looking for wall ideas under raised track

You can use foam insulation board from your homestore. Sounds like 1/2" or 1" will work. Make your bricks or stones with a pencil and then paint it. Then wash it with diluted paint for the mortar.

You can cut the board with a serrated knife for a nice cut.

There are other methods, but this will look ok and not break the bank.

Carved pink foam:

Pink Foam Board.  I cut up some drywall shims and glued them to the foam board and then painted it grey.  We had to bend it to follow a curve.

This wall behind my hobos is the wall being built in the following pictures.  I also used the same material to build tunnel portals.

i've enjoyed looking at all the pics.  lots of talent out there.  unfortunately, i'm not that talented but i'll give it a try!  jeff

there are many many to do this..so here is mine.  Take a look a the grider plate sections from scenic express.  Use  a mix of bridge (bridgeboss or from NJHR) and cliffs. The bridge will be more but the remainder less.  just as a note for 1 per inch and high quality, forget it. You can also break it p into a couple of distinct diorama to create the illusion of distance.

Even grider plate one side is about 1/inch and that includes nothing else. Add your time, etc. b

bill

 road portal scene on expanse before grider plate installed.  only about 6 inches from wall

 in your case I would mix the location of buidlings so some are in front of track both above and below and and some against the wall or backdrop.  A number of forum members have done this. its a hobby , so take your time and enjoy the moment when its right

MDF board. 1/4" and 1/2" thickness. If you can use a circular saw and possibly a miter saw along with some yellow glue you can build any retaining wall. Fill gaps, sand smooth and paint.

Lower level is the MDF board below the upper level which is framed my bead board.

Donald

This post from another topic is right up your alley...

Hump Yard Mike 

OGR Forum Member

November 5, 2013 8:18 PM

 

 

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I am not a big fan of the Hotwire Foam Factory cutter.  Perhaps I was abusing this tool, but because is has an insulated wired with the element on the outside that you cannot apply very much pressure to cut through things because it is flimsy, and I have managed to break multiple filaments and burn out the supplied transformer.  I do not think this tool is really intended to do more than a 1/2" think foam, and even at that, you have to do the cut so slow.  I have not used their other product designed for heavy cuts (I think it is refer to as blade something).

 

I have done a ton of foam shaping on my layout and have come to the conclusion it is just easier to do major cuts with a dry wall saw and smooth with sand paper (even though the mess of pink snow just sucks).

 

While a York a few weeks ago, I saw the gentlemen demonstrating the tippi at his booth, which comes with several different elements for cutting.  I decided to take the plunge and purchase it for some retaining walls I have been working on.  I have been very happy with it for detail work such as walls.  I just completed these last weekend, over 24' of stone wall.  I just finished giving them more of a weathered feel on Sunday and working to install them as I write this.

 

Mike

 

 

 

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Photos (4)

Mark

 "Anyone else out there that has done something like this "on the cheap"?"

Check out this YOUtube video on the tippi foam cutter. You can do this!

Mark

I use 1/8" Masonite for the wall and then use either 1/4" Masonite, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) or pink foam to make the reinforcing ribs.  Paint with concrete color (I like Woodland Scenics Concrete Topcoat) and weather with a black wash. 

Click on a photo to see a larger version or right-click a photo and choose "open link in new window" or "open link in new tab" to see a full-screen version.

Good posts... I have 16+ feet of elevated track that's going to need a retaining wall/arcade and all of these ideas help me decide on how to approach it.  I have the Tippi foam cutter and will attempt to do something with that first. I'm also thinking about making a master and latex mold and casting my own system with Hydrocast. 

I filled to gap between levels with a rock face.

I also filled about a 6" area between 2 levels with a rock face. I originally filled the gap with sheet styrofoam then attached rocks to the foam. I made the rocks using the rubber moulds, and just added a little foliage.

REV