Colorado O Scale St. Vrain River Bridge Project

Since i do the trackwork, i'll answer the rail color question.  Rails were painted with RustOlem primer for rusty metal before laying.  After everything was in place,  the rails, spikes and tieplates were painted with Joe's Model Trains Custom Flat Acrylic Paint and a small brush.  It's not really as tedious as it sounds.  A little weathering should knock down the "new" rust look.  The BNSF rails behind my house are much darker brown than this color,  but they are only seen in direct sunlight.  Erik has been teaching me about the role of light in presenting models in a "good" light. 

Today’s pic of progress 

Roughing in the water base and refining colors. Will finalize with airbrush then on to water  

 What colors are you using on your water base ?  What are you doing for water ?

I’m mixing heavy bodied acrylics on my pallet to photos taken near Longmont of the St Vrain River. If you want to be technical it’s raw umber, cerulean blue, hunter green, violet, and in not that order. Water? -I have Envirotex, Modge Podge, that new stuff from Woodland Scenics sooooooooo.... I haven’t decided. I’ll let you know 

Thank you Erik . I look forward to sticking my finger into it !

CHOO-CHOO MIKE posted:

Thank you Erik . I look forward to sticking my finger into it !

Some further crude shots of continued work 

Not crude at all, Erik.  No nekkid wimmin. 

I like that second one. 

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Some further crude shots of continued work 

I see nothing "crude" about it.........

How will one show high water marks on the bridge piers?

Jan

Today’s picture progress did some test shots of a train. 

Still have a long way to go; I’m pleased with the overall appearance it’s workinh out the way I wanted it too. Made a stop at Caboose in Lakewood to stock up on supplies this afternoon. This hopefully will be a good week. 

WOW! Just WOW!

Erik,

Not only are you a great photographer, but you artwork in scenery is another great talent you exhibit !

Ted Michaels

AND your great atrwok

teddymich posted:

Erik,

Not only are you a great photographer, but you artwork in scenery is another great talent you exhibit !

Ted Michaels

 

AND Erik, your modelbuilding surely ought to earn you a commission from BRASSTRAINS since both of their Overland truss bridges sold over the weekend.  

Today’s progress 

All the while nursing a 5 month old. 

Loving those dad pictures! Great progress on the bridge, awesome.

Today’s progress pic

soon I’m hoping for some pouring...

Testing water effects with using an under surface sandbar formation in my computer before committng to the job. 

Just finished the first pour.. 

What a beautiful result! 

'hope the water is not too cold.......

jpv in France

This is really looking good, Erik. You nailed the sub-surface sand bar effect.

Some of todays progress pics 

Outstanding work, can't get much better than that, and I spend a lot of time around creeks and rivers when I'm bushwalking.

You have got it right Erik.

Roo.

Hey thanks Roo; I do as well spend a great deal of time along the rivers and streams. I still need to add another layer of water from Woodland Scenics I am very happy with the results. And it didnt stink up the house. The little ones are not really good at breathing that stuff. 

Well, back too it!

WOW. Just wow...

Thank you Lee

Under certain lighting conditions I am reasonably happy with the results of the water efforts to create the interaction between under water features and rocks along the banks. The sand bar is exactly what I was hoping for so typical of the Platte River and St. Vrain. 

In my opinion, this is your best scene yet Erik!  I've been following your work on this and I must say...its worth every painstaking scale stake you drove, all your drawings, research, scenery, design work, engineering studies, work sessions, bridge modifications, and the hours and hours of artistic love of scale work you've put into this scene. You're an O Scale 1/48 artist and it shows! Best work! Love it! Congratulations!

Many thanks Rick