The Little Rock Line

Allen H Dec 31, 2011

  1. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Uncle Sam loved me too much this year, so it will be a bit yet. Am kinda hoping to get out there early next year, maybe that same show in Omaha...ain't too sure yet. Got to see how the pennies roll!
     
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  2. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    I just finished the first section of my backdrop with a layer of distant hills covered with trees. Bob Ross I am not, but having never done this before I feel pretty good about it and feel that I should be able to continue this method across my entire backdrop.

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    I started with a dark green acrylic craft paint and small sponge to cover the nearest hills. As I progressed to a lighter and lighter green, I stippled this on with a 3/4" flat brush.

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    These are the paints I used.

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    There's more on the blog...
     
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  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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  4. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    @mtntrainman
    Thanks George.
    It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.
    What I did first after I had the hills painted with the darker green was to use some cheap acrylic paint, the darkest of the ones pictured. I used a small sponge that was slightly dampened then lightly dabbed it over the darker hills until I had it about 90% covered. Then I took a flat 3/4" brush (what I had on hand) and mixed a little bit of the next lighter colored green acrylic paint with the darker green and began stippling that on over the first green until I had it about 75% covered.

    Then I mixed this same paint with some of the real light green. This time I only covered the top and the left side of the hills with the same stippling motion. I kept it on the left side and tops as that is the side where I considered the sunlight was coming from. This lighter green will start showing and defining the depth of the hills so don't cover everything. If you want more depth, then mix a little yellow into the same paint and cover only top portion of the previous green. The lighter the color, the less you apply.

    I hope I'm explaining this properly?
    Here's a close up so you can kind of see what I did. The only thing missing in the shot was the last little bit of yellow/green.

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  5. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I really like the 'trees' on top of the hills. Definately defines them as taller tree cover hills and looks better then just barren green that looks like short grassy knolls...like mine. :(
     
  6. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well there's no reason that you couldn't go back and stipple some paint on over what you have now.
    Mine looked just like what you have now before I stippled the paint on, give it a try.
     
  7. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    I don't know but that looks pretty damn good!!!! If I did that I would wake the neighbors to show them that! :)
     
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  8. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    True...but I'm going to have to practice on an old piece of sheetrock I have in the shed first. :sneaky:
     
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  9. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    LMAO! :LOL:
    Thanks MK!
     
  10. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Give it whirl George!
     
  11. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Looking like something that even I could do!
     
    Allen H likes this.
  12. steveparkinson

    steveparkinson TrainBoard Member

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    Looks good!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  13. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Bendtracker1, looking great, I really like the description of what you did to paint your background and foreground scenery is fantastic!!! It's easy to follow so anyone would be able to repeat the process and leave it open for someone to add their own personal touch. Keep up the good work.

    Joe
     
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  14. marty coil

    marty coil TrainBoard Supporter

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    Really. REALLY GOOD!!!!!!!!! Love what your doing!!!!
     
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  15. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Joe! Trust me I fretted over this for weeks before I actually picked up the brush! Until I started putting the lighter colors on and started to actually see the depth, I was worried I wasn't doing it properly. Now I finally have a bit of confidence.

    I'm glad I could explain it properly.


    Thanks Marty!
     
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  16. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    I extended the backdrop from Fordyce through Calion, just north of the Ouachita River this evening.

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    Next I hope to get the town of El Dorado proper raised and then I can work back to the river scene.
     
  17. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Bendtracker1, I really like your background, especially the clouds!!!

    Joe
     
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  18. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you Joe.
    I think these turned out a bit better than my first attempt.
    I tried to place the stencils with a little more thought and variation this round and took my time.
     
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  19. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Finally had the knee surgery done on the 8th of Nov. Today I was actually able to make it downstairs, but very slowly.

    After getting a lot of work on the layout over the past summer and fall I wanted to take a break for a bit. I've been itching to get back to work on my loco roster. I've got a lot to paint and few that need some milling. So since sitting sounded like a good thing today I pulled out my LifeLike GP18's.

    I started these a few years ago, but got side tracked and they got shoved back on the pile. Not a fan of the LifeLike drives so I thought I'd try stuffing and Atlas GP7/9 DCC ready chassis under these. So far so good.

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    Didn't need much milling, just enough to give me a little clearance on top of the chassis, the LL shell seems a bit thicker than an Atlas. I took a small pass off the top and off the top sides.

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    The most milling needed was on the ends, just took enough off the angled sections to fit the LL shell.

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    All done, just needs the tanks snapped on, some details added, some touch up and weathering.

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    I've got two more GP18's to modify, but with different schemes.
     
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  20. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Next up, I picked these custom painted Gems up on eBay numerous years ago and they got shoved back on a shelf. I ran across them when I dug out the GP18's. I just needed to get them back together, add a few details and get them dirtied up a bit. I'm looking forward to adding the new IMRC GP10's to the brood when they arrive.

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    More on the blog...
     

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