So then! An order of mine came today just in time for the weekend. Now that I've got the supplies, track laying can begin in earnest. First, I trim about 1/4 of an inch off of the length of roadbed. IMHO, N scale roadbed is too wide and spreads the ballast too far. This step makes the roadbed much narrower.
I spread some white glue over the track centerline I drew earlier and stick on the first length of roadbed.
You may notice in the those last shots, the tan plaster stuff. That is woodland scenics "Mold a scene plaster". I had never tried it and decide to try it out. When I first applied it it was way to coarse and lumpy, at least for this scene.
So I let the plaster dry and when it was strong I applied more Mold A Scene Plaster. This time I rubbed the stuff into the coarse layer, which smoothed thing out nicely. As always, questions, comments and criticism are welcome!
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this scene, Caleb! As always, your work is an inspiration for me to get my lazy self down into the cold basement and get some work done!
Looks great (as always)! Is that Woodland Scenics stuff their version of Sculptamold? Sure looks like it. Jamie
Thanks Tyler. I think its there attempt anyway! But sculptamold is still better IMHO, as I wrote, this stuff is much coarser, it might work better in larger scales.
I started work on the cut by the siding tonight. I'm going that eroded bank look, with a view rocks exposed. Gluing real rocks to the bank.
I agree Caleb, "out of the box" the cork roadbed is too wide. I too trimmed the roadbed on the unfinished layout that I'm building on a piece ( 24" by 36" ) of hollow core door The eroded bank looks good. Jacques
I just love the rocks - specifically, how you've captured the way a shale layer will drop large boulders as the weaker material under them is eroded away. One of the reasons your scenery is so beautiful, I think, is that you just "get" how nature works. --Bryan9
Thanks guys. The dirt and rocks have set up nicely. I plopped down some polyfiber and super trees to see how the scene will look... I think I might need to do a bit of touch up dirt work here and there though.
Stunning, thats how it looks. Great job. You mentioned that the Woodland Scenics plaster is or was too course for the area that you are doing there. Well I like the varried texture, I think that would be a good thing for some places between the tracks and the rest of the scenery such as a road. That way you dont get that completly flat looking view. I think that with a good mixture or grass colors, that would look awesome.
