A Hole in the Layout

How about a lift-out volcano?

ChrisGW wrote in news:Fs6dnYc6dMdX6cvYnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@adelphia.com:

I think C4 would be much more fun

You might consider something that is below surface such as a rock quarry, a small pond, a cellar hole from an abandoned building, etc.

This makes it much easier when you actually have to crawl underneath to access the hole. The submerged item can be hinged to fold downward, underneath the layout. You're right there, underneath the hole, so undoing the mechanism and lowering it would be fairly easy to do.

Best of Luck, Matt

Besides the other ideas like a rock quarry, if you do a building, use a fence line on the layout itself to hide the cut line for your lift out part if trees would not make the scene flow.

just an idea that I have used in the past.

CGW:

May I suggest a black Cadillac, some MIB's, and a large "Danger! Spatial Anomaly" sign?

Cordially yours: Gerard P. President, a box of track and some plans.

I thouhgt it was a CrownVic!?

Chris,

What fits in the layout area? I've seen a farm field edged with a fence row (trees, hedges, weeds, etc) especially on an uneven line. lake would work where the water level would be the "ceiling" of the access hole. How about a street scend with the middle of the streets making up the edge of the road? Put in a stream. Make it wide where the hole is then make an island to cover it. There are lots of options based on what might best fit your theme.

I have a hill on my layout that covers an access hole... the hill is made of layered sheets of blue foam board. It is light & pretty durable, but a wee bit expensive. If you are careful, you can do it with two pieces. Cut the first one to fit with plenty of overlap to cover the hole (taper the cut towards the middle). Cut the second one to fit inside of the first one; keep in mind the overall shape you want to make for the hill. Now, cut out the inside of the first sheet to put it on top of the second one. Keep going this way and you won't waste a lot of material. Hope this makes sense. If not, say so & I'll try again.

dlm

I have already decided that it is going to be a farm with a dirt road leading to it. I am also thinking of building a windmill for the farm and hooking up a small motor. It is a blank blue canvas right now. I just finished laying track for the staging/yard area and have started putting down ballast for it.

The access panel is already cut. I had already done what you suggested with the shape of the blue board the other day. I already had blue board down 2 inches, which if I was to do over again would only be 1 inch. What I like about the cutout is that I can put it on my desk to build the scene, which will make it a lot easier.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I have taken an idea or two from each and I think it is going to work quite well. Will post pictures when I get my web site updated.

Thanks again to all

Chris