Red Hill bridge abutments...

The road bridge on the layout that will disguise the folding hinges needs cast concrete abutments and built up landfill.. Two outer contoured MDF profile boards were cut to a similar shape the rear and glued and nailed on while clamped to ensure a clean join. 

Then balsa-wood added to create the inner cast walls. These were suitably angled so typical of the retaining abutments found around South Australia.

Then they were PVA glued with Matt photo-paper and painted with concrete colour while the glue was still damp - this creates a blotchy effect that looks quite realistic.

The landfill was created using cardboard from an old box, cut to fit neatly to the contours between the balsa-wood and the outer contoured MDF. MiniNatur cloth was added to the landfill areas over the cardboard and over the edges of the profile boards. Available in many combinations of colours, the cloth matting is ideal for quick coverage and has a stunning look.

Note the blotchy effect caused by
painting enamel paint on the
photo-paper before the PVA glue
had dried.

Concrete casting lines were very evident on the old abutments so these were lightly drawn with a pencil and ruler then weathering with brown paint using the dry brushing method.

Next post will be the road bridge itself.....

The completed abutments walls

Dry brushing the rust colour