Weekend Update 4/7/13

[jnevis]

No modelling for me lately (seems like forever)
Retiring from the Navy Reserve tomorrow.  Plenty of BBQ smoking out back for lunch

MC, my parents are still in Dublin, not a bad place to be.

[Nilmadic]

just received my latest Shapeway creation.  Just getting it prepped for paint now.

This is a Trail King bottom dump trailer:







HuskerN

www.nscaleaddiction.blogspot.com

That is an awesome trailer! Is that something that will be for sale? Either from you or shapeways?  I would love to get my hands on one or two.

[dougnelson]

Been working on a PRR stone bridge.  Did some painting and mortar today.  Here is the progress:

[Dave V]

Doug, that looks great!  The mortar is perfect.

What am I looking at?  It has all the lines of the Atlas viaduct but the stones all have texture.  Is that a European kit?  I'm guessing 6 arches plus the background and you're building Sherman's Creek.

[pennsyfan1361]

Doug, your viaduct looks great. How did you make it?             Rich

[dougnelson]

Thanks guys.  I did start with the Atlas viaduct.  I added texture to each stone with a toothpick and a dab of matte gel medium.  It sounds nuts but its actually fairly easy and goes by quickly.  The results are worth the effort.  I also sanded down the weird texture dots on the Atlas arch stones and the added the gel.

The mortar is a product from Builders in Scale.  It is a powder that you mix with water.  After painting the surface, I make a pretty wet mix of mortar and paint it on with a brush and the I wipe it down with a wet sponge.  It's the first time I used the product and I am pretty happy with the results.

[Dave Schneider]

Very nice job on the viaduct Doug. That is top-notch work!
Could you share your method/materials for the painted stone?

Best wishes, Dave

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Doug,
That is looking really Pennsy Middle Division. Have you much more to go or is that about it for the item. I can see now why you want the handrails. Did you ever get that sorted.

Regards

Al

[dougnelson]

Dave:
The painting started with an overall coat of dark gray acrylic- Badger Modelflex Milwaukee Gray.  I then dry-brushed a tan color on the lower courses and a few random stones. I then added the mortar as described above.  After wiping down the mortar (in vertical strokes) some streaking remained representing residue lime mortar.  Finally, where too much mortar remained, I did a few touch ups with the dark gray paint.

PRR stone work varies in color from light tan, through a variety of grays, to almost black.  I liked the effect of seeing mortar lines so I chose the darker base color.  I have seen other stonework done in lighter grays with darker joints that also looks very good.  The Keystone Modeler #32 (March 2006) had some really well done HO stonework.

Al:
I will be adding handrails, steel reinforcing, track and ballast.  I am also trying to decide if i should expand from two to three tracks.  Chris was kind to send me some additional PRR pipe rail stanchions, but I do not have enough for this project so I may use Gold Medal Models industrial railings.

[pjm20]

Holy Crap, that looks close to Sherman's Creek Bridge! Everybody knows were that picture is. Nice rendition!

[RockGp40]

So several years ago I inherited Dave Foxx's Virginia Midland. I admit, I have enjoyed running trains around it immensely. I am a bit of a coward to make any alterations to it, so I have been playing with lighting and my wife's Ipad to photograph some scenes. I was pleased with the way this guy came out.

In the picture, ROCK #777 is seen supposedly shoving a bad order car in for repairs.

[Philip H]

Nicely done Brian. Given what Seuss has done to The Beastie, I'd say you'd be fine making changes.

[Dave V]

Doug,

That's two great modeling tips in one post!  I'll remember that on my next expansion of the Juniata Division.

So, obviously, that bridge begs the question...  Are you expanding or replacing?  And were we right about Sherman's Creek?

[kelticsylk]

Been working on a PRR stone bridge.  Did some painting and mortar today.

Whoa!
Now I know how my Juniata River bridge SHOULD look. Thanks for sharing!

[kelticsylk]

DAY Tower in Enola Yard, July 1956...  An L1s leads a transfer freight toward Rockville Bridge and Harrisburg Yard while a coal train has just arrived destined for Philly via the Shocks Mills Bridge and the Atglen & Susquehanna Low Grade line.

Dave,
What is the photo for the backdrop? It looks like something I would want to use at Tunnel Hill / Gallitzin.