Above is the benchwork for Avon extended from Phillips at the back corner. Right is Avon looking the other way toward Strong and Farmington.
Above left and right, because the contour of the railroad and road cuts has to be more precise than just scenic hills or mountains, I made the contour for the terrain out of pink foam board instead of using cardboard strip hard shell. The pieces are cut into rough shape for what I need, using paper to trace the layers and then transfer it onto the foam board to cut out. The slopes are beveled with a steak knife, and then scraps glued in to fill in gaps. Nails and pins hold everything in place while the glue dries. The main features for Avon are that it will have a passing siding for priority traffic between Phillips and Strong, and it will have a flag stop station for passenger and freight traffic stops. It will also be the transition point in the seasons from late Fall to early Winter.
Above left, to orient you better to the location on the layout, Salmon hole and the curve to Phillips are at the far end of the photo, and Porter Brook trestle will be just off to the lower right of the photo. Above right, the slopes and cuts of the terrain have been shaped after the glue dried with a rasp and sanding block with 60 grit paper. Plaster cloth has been applied, then everything sealed with brown latex paint. After the paint dried, then the road was painted with acrylic paint, and turf powder sprinkled on. After it dried, the excess was vacuumed off and the road dry-brushed with a couple different shades of light brown and tan, and finally a very light dry brushing of oyster white. The grass areas were painted with full-strength matte medium, then varied mixes of harvest gold and straw colored static grass were applied. After drying, tufts were applied and the grass and tufts were lightly damp-brushed with the same shades as the road, to blend everything. The corrugated cardboard is the base for a harvested corn field .
Above left, the corn field was made using JTT corn stalks, a light sprinkle of ground foam, and clippings of sisal twine. Ground up leaves were scattered across the terrain, more heavily under the decidious trees. Scenic Express Super Sage, Super Trees, JTT fall tree branches, and various brands of connifers were added. Above right, the road has been finished with grass and clumps growing heavily along the sides and grass down the middle. A Woodland Scenics wire fence has been added between the road and corn field, and a few tree stum,ps added. The unpainted deer, the train and a Model A stake truck have been placed in just to get a better vision of how I want to finish up the scene. The Avon flag stop will be just to the right of the Model A on the far side of the track.
Above left, the windows in the train room are fitted with a removeable panel that tucks in behind the left and right edges of the adjoining backdrop panels. Above right, the removeable panel backdrop that covers the windows is then painted to match the backdrop scenery to both sides and then the photo backdrop is applied. The 3-D scenery for Avon can now be continued.