: April 15 2007 ~
Last Visit: December 01 2023
Two great books on the subject...while Dave Frary's "Realistic Model Railroad Scenery" is great on technique, the out of print but fairly easy to find "Scenery for Model Railroads" by Bill McClannahan really gets into the why of scenery...erosion, rock strata and such. Try to find both if you can.
Originally posted by shaygetz - July 15 2010 : 10:09:47 PM
both available at Amazon plus tons more. i bought Frary's used at a steal from Amazon
.also try your library. I was amazed the selection our library system has
Country: USA ~
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Member Since: June 25 2010 ~
Last Visit: July 30 2021
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Posted - July 15 2010 : 8:15:13 PM
USA ~
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