Index: this page
1st   Revisit Cathedrals Mtn. drive around bump out/extend corner of table
2nd  Add arch barrier to ends of river
3rd   Add arch bridge across river
4th   Start lava rock to river, Start rock spire
5th   Finishing east of river/details...Done (for a while)

All pages of this build
Part 1 the start, layout table, Miniscule Mtn. w/ Schmidts Mine & 3 hill climbs
Part 2 build Cathedral Rock, rope bridge and Twin Arches
Part 3 This page Start river, expand table, small arch bridge, detailing east of the river
Part 4 Miniscule Mtn fence rock spire w/Wile E coyote, greenery and small details
Part 5 Painting walls-Nothing to do with layout progress
Part 6 Start West of river add small balance rocks
Part 7 Layout basically done add dynamite shack, minor changes, future plans, 3/2024

Lax on updating this crawler course build. Playing catch up. I've found this build as we go along has become a moving target. In a good way. Kind of fun but as I make progress ideas come and I allow my self to pursue. Were at a point we can drive what's done so no hurry (though taking forever to finish)

One issue fixed was ability to drive around Cathedral Mtn. It was to tight a radius and invariably drove off edge.

Actually couple of tries.

First I made a barrier so driving off edge not so easy.

Which worked as far as keeping trucks on layout but ended up even narrower and pinching tires. Tried carving to open up but just not drivable.

To make this corner useable decided to cut foam with barrier and extended corner out.

Added a piece of plywood extending corner out 3"

Reattached cut off foam base with barrier.

Re plaster/blended cut edges and filled open slot. Table re trimmed

Much later, now driving around mountain now an option. The bump out did take some walk around room but not that bad and this corner now useable. I may add some boulders later.

I keep seeing that small upper arch, it actually goes thru mountain. Wouldn't add to driving but Im seeing a small ruin in there.

Add barrier to river ends.

River bed to be filled with lava rock, ends need to be closed to contain rock. Also adding a small cross over arch to middle of river.

Made a small arch blending to side barriers, redirects river up on top to look like source. Also when river flowing is what carved the arch thru-every picture tells a story...

But really just keeps lava rocks on table

Added rock at other end.

Raised at outer edge, I'll glue rocks on either side to edge

Barrier rock to contain lava rock has a hole in center. If river was full flowing water would go around, but the hole looks like water found an easier path.

Add arch bridge over center of river.

Carved from foam, will cover with layered cardboard like main arch climb.

To minimize height of the arch I cut deck, folding sides down so river bottom drops.Cant really see as its full of scrap foam. The OSB deck is on 1x2 strips so center drops about 1 1/2" allowing to driving under arch.

Arch bridge done though hole in top needs a bit of work to look more like weathered thru. The arch is pretty steep, painted with sand.

Lava rock river.

Kind of shown but had started gluing down lava rock. Gluing at ends of river bed and under arch bridge with strips between to keep rock from migrating . The loose patch of rock kind of interesting to drive thru.

Did get all features so far completed primed an painted.

The white areas not sure if adding boulders etc so held off painting.

Last feature done though doesn't add to driving is carved a tall rock spire.

Just visual. just for fun likely will make an anvil that Wile E coyote is holding while perched on top.

Got the spire mounted and blended to base. Ordered a "vintage" Wile E coyote to put on top. Once here I'll make an anvil and crate placing with Wile E. on a small balance rock at top.

Painting final coat of plaster to boulder containing end of lava rock river kept seeing the large flat open area. Started adding some rock to it. Blending from twin arches to small arch bridge and end of hill climb to river. Just to break up the flat.

Hopefully today get this primed and painted. Except for under twin arches this side of river done as far as layout. Then I can finish placing lava rock. Last area is under twin arches...

Looking back I had used heat gun to melt down thru surface under Cathedral rock in the corner creating a small bowl. While interesting dont really want to add more of that or make more rocks. I'll just try to carve the foam surface giving it some visual texture while still relatively flat. Part of this planned layout is to maintain some areas where you just drive without negotiating obstacles.

Ill update later but today planned is finishing this part of layout construction/painting, lava rock river. Kind of tired of the plaster/rock work etc. I want to start building and add wood fence to top of Minuscule Mtn. It requires backing up and the potential for falling 5' is VERY likely. Best laid plans...

Details, finish east of river layout.

Pretty much finished layout/construction of this section. Still wanting to add details, plants/color and such to break up the mono tone look now that its all painted. I did add several colors dry brushing. No more plastering for a while.

Fuzzy picture but got the end of lava rock river done and the lava rock placed. Driving on the loose rock weird.

Just showing the 'campfire' in Tom & Hucks hideout. Flickering amber leds. Also have lights in Schmidts Mine and also a couple on the rope bridge. THey dont aid driving, just visual interest. Still need to add a terminal block to tie them all together and hardwire power source (transformer). Likely will add a remote 'smart' plug to turn them on/off with Alexa.

Added a few rock outcroppings to break up center flat.

Under Cathedral rock I carved down into the foam base then used heat gun to melt.

Well blowing up fuzzy picture still doesn't really show. Texture looks like the lava rock.

But layout done for a while. Ill be doing some details and round toits before starting the west of river side. Enjoy

later

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All pages of this build
Part 1 the start, layout table, Miniscule Mtn. w/ Schmidts Mine & 3 hill climbs
Part 2 build Cathedral Rock, rope bridge and Twin Arches
Part 3 (This page) Start river, expand table, small arch bridge, detailing east of the river
Part 4 Miniscule Mtn fence rock spire w/Wile E coyote, greenery and small details
Part 5 Painting walls-Nothing to do with layout progress
Part 6 Start West of river add small balance rocks
Part 7 Layout basically done add dynamite shack, minor changes, future plans, 3/2024

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