Looks very good so far, especially the coloring of the rocks and the rip-rap/rocks fallen to the bottom.
Thanks guys, the rip-rap is broken pieces of plaster mix with woodland scenics. colors are earth and highlighted with buff. Some tress are homemade and woodland scenics pines. l do have some coastmans scenics tress for the foreground that l like too use.
That is some awesome scenery you have there. I would like to know how you did it. It looks so real. Rodney
Looks pretty good. Nice rocks and good coloring. However, I think the clearances are a bit tight. This looks like a rock cut, and although the rocks next to the tracks look like "rocks", they don't look like rocks that have been blasted, which are smoother than what you've got and have vertical remnants of the drill holes where the explosives were inserted to blast the cut. Also, I don't believe it's prototypical to have rip rap and random big rocks between the double track mainlines. Track crews would have had those outa there in less than a day. For added realism, I'm sure the prototype would also have had "rock fences" along both sides of the tracks, extending up 50 to 75 feet, which on the UP are wooden poles with insulators on them with wires running about every 10" or so which detect rocks that fall off the cliffs onto the tracks which are big enough to cause problems for an engine and train. But, I have doubts you've got room for those. Nice effort however. Prototype scenery is best accomplished using photos as a reference, just like building a model, since in fact, you ARE building a model when you're making rocks, adding color, applying grass and planting trees. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
I used Tamiya paints a dark color for cracks and crevices and after that airbrush Tamiya Earth color with a wash of black ink after. The rip/rap was glue in place and after it dried was airbrush and wash the same way. l used Tamiya Buff for highlights.
I like the 'look' of the scene. It seems very realistic to me, though as Bob has mentioned, I have concerns about the clearances of the track and the rock outcroppings. I'd hate to see a nice articulated steamer pass through there and have some appliances (pilot, number boards, etc...) knocked off while traversing that stretch. The talus or rip-rap at the base of the cut are good... the ones between the double mainline might be too big. Overall I'd be very pleased to have a scene as you've depicted. I'll continue to look at new photos as you continue to model the scenery on your layout.
Thanks Bob, believe it or not l myself don't care too much to always follow the "prototype" but the "rock fences" would have been a nice detail to have. Still trying too figure out about how to go about painting the "river bottom"? So far it's black with hits of blue, white and earth airbrush along the banks. I order some Dr. Ben murky pond and muddy river bottom weathering solution, not sure if this is going to help? Anyone on the broad ever used them?
Now the second pic I still can chance that and and give it a blast thur look as Bod was talking about and maybe add the "rock fences".
For that last picture, I'd honestly suggest replacing it. The corner of the rockwork, even with the portal, looks far too close to the first track outside of it. Also noticed in your middle of the set of three pics a distinct greenish tint; was that what you were going for?
Yep... I think you violated a cardinal rule of model railroading... Don't converge too many mainlines into a small area filled with mountainous terrain. Actually I don't know if that rule is valid... but... whenever I try to put too many mainline tracks into a small area... trouble usually follows. You probably need to put that track about 5-6" further back and it should be sweeping away from the mainline. The rock work needs to be further from the mainline tracks too... again another clearance issue there.
No clearance issue and it not glue down as of yet, but i think a blast rock look maybe better? l don"t want too move the track over.:frustrated: Anyone have pictures of what a blast rock cut should look like? Thanks Cal