Hi, All. I hope everyone is OK. It has been a while. I finished one of Jon Pope's tie cranes awhile ago and just got around to posting it.
WOW - FANTASTIC!!! I can literally smell the creosote on the rail ties being loaded. And your attention to the small details like yard clutter, weathering and color coordination are commendable. Well done!
Thanks, Lance. I'm glad you like them. I use a type of paper called Letramax which is solid black and tightly compressed. I cut it into 1mm strips and then use my chopper to cut them into tie-sized bits .One 15x20" sheet will make thousands of ties. I then toss them around with weathering chalks. I love the smell of creosote, BTW. I can smell it in the Boston subways. Be well. Jim
Jim, Nice impromptu diorama. Nice details! The painted board reminds my of the ground in a metal recycling yard. Scott
Thanks, Scott. Impromptu is the right word. I don't have a layout (yet) but I have been accumulating for a while. The paint I use for the undercoating is , "Golden" acrylics. It is available in art stores, and of course, the internet. It is thick and can be used to make textured surfaces. Be well. Jim
Any art supply store. I get mine at Blick's. It is also available at frame shops. It is plied as well, which makes the ties look even more authentic. You can make split and warped ties with little effort. I discovered it years ago for another project and always had it laying around. PM me and I'll send you an envelope-sized piece. Jim
Hi, Jeff. If you PM I will send you an envelope-sized piece to work on. It will give you 100's of ties. A whole sheet (15x20" smallest size) will make 100's of them. I just sent a piece off to somebody else who saw the pic. Jim