Update
So, I did not get the risers in place.
ops:
BUT (in an attempt to rationalize things) I did make some huge progress with the final landscaping/countouring plans. I picked up a few back issues of MR at the LHS, and Dave Frary has a two part article in Dec '98 - Jan '99 about doing a 4x8. In the first part, hge has a picture of a model of the layout.
So off I went to the dollar store to get some Play-Dough. Bought blue and yellow. Mixed it to get green. Used it to build hill, mountains, and tunnels on a printout of my track plan from Right Track software.
I am so happy! I have been trying to visualize the contours that my layout will have when it is done. This simple trick (which was not obvious to me - duh!) has really helped.
I would recommend this to anyone - especially those with a smaller layout - before you go out and get expensive software like cadrail or 3rd plan-it to help you visualize.
So, I'll have to try for those risers again this week...
Andrew