Thank you! I definitely like when people check in so I know I not sitting here writing all this stuff for 3 people. It's hard to believe that this project is well into its fourth year, and at least one more to go. It depends on how many structures I can get next year. I'm planning out my build (and buy) schedule, and it may be more than a year's worth.
Today I finished up the base Gypsolite coat on the pond area and started working on the subterranean stream bed. I then did another un-covered area with screen and Gypsolite. Definitely moving along.
I changed my plastering routine. Previously, I was mixing the plaster in a container and then transferring three batches to a shallow container for dipping. I was getting a lot of waste since the water was gradually leeched out of the mix and the stuff at the bottom no longer soaked the paper towels properly. This time, and since I was needing a smaller quantity, I did the mixing and dipping the same container. It's the plastic box that Cascade Complete Tabs come in. It's the right depth and has straight sides. I marked the water line on it and with four cup full of Gypsolite, it gives the correct viscosity for dipping. Instead of dragging the towels across the surface, I just submerge the towel in the soup and turn it over and get it fully saturated. It seemed to work better AND I wasn't getting the torn towel problem.
After finishing the remaining layers in the pond gulch, I started working on how to get the water out to the layout's edge. I cut an opening in the fascia to line up with the opening in the gulch. A stone portal will dress this out when I build it.
I then used screen to form the creek bed that will carry the "water" out to the river that apparently runs down the opening in the middle of the layout. I formed, cut, reformed, cut more and folded the screen until it approximated the channel I wanted.
I realized quickly that it would be next to impossible to apply the plaster towels while the screen was inside the layout so I paved the channel with them while outside and then attempted to put it inside. It was a total mess and did not work at all. So I went to plan B. Plan B was forming the tube outside the layout, letting it cure and then inserting it into the space. I set up some 2 X 4s on my plaster table, held it with some spring clamps and, hopefully, this will cure hard enough to manhandle into the space. Also, it all needs to be water tight so the resin doesn't all end up on the floor. If it works, I'll only have to apply more plaster to the mating edges.
I'll give this two full days to cure. While this was curing I started working on the next area needing terrain. When you put screen across such a large span and load it with heavy plaster towels, it sags pretty bad and it needed some support, so I quickly assembled a pile of scrap foam and other stuff all held in place with Lo-temp foam hot glue. It will still sag, but it will have more natural undulations.
Again, I masked and protected all over and had to come up with a nice way to hold the screen to the fascia board. It's been a long time since I had to do this on the left-hand end of the layout. In this case, I decided to clamp the edge of the screen between a couple of layers of Masonite strips. I clamp the strips about 1/4" below the fascia edge, and pilot drilled for small screws. I loosened all the clamps holding the strips loosely by the two end screws. I bent the cut screen at a right angle, put it between the fascia and the first strip and tightened all the screws. It really worked.
Here was the screen in place ready for some more plaster.
And in a short time, here it was all covered with wet plastery paper towels. Yesterday's work was curing nicely and will be rock hard tomorrow. I'm also going to do the area on the swing door, but I have to think about that since I'm planning on putting structures there so too much undulations will be unwelcome. I will have to match the land shape in the area where the swing door and this part of the fixed layout merge. I want the gate to be almost invisible when it's all done.
