@BillYo414 posted:Better to take your time and get it right, than hustle and get it wrong. Plus I enjoy the extra photos of your layout that get posted while you sort out the business
take your time!!
So happy you are enjoying the photos.
Me? I'm going 
.
George
Updated 8/30/2021:
Got the Great Stuff foam and quilt batting method going today on the Eastern Approach. It still needs paint, ballast, cinders, and vegetation, but I am much happier with this look.
More when I know it. 
George
A whole hillside built in a day! Right on!
@BillYo414 posted:A whole hillside built in a day! Right on!
I wish. It took a day to execute but two weeks to figure out what I wanted to do. Not to mention 3 false starts.
But I'm happy with how it came out.
George
Yes, but now you got it down pat for your other scenery!!
Updated 8/31/2021:
OK!! More forward progress was made today. The hillside in front of the Eastern Approach got painted - it's first coat of the Behr color I use for terrain. It's called Desert Clay. I guess I could have kept it white and let it portray a snow scene (now where are my Dept 56 snow-globes and buildings? 
), but I decided to paint it. It will get another coat / touch-up tomorrow.
I like this scenery approach, but it does soak up a lot of paint.
More when I know it.
George
Looks great, George!!!
Where do you live George I would like to come a see your layout?
@douger posted:Where do you live George I would like to come a see your layout?
Couple of thoughts on that:
If things smooth out and I make the anticipated amount of progress, then by next April (my NMRA Division's Model Train Jamboree) my layout will be open for touring. Until then, I'm not even letting local NMRA division members in for a look.
I will keep you on the list. In the meantime, please "Like" the thread.
George
Is the paint intended to make it look like a field of grain? Or is that just what I interpreted?
@BillYo414 posted:Is the paint intended to make it look like a field of grain? Or is that just what I interpreted?
No, the paint is intended to provide a backup earth tone. The area will get (from the tracks outward) ballast, cinders, grass / vegetation / weeds. In the vegetation area, there will be (probably) be some bald spots. I don't want white foam to be visible.
George
@G3750 posted:Updated 8/31/2021:
OK!! More forward progress was made today. The hillside in front of the Eastern Approach got painted - it's first coat of the Behr color I use for terrain. It's called Desert Clay. I guess I could have kept it white and let it portray a snow scene (now where are my Dept 56 snow-globes and buildings?
I like this scenery approach, but it does soak up a lot of paint.
More when I know it.
George
George, that has got to be the coolest thing I have ever seen when it comes to making some scenery of long banks, hills or such. That is amazing, can't wait to see what it looks like when it is done. Sorry I've been on and off for a big stretch over here. Can't seem to catch up(not ketchup). Just don't seem to find the time half the time because of topics that pop up that I don't seen to find that interesting which bury those that I do. One day there was 6 topics that wasted my time, which came back up because of people I follow. Better to follow them than lose out on something interesting, so I tolerate it. Just wish that I had more time.
@G3750 posted:No, the paint is intended to provide a backup earth tone. The area will get (from the tracks outward) ballast, cinders, grass / vegetation / weeds. In the vegetation area, there will be (probably) be some bald spots. I don't want white foam to be visible.
George
George,
That embankment came out very nice. Looks like dead grass/vegetation.
Tom
@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:George, that has got to be the coolest thing I have ever seen when it comes to making some scenery of long banks, hills or such. That is amazing, can't wait to see what it looks like when it is done. Sorry I've been on and off for a big stretch over here. Can't seem to catch up(not ketchup). Just don't seem to find the time half the time because of topics that pop up that I don't seen to find that interesting which bury those that I do. One day there was 6 topics that wasted my time, which came back up because of people I follow. Better to follow them than lose out on something interesting, so I tolerate it. Just wish that I had more time.
Thank you, Dave. The technique is pretty simple, actually. It just took me a few tries to do it for that distance. But once you get started, the whole thing took minutes.
George
@PRR8976 posted:George,
That embankment came out very nice. Looks like dead grass/vegetation.
