Work Session on the Rio Grande

 I went to a work session on Charlie Bassing’s HO scale Rio Grande layout yesterday. Mark, Steve and Nick joined us. My job was to install tunnel portals at Tennessee Pass. I prefabricated and painted the tunnels at my house. I used laser cut kits from Alkem Scale Models. I painted them with acrylics and chalk. 

The portals needed a slight trimming as the benchwork is very narrow on this part of Charlie’s layout. I was able to cut off the extra width using a motor tool with a cut off wheel.

I was able to get the south portal installed with the surrounding terrain. I started work on the north portal, but Charlie needs to make some changes to the sky board before I can finish. 

Meanwhile, the other guys installed more rock castings and added basic scenery to some of the terrain.

At the end of the session, we discussed how to finish the big trestle on the end of the peninsula just as you walk in the room. I volunteered to build the micro engineering trestles for the project. The bridge will be about 18 inches tall and it’s highest at about 36 inches wide.