Colorado O Scale St. Vrain River Bridge Project

OUTSTANDING!

Well, you've done it Erik!!! This one absolutely looks real. The angle is terrific and adds to the overall look. Just like sitting on the bank fishing or trainspotting. I can't find anything that says model. 

This module will do more for "O Scale" at train shows than anything I've seen prior.   Very few layouts, much less club modules, get anywhere close to this level of detail, fit and finish, in any gauge. You've have the HO and N guys drooling!

Nice work!!!

Weathering?

BH

Butch,

I have not started the weather of the bridges yet that’s next; still working. Weathering wise it will be not as rusty as we see them today it’s only a 20 year old simulation (1940’s-1950’s)

Thank you for the great support! Glad you enjoyed it- so far.

Glad you like it John! And better yet picked up some unprofessional help! 

Erik,  this looks awesome.  As expected!

John Sethian posted:

Erik,  this looks awesome.  As expected!

Thanks John, I do appreciate the support.. 

Awesome picture's Erik!!

Thank you guys for the feedback 

Incredible work Erik. You attention to realistic detail is really enhanced by your skilled photography.

Well done!

PRR Man posted:

Incredible work Erik. You attention to realistic detail is really enhanced by your skilled photography.

Well done!

Thank you 

Incredible talent! this landscape is alive! 

jpv in France

Thanks JPV! 

Working in some trees

Super Trees! 

Late summer Black Eyed Susan’s  

A little further progress .. 

anyone know where I can locate a fisherman ? Fly or boat? 

Hi Erik

It's good that you left your tools in the photos - so we don't mistake it for the prototype. 

Arttista make a couple of excellent fisherman.

I have them on my layout.

Cheers

Thanks Max! Your layout Work is stellar!!

Thank you, Erik.  Most appreciated. 

The photos and modeling are awesome. Thanks for posting them. Is the layout built to travel to shows or sectional just in case you have to move?

Thank you Christopher,

It is a portable layout and can also be integrated into a home layout. 

Under surface effects layering and tinting and adjusting current effects 

Yes I could have done fish however I felt it was a little too much. I will plan on adding a fisherman and a line. Picked up one today from Artista online. 

Some further refinements to the water and riprap etc. 

Superb, Erik. 

That last photo kind of sucks but I was trying to capture the surface texture of the water and how it was interacting with the rocks and sands. Im glad your ok with the progress I trust your judgement. 

All quiet this end.

No sucking sounds at all. 

I would like to be on the banks of this river, watching at trains..........

Romantic, isn't it?

jpv in France

Thank you John, I really appreciate it. 

John. P. Johnson posted:

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. 

Hi John,

Can you tell me the importer of the thru plate girder bridge that you have displayed in your diorama ?

Thanks,

Ted Michaels (teddymich)

teddymich posted:

John. P. Johnson posted:

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. 

Hi John,

Can you tell me the importer of the thru plate girder bridge that you have displayed in your diorama ?

Thanks,

Ted Michaels (teddymich)

 

Ted, it’s actually my bridge John is assisting me with the incredible engineering required in building my section for the layout we both own together.  The model was built for me by a custom builder in China of brass. He was selling similar models on eBay and agreed to build one to a specific length and width found in the Rio Grande standards books. 

We’ve had some excellent feedback at a new show in Denver called the Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo today  

Gerald from Caboose Ltd (Caboose Hobbies) in Lakewood was very supportive in his critique; he is an accomplished Narrow Gauge modeler and instrumental in putting on this years 37th annual National Narrow Gauge Convention.

The layout exhibits well and continues to grow  

Bob Kjelland is an excellent resource for bridges and gave it the going over! One of his Northern Pacific bridges won best at the March Meet back in the 2000’s and was featured in O Scale News  1/4” to the Foot  

This gentleman is a an expert on civil engineering and was very impressed by the working miniature quality of the build  

Doug Geiger is a hard man to impress and he was! His knowledge of railroad operations and history makes him one of today’s leading authorities in our community  

I drooled all over Fred’s booth today  ;-)

This fine gentleman fired on the Espee AC’s! 

Great crew 

Really superb job on your bridge project, what ever happened to the coalveyor cars one of your group was doing, looked like it was coming along well.

upside down fireman

hibar posted:

Really superb job on your bridge project, what ever happened to the coalveyor cars one of your group was doing, looked like it was coming along well.

That was Trinkle Trains I am pretty sure he is still working on them. 

I have begun weathering the bridges. 

I need to get on the maintenance department I’ve found at least a dozen loose spikes. 

What an awesome railroad!

Erik C Lindgren posted:

I need to get on the maintenance department I’ve found at least a dozen loose spikes. 

Eric -

Very  nice work, and thanks for sharing the build. I really like the water as well... Well done!

I have the same issue above, but I term it as more of a loose screw!

Take care and include us in the future builds.