Tom
Tom,
Thank you, but it's not done yet. The plan is to have ballast along the top covering the track and the Vinylbed, followed by a stripe of cinders, and then a band of vegetation along the bottom.
George
Updated 9/2/2021:
I worked on the area around the Stone Arch and the "backwater".
This is my very first attempt to photograph the arch. It's so heavily forested, I could barely tell there was an arch.
Mine is a little easier to see.
I'm still not finished.
More when I know it.
George
It looks great, George!!
Keep Up the good work and keep posting.
Thanks guys!
George
Updated 9/5/2021:
Working on the conduit for the Stone Arch, the scenery and backwater in front of it, and an "H" fixture (double line pole).
I built supports for the conduit out of Plastruct angles, wire, and Tichy NBWs. Tonight I got the courage to actually try installing them on top of the stone arch. They are a scale 9' apart across the face of the arch. I still need to install the conduit as well as some cinders and vegetation.
More when I know it.
George
That’s a good start at the conduit, George
Updated 9/6/2021:
Conduit: DONE!
It's possible I will add some cinders and foliage to the top of the Stone Arch, but the hard part is done. The conduit curves down and into the approach span trusswork, presumably to pass along the inside of the span on its way over the river.
More when I know it.
George
George,
The conduit turned out very nice. Is it for drainage off of the railroad? If it looks like other areas of the arch bridge I'm sure it has overgrowth all around it.
Dave
@luvindemtrains posted:George,
The conduit turned out very nice. Is it for drainage off of the railroad? If it looks like other areas of the arch bridge I'm sure it has overgrowth all around it.
Dave
Great question, Dave.
Actually, no. It's not for drainage. Check out the photo below. See the telephone / telegraph wires heading out to the bridge? They end at that "H" fixture (it's actually got 3 vertical poles). In the era depicted below (1950s? or earlier), there has to be a way to get those lines across the river. Almost certainly, that means a conduit of some sort which must pass either on top of the stone arch (it's solid rock) or on the southern face. Once west of the stone arch, it most likely passes under and into the trusswork of the approach span.
So this is my interpretation / guesswork / modeler's license. And I've been researching that unique "H" fixture. I plan to model it.
George
George,
Gotcha! Your theory makes sense. Love the photo. Haven't ever seen a steam engine or photos of one on the bridge.
Dave
That rocks George. Excellent work, looks great. 👍🙂
Updated 9/9/2021:
Boy am I tired! I've been spreading ballast, by hand!
Nothing has been glued down yet. I'm still working it.
More when I know it.
George
Your efforts are giving great results!
This looks really excellent!!
Updated 9/12/2021:
Today I worked on adding the band of cinders along the Eastern Approach. Next will be the vegetation.
More when I know it.
George
Updated 9/12/2021 (PM):
OK, so I was feeling a little ambitious. Here's a first cut at the vegetation. I might do more - not sure.
More when I know it.
George
It is really looking great, George! The straight edge to keep the cinders out of the ballast is a good idea!
@Mark Boyce posted:It is really looking great, George! The straight edge to keep the cinders out of the ballast is a good idea!
Thanks Mark! I had to do some remedial work on the border and decided to use this in the do-over.
George
I do remedial work all the time 😄
Updated 9/14/2021:
The backwater or lagoon is poured!! Just got done. Hope it turns out OK because it will be impossible to do over.
The blue heron is visible below as are the turtles catching some rays on the log.
Phew! Glad that's over. Time to get onto something a bit more simple.
More when I know it.
George
It looks excellent, George! The heron and turtles are great additions!
@Mark Boyce posted:It looks excellent, George! The heron and turtles are great additions!
Thanks! We have a whole zoo on the layout: turtles, heron, possum, fish, wolf, fox, rabbits, bear, dogs, and of course, Sasquatch!
George
Updated 9/15/2021:
It's dry now!
George
I would call it a success!
Well done, George!
The lagoon work and ROW detailing is special!
Peter
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