The central VA door layout progress

Thank for the compliments guys! Sorry for not getting back on you questions earlier, its been a busy last few days.

I apply washes of acrylic paint between the rails and it flows down the ballast. I need to get some more paint, but when I do I'll post some pics of the process.

Well, I start out by picking out the best super trees from the pack and trimming them if down if needed. Then I hit them with three colors of spray paint. A basic light Grey primer is the base coat, followed by a misting of dark gray and a VERY light misting of brown.



Next, the trees are dunked in diluted white glue:

 

And covered in ground foam:



In the past I haved used "fine" turf ground foam on my super trees, but recently I have tried using "Coarse" turf instead. I definitely prefer the coarse foam. It fills the tree out better and I like the look of the texture.



Another good thing about coarse turf is that it doesn't completely cover the fine super tree branches. In this shot a tree with coarse turf is on the left and a tree with fine turf is on the right. The fine turf coats the branches like moss whereas the you can see some fine Grey branches on the coarse turf tree.



And that about it!

 

Great work and thanks for the nice "how to" pics!

 

Nice work Caleb.:thumbs_up::thumbs_up:

 

Thanks a bunch Caleb for the trees tutorial.
I have question?
you are talking about "fine turf ground foam" is it from scenic express N scale kit ( N-Scale SUPERTREE STARTER KIT: 2 - 5oz. Noch Professional Leaf Flake Flock ) ?
or from Woodland scenics?


Jacques

 

No, it's not Scenic express, it Woodland scenics. I've never used any SE foam, though I hear its good.

 

Thanks Caleb! Between your tree and ballast advice and Dave Vollmer's road advice, I feel like I am in great shape. I'll let you know how it goes. BTW as others pointed out, your tree groupings really make the scene "look just right." Jamie

 

Caleb...Are you just 'sprinkling' the foam on the branches...or 'pressing' it into the branches?

I am with the others...I am simply amazed. You CAN teach us Old Dogs new tricks !!! Thnxs ^5

.

 

Caleb Austin, You rate 10!

 

Yes, Caleb is the next George Sellios smile:

Jacques

 

Thanks Superheater and Jacques!

A little of both. Sprinkle some coarse foam on, and most of it will stick, but it is a bit thin in places. So then I will lightly press the foam into the branches. But its really something you have to judge by eye.

 

I forgot to add the link to George's legendary layout Franklin and South Manchester Railroad
http://www.horailroad.com/fsm/fsmlayout0.html

Jacques

 

Yeah, Sellios's layout is incredible. I'm nowhere near that! The way his scenery blends into the buildings is great. The color is just right.

 

Not yet...

 

Well you have the rural part down pat. It won't take you long to get the urban/small town stuff.

 

Well, we'll see. I have virtually no experience with urban areas other than building a few kits now and then. I'm looking forward to it though!

 

Hey Tyler, maybe you can fly Caleb up whenever you redo the scenery work on the WRS!

 

I think Tylers got it covered. I've seen his scenery and its very nice!

Here is tonights progress.

I have completely covered the tunnel hill with trees...They sure make the train look small.



And have started on Jarmans creek, below the tunnel.

 

A train creeps around the curve, about to enter Little Rock Tunnel. When the background is sceniced this will be a cool angle.

 

(gasp!) Is that hill entirely done with your Supertrees? I have a few areas that I need to be dense like that. Your work still amazes with every new post. Jamie