The Little Rock Line

[Bendtracker1]

Making a little progress on the creek.
I got some of the landscaping installed using craft foam to form the main part of the creek.
Then added a bit of sculptamold to ease the banks into the water.
I was then able to trim the bents to a known height.
I'm trying to get the area immediately surrounding the bridge done first so I can get the track back in operation and I'll
finish the rest of the area over time.

[CRL]

Never said white foam wasn’t messy to carve, just easier, and the final shape is much more organic. Keep the shop vac nearby. I encapsulate all the foam in a thin layer of Celluclay, a paper mache product similar to sculptamold.

[Bendtracker1]

I finally started Terrafoaming the creek scene.









The rest of the story can be found on the blog.

[OldEastRR]

Looks great.... and you did raise the creek banks higher than the flat sections holding track.

[Bendtracker1]

After getting all the foam in place and shaped, I gave everything a good coat of latex earth.



Then I mixed up some Ground Goop (tried to color it brown, but it turned pink  ) and worked into the edges along the creek to form undercuts.







Then another coat of latex earth.





I applied some acrylic paint for the creek, it was still wet when I snapped this.

[Bendtracker1]

Made some progress.
I wasn't happy how the paint for the creek turned out, it was too thick and it left some heavy brush marks. Applying a gloss medium only enhanced the brush marks. So I decided to pour the creek and while I was at it, I added some brown craft paint to give it a muddy, silted look like the image from Google Maps.







The water dried with a very glossy look, so I added some very fine ripples with some acrylic liquid mediums and padded them with a foam paint brush for a look of a gentle breeze.



Once the creek and ripples were dry I installed the bridge and track.


I'm finally on the downhill side of this scene.

[davefoxx]

Allen,

That looks fantastic!  The water color looks right to me, and the eroded banks at certain parts of the creek is often overlooked by modelers.

Kudzos,
DFF

[Bendtracker1]

Allen,

That looks fantastic!  The water color looks right to me, and the eroded banks at certain parts of the creek is often overlooked by modelers.

Kudzos,
DFF

Thanks for the kind words Dave.
I see what you did there!  LOL

Now for the fun part, greenery and Kudzu   

[Bendtracker1]

This morning I felt like a kid on Christmas morning!
After my first shot of caffeine I went downstairs and removed the "C" clamps and checked out the bridge.

Everything looked good.


This evening I filed down the railheads, cleaned the tracks, fired up the layout and got a couple of videos of the first train across the bridge.

[nscalemike]

I really like this scene.  I think it is a great improvement and a nice look!

I looked back a few pages earlier and on your blog a little but couldn't find the track plan.  I know I've seen it before but do you have a link to it?

Mike

[Bendtracker1]

I really like this scene.  I think it is a great improvement and a nice look!

I looked back a few pages earlier and on your blog a little but couldn't find the track plan.  I know I've seen it before but do you have a link to it?

Mike

Thanks Mike!
Here's the blog post as I was planning for the bridge:  https://thelittlerockline.blogspot.com/2022/01/fordyce-makeover.html
Here's the most current track plan, I need to update the tracks in Fordyce.
 

[Philip H]

Dang Allen - spot f’n on. Well done.

[Bendtracker1]

Dang Allen - spot f’n on. Well done.

Thanks Philip! 

[Bendtracker1]

Over the last few days I've gotten the vegetation base and riprap applied on the Whitewater creek scene.
Trying to get things prepped for static grass

[nscalemike]

Looking real nice!  You making me get anxious to get started again!

Mike