Was thinking, overnight, about modelling a burnt area. Just take some black weathering powder on your finger and rub it into the damaged areas, maybe with some ash powder, as well. I think it will look perfectly realistic (test first), and will be quick and easy to hide the damage. At least, solves the immediate issue while you ponder a longer term change to the scene (if ever).
The recent or ongoing fire might be interesting. I know that there are some flicking fire electronics out there, so maybe some blackened branches and brush with an animated fire set into it and some brush fire trucks positioned nearby with a fire crew. Maybe even a helicopter with a water bucket suspended over it.
A police scene on the freeway certainly would be prototypical. The new area could easily be a vineyard or orange grove. a high power line could be an incredible detail.
Thanks to all who have responded thus far; and specifically to John - the cop thing has been done to death, and this part of the Tehachpis do not have either orange groves nor vinyards - there may be some power lines but I've not seen any on Google Earth. I'm kind of leaning to a highway maintenance storage area by the rock face, and maybe another ranch for the blank area. Are there brush fires in the area of the rail line in those mountains? Just because they don't make the headlines doesn't mean thy don't happen, but there's not the brush density around there...need to hear from someone who lives there...
Jim, Many of the fires out here are simply grass fires, not brush. It burns fast, usually less than an acre or two, and only makes the news when the fire gets hot enough to catch the trees and start spreading. We really don’t have brush, just grass up to the oak trees, which have little undergrowth; unless one is in a zone where scrub manzanita grows. Most grass fires are caused by a spark from a car or farm vehicle, or carelessly thrown cigarette butt. Yes, there are plenty of small burns along CA58 between Bakersfield and Tehachapi. Can’t see why there would be any difference along the tracks, where they diverge.
Last year along the UP mainline in Nevada a grass fire was started by a derailed car on a train. Burned half the mountainside. Today since it was grass you can’t even tell there was a fire there.
I have seen pictures of an interesting grass fire scene modeled with a blackened, burnt center, surrounded by fiber optic fibers illuminated with flickering orange lights, making a very good impression of a slow burning brush fire. Add a fire truck and you have a real attention getter.
Did some revamping on the Bealville ranch - to refresh your memory, here's a shot showing a special train passing: And here's the updated version, first a glam shot then an overview: Basically what I did was move the barn toward the tracks to give more space for the corral - which has a new fence and lighting.
Jim... There's another new cam now, showing the BNSF crew swap and service bays at Belen, NM. Pretty interesting to watch how they do things.
You may remember that big bare spot - last of the water damage - from some time back... Here's a quick update - terraforming is done and I'm beginning to paint the buildings. This is another project aided by Google Street View - the site is in my prototype area - and should prove interesting as I get further along.
Pictures are very helpful... On observing the shot, I decided the garage roof was too high. I've reduced that height by three feet, looks much better now....