I had a good discussion with fellow modeller about my module. He suggested to add the road to the sand excavation area. I think it is really a good idea which creates some more possibilities to add live to the module. I have to destroy a little bit some things which were already finished to prepare the road: My new ideas are shown on the photo below: A - small yard for trucks - probably with concrete fence and small building for workers B - electric transformer tower building with the electric lines C - the road made of concrete panels D - entry barrier to the excavation areal with small building I already made two small buildings (MBZ carton models) which are already weathered with sand dust and scratchbuild the entrance barrier:
Very nice! Layout, buildings, scratch built gate. You have given me an idea to try and lightly weather my Archistories cardboard models with powders. I know I can't paint them but a little dirt or dust or streaking with powders should make them more realistic. But the MBZ models always look so good when heavily weathered. How do you put rust on the tracks? I noticed over time that tracks with rusty sides look real and all shiny look wrong. but to paint them all by hand with a brush seems like a lot of work and also a chance of the trains not running well after?
Thanks for the advice southernscale, about coloring and multiple thin layers. I will also be using Woodland Scenics water. My NOCH layout came pre painted and the lake bed looks exactly the color of yours. I think an Austrian mountain lake should be bluer! But FWIW I think your lake or pond looks perfect for a southern US scene.
Dust is directly applied on the building. I think it is possible to paint cardboard models with acrylic paints. I do it before assambling due to the fact that it is much easier to paint separate parts using different colours. It is usefull to impregnate cardboard before painting. You can grid well impregnated cardboard. I paint tracks both by handbrush - small diorama, as well as by airbrush. I do airbrush before ballasting and try to use tha airbrush at the angle preventing to much paint on top of the track. I remove any paint from the top of the track immediately using ear stick with some paint thinner. I do not have electricity problem with this method.
Airbrushing sounds efficient. And I’m glad to hear that thinner can remove the paint with no contact problems.
It is up to you. I airbrashed my track already laid on the module. The length of the section is approximetely 1 meter.
I actually glue down my track, mask off any turnout points and pivots, then spray paint, and sand down the rail tops afterwards. You can paint either before or after laying the track, but I don't use roadbed track.
Sanding down the top of tracks is not a good idea. You may have some more dust problems or even some corrosionj problems due to the fact that the track is not that plain any more .... Here is some progress with my new road - the road surface is made of concrete panels (in reality). Here on the module they are made of gypsum and produced by fellow modeller: https://sklep.hugwa.pl/pl/c/1220-Z/21 . It is easy to weather them. There is still some work to be done on the edges of the road next to the grass.
Always enjoy seeing your master pieces in scenery as progress is done! You do so well in catching the colors in the real world! It also make it eye catching! great detail and thanks for sharing!
It is time to place some buildings. My dilemma is what to choose - electric tower with transformer or chapel ?
So what is the gate for? something to have a guard posted must be important! This must be were all you military equipment is! looks Great!
