Topic: Scenery
It seems as though my days in college geology class were in a land far away and a time long ago, but if I recall correctly "discontinuity" is the name for what is pictured in these photos taken during my recent trip to Colorado. Technically, a discontinuity is the surface at which seismic waves passing through rock change speed. Visually, it is a line along which two differing types of rock meet. This geological phenomena can be useful for model railroads.
The rock formations on any model railroad layout usually exhibits a good deal of uniformity. The same rock texture and color tends to persist from scene to scene. More variety can make the scenery more interesting and make the layout seem larger. On the MKP layout I took full advantage of radical changes in rock strata. Rock formations in the East and Midwest make fewer and usually less obvious changes than those of the Rocky Mountain West.
At first this can look like you are creating a calico cat. It takes a bit of courage to make these abrupt transitions. But as you add ground cover, trees, and other vegetation these additions compete with the rocks for the viewer's attention and soften the contrasts between rock types and colors. The variety adds interest and a sense of place within the overall scenery. So that which at first seemed un-natural becomes completely natural.
