Mountain Modules One More Go Around

Loren Sep 29, 2011

  1. alert

    alert TrainBoard Member

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    Wow. A Mountain in Z scale really looks like a mountain. Great job.

    Terl
     
  2. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Loren, awesome as usual. Nothing like a National Train Show to amp your work schedule.

    For the water, get some ModPodge or Matte Medium from Michaels, Hobby Lobby or other art supply stores. They are the essentially the same. You might try the semi-gloss first. Literally pour a small line down the middle. Drizzle it in a random wiggle, meandering path. It is thick so it will be slow to pour or you can brush it on. Let is settle overnight. Add more, here and there. You can build up areas as it doesn't self-level as bad as MagicWater, Realsitic Water, Future Floor Wax, Envirotex, etc.

    The nice thing about Semi Gloss or Matte is it doesn't show the dust that settles over the several days that it seems to take any product to dry - completely. But in rocks or turbulent water, it is not as visible. Any thing you pour into those rocks, is going to creep UP onto them. The secret is to put the rocks in, later, as it is setting up. Add a few more rocks in select locations.

    Start with a little bit, add more, here and there. Flood (shallow, wide), turbulent (narrow, rock impeded, zig-zag).
     
  3. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Jeff, yes, the pending NTS is starting to cause a shornening of the days it seems and we aren't talking daylight hours here. I count 148 days until I leave for Portland. Each day is precious in time spent wisely as I have three modules more to finish.

    Teri, thanks for the mountain compliment......too bad you can't see all my mountains in person.

    Jeff, I am not sure exactly what way to go with water. I have the Magic Water, and am seriously considering using it, but now you have given me pause to reflect. Maybe start with a 'little' magic water for the basic line of river drop and then add the medium in places to create the swirls and rapids.

    One thing about water effects, it is almost impossible to correct it once you have committed.

    We'll see.
     
  4. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    They are all pretty much a polymer so you can blend or over coat without much issue. So, start with the Magic Water, pouring or dispensing a tiny meandering 'trail' path down. If you have a known flat flood area, a bit more. Any obvious sloped areas, the narrowest and smallest amount (as it will creep downhill underneath). Learn from these smaller amounts, wet the rocks will look, where you really did not want it to be (the reason to add more rocks after). And stay away from scenery material, as it will leach it out - fast. Later, you will add white acrylic drops to the medium to make turbulent water.

    Call me anytime.
     
  5. RobertAllbritton

    RobertAllbritton TrainBoard Member

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    oh, Oh, OH!!!! Now I am SERIOUSLY looking forward to Portland!

    Love your stuff Loren - it looks Fantastic.

    Better pad lock those modules to the floor or vandals might put them in a cargo shipment to Oslo. :cool:
     
  6. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Now what would Hans want with Southern Oregon mountains? My trees only grow well in the Pacific Northwest. If they got moved, they might die :eek:)
     
  7. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Putting this one to bed.

    Ok, I guess it is time to call it quits on this module and move on to the next one that needs TLC. I think a module is like a painting, you can always add more to it so maybe it is never done. There comes a time when you must simply put down the brush, or in this case the ground foam, trees, and glue, and move on.

    I have resigned myself to not being my best when it comes to making water features. This looks fine in pictures, and not quite so fine up close and personal, but it is what it is. Maybe I will refine it a bit more later, but as I said, it is time to go to work on another module. So, this ends the saga of the Gray Whale module.

    Two pictures were taken in early morning sunlight and the other about mid day.
    The End
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 14, 2015
  8. Don A

    Don A TrainBoard Supporter

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    Beautiful, Loren, just beautiful. I can't wait to see this in Portland.

    ...don
     
  9. JamesTraction

    JamesTraction TrainBoard Supporter

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    Loren, top notch buddy. So realistic. -James
     
  10. zJack

    zJack New Member

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    Loren,
    I finally got to the modules. FANTASTIC work. I love them. Everything seems well proportioned and very well done. I look forward to seeing them in Portland in August and meeting after all these years. Regards----Jack
     
  11. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to Trainboard Jack.
     
  12. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Jack lives in Utah and has several fine modules himself. We have been communicating for years now and finally this summer we get to meet face to face at NTS. Sorry John, but I don't think Jack is a CSX fan. :eek:)
     
  13. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome, Jack! Good to have you aboard.

    Loren,
    Where do I start... Your rocks.. well, they... RAWK!
    If not for the double track mains, this could easily pass for anywhere of the Moffat Tunnel sub in CO. Otherwise, this could easily pass for the upper reaches of Donner Pass on the east side of the summit. There's likely more, but the bottom line is the rocks are very realistic. The creek has that silty, snowmelt look characteristic of mountain streams. It's so real I want to grab my fishing pole and go trout fishing.
     
  14. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    That green COLD water is perfect ! Rocks, as usual are . . .photogenic. Great meandering trackwork.
     
  15. SYROUS

    SYROUS TrainBoard Member

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    Breath taking scenery on the module, really great work.
     
  16. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looking good Loren! Jim
     

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