GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
Definitely! I have a technique in mind for adding the clouds in but I’m still doing some research. I’m also going to add trees in the foreground.
Northern Pacific Rocky Valley Branch Switching Layout Build
- Thread starter GuilfordRailman
- Start date
Definitely! I have a technique in mind for adding the clouds in but I’m still doing some research. I’m also going to add trees in the foreground.
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
Well, I tried my hand at painting clouds for the first time! Well, maybe the second time…I tried a few brush strokes with a different technique before doing this one
I think they came out alright! I going to touch up the clouds a little bit more tomorrow after they’ve had a chance to dry.
I got some paint along the top edges of the mountains so I’m going to need to touch that up as well but that shouldn’t be an issue.
After the touchups the next step is trees in the foreground.
I think they came out alright! I going to touch up the clouds a little bit more tomorrow after they’ve had a chance to dry.
I got some paint along the top edges of the mountains so I’m going to need to touch that up as well but that shouldn’t be an issue.
After the touchups the next step is trees in the foreground.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
You could almost leave the white on the tips of the mountains, looks like snow-caps.
Excellent job!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure I’d like to add snow-caps but if I do, I’ll definitely need to add in more detail.
Thank you!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
I like it so far! I haven’t played around with it much yet but it’s definitely better than the MRC Prodigy system I had on a previous layout.
I assume you’re referring to the clouds? In any case, I think you’re right! However, I’m modeling the Northwest United States and I figured that given it rains often there or is often overcast, a few extra clouds would be necessary to simulate a (possible) pending rainfall
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
So…I decided to make a change to the backdrops. After some additional painting of the clouds and landscape, I just didn’t like the look of it. I was impressed with my first try at painting clouds but the rest was not satisfactory. I decided to go back over the backdrop boards with the light blue I used as a base coat previously.
What I didn’t realize was that since I used acrylic paints and a variety of brushes for creating the landscape I had previously, it created raised textured portions of paint on the board. I tried sanding some of this down but I apparently didn’t do enough. It doesn’t show in the pictures but it is quite clear (in person) that mountains were painted over. I will probably address this in the future but for now I must move on as my deadline for the train show is fast approaching.
With that in mind, I also took some time to continue weathering the oil distribution center.
Work will continue next weekend
What I didn’t realize was that since I used acrylic paints and a variety of brushes for creating the landscape I had previously, it created raised textured portions of paint on the board. I tried sanding some of this down but I apparently didn’t do enough. It doesn’t show in the pictures but it is quite clear (in person) that mountains were painted over. I will probably address this in the future but for now I must move on as my deadline for the train show is fast approaching.
With that in mind, I also took some time to continue weathering the oil distribution center.
Work will continue next weekend
It's really coming together. Great job!So…I decided to make a change to the backdrops. After some additional painting of the clouds and landscape, I just didn’t like the look of it. I was impressed with my first try at painting clouds but the rest was not satisfactory. I decided to go back over the backdrop boards with the light blue I used as a base coat previously.
View attachment 202885
View attachment 202886
View attachment 202887
What I didn’t realize was that since I used acrylic paints and a variety of brushes for creating the landscape I had previously, it created raised textured portions of paint on the board. I tried sanding some of this down but I apparently didn’t do enough. It doesn’t show in the pictures but it is quite clear (in person) that mountains were painted over. I will probably address this in the future but for now I must move on as my deadline for the train show is fast approaching.
With that in mind, I also took some time to continue weathering the oil distribution center.
View attachment 202888
View attachment 202889
Work will continue next weekend
Don't worry about the imperfections. No one will notice them, but you.
People will focus on the overall picture and the mini scenes you've created.Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
I think it looks great. Very well done!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
That’s the problem, I notice them and it drives me nuts lol.It's really coming together. Great job!
Don't worry about the imperfections. No one will notice them, but you.
