Avenue du Sous-bois

The first visible change in VIlleneuve is the new Avenue du Sous-bois asphalt road. While I recently experimented with spackle and other similar products, I find it easier to work with illustration board as done by Gordon Gravett. Not only it is less messy and easier to control the final result, but I can take the part on the benchwork and work under better conditions.

Since the track geometry is not parallel where the road crosses the track, I had to find a trick to ensure all the parts would fit perfectly. To do this, I used a sheet of paper and placed it exactly were the road will go. Then, using a truck equipped with metal wheels, I rolled over the paper and track. This little trick left flanges impressions on the paper that were used as a template to cut the illustration board.

After an hour of cutting and fitting, the road is now done and ready to get cutters and a good coat of paint. It won't be installed until the tracks are painted. In that regard, I'm actually developing a new approach to painting track with oil paint washes.