Used a bare metal for mock up and then used a finished but scrapped production part from Joe. I'm doing the main double-spans today. When I get all 3 bridges sized in, I'll take every off and then plaster up, color, scenic and then lay track and the bridges. Pix of the last bridge cut in today and then the scenic stuff this week. It WILL be done this week. .
More pix: Stained the Hydrocal rocks. Example. Black wash under, brown blend+yellow ochre on most (note color on right where no blackwash) and extra blackwash overcoat in the middle to help highlight: Bottom rock for comparison. Blackwash only. Simply brush on more as needed for shadows, etc. Naturally gathers in cracks and corners. 2 minutes worth of work: Finished mounting: white is Hydrocal used to fill voids. Mix in a 1 pint bottle used for hair permanents (nozzle off center - available from any hair/beauty supply place for <<$2. Note: I normally do not prestain rocks and plaster. Shown only to highlight steps. Simple brush on black wash and then brown blend. No need to panic: it will be covered by ground foam anyway. High-rez pix at ZCentralStation: http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/thumbnails.php?album=272 (must be a member) ww.zcentralstation.com
Looks good Jeff. I wasnt worry about the brown. I thought you were modelling a drought. By the way, I really enjoy the progress shots.
next phase. Rocks blended in, river base colors started: Before: After: What it will start to look like by this weekend:
Finished the scenery and ballasted track. Need to put the rerailer track on the bridges and add the Z-Bend Track connectors. The other plain module:
Walters Cornerstone Plate Grider kit Z bashed to narrow spacing and centers. Original side panels. Laser cut ties. Placed rerailer rails and walkboards (HO scale 1x3 lumber to emulate 2"x10" planks). Link to big picture: http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/P1040748.JPG Other side of module has Micro Engineering N scale Deck Girder bridge. No mods necessary, laser cut ties easily span stock framing. 1x3 HO scale lumber for 2"x10" walking planks. Hi rez link: http://zcentralstation.com/modules/xcgal/albums/userpics/10023/P1040754.JPG .
Jeff that last picture is a great shot. You even got the gaurd rails in place on the bridges. Is the track hand laid or MT flex?
Uh, 'hand laid' if you consider I stripped the ties off of the MTL flex, placed an alignment jig on the track and CA'd it down to the ties .