Thank you tho!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
Thank you!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
Did a little more work this evening on the layout. I had to cut a notch in the front panel of the shadow box for the NCE panel.
I’m gonna give these front panels an extra coat of paint before the show to make them look a little nicer
As I was lining everything up on the front, I forgot that I planned to deal with the portion of the layout where the two front panels meet. Due to my poor cutting skills and lack of tools at the time of building this, the panels don’t quite line up.
I’d like to use some kind of bracket or low-profile clamp that can wrap around each end of these and hold them together. Any ideas?
I’m gonna give these front panels an extra coat of paint before the show to make them look a little nicer
As I was lining everything up on the front, I forgot that I planned to deal with the portion of the layout where the two front panels meet. Due to my poor cutting skills and lack of tools at the time of building this, the panels don’t quite line up.
I’d like to use some kind of bracket or low-profile clamp that can wrap around each end of these and hold them together. Any ideas?
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
I’ll check it out, thanks!
GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
Just about “finished” with Rocky Valley. I completed a few more little projects over the weekend.
The first of these was getting everything finished up around the oil distribution center. I added the last few grass clumps and scenic details.
I also took a couple minutes out of my day to add another dead tree onto the layout. There was one particular area where I had filled in the bottom backdrop screw holes with plaster and evidently didn’t quite smooth it out all the way. I decided a dead tree was the best I could do to cover up the minor mistake without sanding and painting again.
I like the look of it!
My biggest project for the weekend was creating some curtains for the base of the layout using fabric from Joannes. My fiancée helped me create these
One the fabric glue dries, I can hang these up on the layout with some Velcro strips to give the layout an “official” exhibition look
(Kinda hard to see with the poor lighting)
Lastly, I touched up the front of the shadow box with a fresh coat of paint.
(The poor lighting continues, sorry!)
I’ll be finishing up the last couple tasks over this next week and it’s off to the show November 10th!
The first of these was getting everything finished up around the oil distribution center. I added the last few grass clumps and scenic details.
I also took a couple minutes out of my day to add another dead tree onto the layout. There was one particular area where I had filled in the bottom backdrop screw holes with plaster and evidently didn’t quite smooth it out all the way. I decided a dead tree was the best I could do to cover up the minor mistake without sanding and painting again.
I like the look of it!
My biggest project for the weekend was creating some curtains for the base of the layout using fabric from Joannes. My fiancée helped me create these
One the fabric glue dries, I can hang these up on the layout with some Velcro strips to give the layout an “official” exhibition look
(Kinda hard to see with the poor lighting)
Lastly, I touched up the front of the shadow box with a fresh coat of paint.
(The poor lighting continues, sorry!)
I’ll be finishing up the last couple tasks over this next week and it’s off to the show November 10th!
Just about “finished” with Rocky Valley. I completed a few more little projects over the weekend.
The first of these was getting everything finished up around the oil distribution center. I added the last few grass clumps and scenic details.
View attachment 203495
I also took a couple minutes out of my day to add another dead tree onto the layout. There was one particular area where I had filled in the bottom backdrop screw holes with plaster and evidently didn’t quite smooth it out all the way. I decided a dead tree was the best I could do to cover up the minor mistake without sanding and painting again.
View attachment 203496
I like the look of it!
My biggest project for the weekend was creating some curtains for the base of the layout using fabric from Joannes. My fiancée helped me create these
One the fabric glue dries, I can hang these up on the layout with some Velcro strips to give the layout an “official” exhibition look
View attachment 203497
(Kinda hard to see with the poor lighting)
Lastly, I touched up the front of the shadow box with a fresh coat of paint.
View attachment 203498
(The poor lighting continues, sorry!)
I’ll be finishing up the last couple tasks over this next week and it’s off to the show November 10th!
You've really done a nice job. I hope you compared photos of your junk piles before and after weathering too.
The background highlights the scene and shadow box really well.
Marlin338MX
Well-Known Member
That looks great!
