The Little Rock Line

Allen H Dec 31, 2011

  1. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yup, pretty much Boxcab.
    The local will leave Little Rock yard, run the layout counterclockwise (SB) working only trailing point switches, then enter the same yard, grab the NB cars and head back north clockwise back to Little Rock.
    I will have two manifests made up that can run during any session if needed or wanted to.
     
  2. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks.
    I stole the backdrop idea from @pomperaugrr and his layout after seeing what he'd done years ago, then I modified it just a bit.
     
  3. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Found some time tonight get the closer hills painted with foliage.

    It took me a bit to find the pattern I used several years ago, but I think I got it pretty close to what I did before?

    I left the foliage off the area right behind the bridge scene as I want to carve the river banks and then sling some plaster cloth and plaster to get the banks formed, then I can come back add the foliage.

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    Next comes the clouds...
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2022
  4. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    What do you use for the foliage, ground foam cover or something? Looks great and the size makes it look "far away"!
     
  5. pomperaugrr

    pomperaugrr TrainBoard Member

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    I love the painted foliage. It really gives the backdrop some depth.
     
  6. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks like the 'Bob Ross' method of dabbing paint...;)(y)
     
  7. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Dang, this is starting to look very realistic!o_O
     
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  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Now he has a bunch of us curious......
     
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  9. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    You absolutely nailed that distant hills look. Nicely done!
     
  10. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well actually it's an old technique, it's called "Liquid Leaf".



    [​IMG]

    Winner, winner George, that is exactly what I wound up doing.
    Please forgive my manners, it was late last night when I got it posted to my blog and here and I should have mentioned how I did it. But the bed was calling my name.

    I painted the backdrop with my sky color first, then painted the light green followed by the dark green, letting each coat dry between. Then as George said I dabbed the paint on using the acrylics shown above.

    I really had no idea what I was doing when I first got started but a friend told me to use a sponge or a stiffer brush and start dabbing the paint on. I started with the Dark Green and a touch of Black and used a small sponge. This left larger blobs than I liked so I switched over to a 1" paint brush and started mixing the lighter colors of Greens until I had several shades dabbed on, the more I did the better it looked to me, but it is was still kind of monotone with all the Greens.

    Then I remembered how someone misted a light dusting of Yellow paint on top of some modeled trees to act like sunlight was highlighting them, so I added some Light Green and Yellow in a slight arching pattern which instantly gave it depth. I made sure to keep the lighter colors on the same side of each hill.
    When I stepped back I could see the depth that was added.

    I've never considered myself an artist but I felt good after I finished off the first batch a few years ago and wondered if I could pull it off again.

    It's funny that you mentioned Bob Ross, George!
    A buddy had some fun with his editing software when I got the first round done a few years ago.

    Happy Little Trees!

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2022
  11. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    :love::love::love::LOL:(y)(y)(y)

    Wife and I where BIG Bob Ross fans. Back in the days of VCR's...she would tape all his shows...
     
  12. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Gonna have to go back this spring/summer and try that method on my somewhat bland foreground hills...(y)(y)

    .[​IMG]

    .
     
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  13. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Allen ???

    Did you use a 'fan brush' to make the pine trees on the ridges of the background hills ? TIA
    .[​IMG]
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sounds like a technique similar to 'stippling'?

    BTW- There are many Bob Ross videos on YouTube. I have saved a few for reference. Very helpful.
     
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  15. Philip H

    Philip H TrainBoard Member

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    Ya know Allen, you do have the Bob Ross look to ya. That head shot would make a fun profile pic . . .
     
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  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    (y):D;)
     
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  17. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Never taped them, but I did watch a lot of them when I was in school.
    Always fascinated me how fast he created his paintings.


    No George.
    I just used the typical 1-1/2" I used to paint the green layers on with.
    When I was painting the darker green, I brushed upwards to remove a blob and it left those upwards spikes.
    Like you, I thought they looked like a tree line, so I left them and continued to brush upwards along the whole length.

    When I did the first stretch a couple of years back, I stippled the treeline with a smaller brush and the green shades to break up the sharp line.
    This worked as well, but the original stretch had different colors.
     
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  18. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is exactly what that method is called Boxcab. I couldn't for the life of me remember the name.

    Yeah, I think they still have merit for the hobby.
     
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  19. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hmmmm?
    Might have to try that... :LOL::LOL:
     
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  20. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Looks like the clouds rolled in over El Dorado this weekend.

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    These were made with homemade stencils and my airbrush.
    I used a soft white and a light gray, thinned, cheap acrylic craft paint.

    [​IMG]

    With the backdrop basically done, I can move ahead with getting some of the buildings assembled so I can start working on the
    new track locations in El Dorado.
     

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