Colorado Midland Railway Engineering Report

[wm3798]

I like the Crimble Time trees!  The pink snow doesn't look so good, though...

[Dave V]

I like the Crimble Time trees!

I must be too young to get this reference... 

FWIW, these are Busch trees.  What's the best way to make them more realistic?

The first person to say "by throwing them out" gets the banhammer...   

[ScrewySqrl]

If they are Busch trees, perhaps some real beer?
 

[wm3798]

Try rolling them is some dark green very fine ground foam.  I bet that would Spruce them right up.

[Dave V]

Try rolling them is some dark green very fine ground foam.  I bet that would Spruce them right up.

Well played, good sir!

[John]

Try rolling them is some dark green very fine ground foam.  I bet that would Spruce them right up.

[nuno81291]

  Now that is my kind of tree    

[Dave V]

Englemann and Colorado Blue spruce are common here along with Ponderosa, Bristle Cone, and Lodgepole, although not all species will grow all the way to timberline.  The Blues are usually the ones you find above 11,000 feet along with the occasional Bristle Cone.

[Hornwrecker]

This is what I did with the bottlebrush trees.  First I hacked away at them with scissors to add some variety, chopping the tops off of some, then applied some cheap hairspray, coating them with either fine static grass (on the far right) or with some dark green ground foam that I sifted through a tea strainer.

[basementcalling]

I must be too young to get this reference... 

FWIW, these are Busch trees.  What's the best way to make them more realistic?

The first person to say "by throwing them out" gets the banhammer...   

Are you saying anyone doing so is just "Aspen" for trouble?

[Dave V]

This is what I did with the bottlebrush trees.  First I hacked away at them with scissors to add some variety, chopping the tops off of some, then applied some cheap hairspray, coating them with either fine static grass (on the far right) or with some dark green ground foam that I sifted through a tea strainer.

Both look fantastic!  Which ground foam did you use on the one second from the right?  That looks like blue spruce.

[Hornwrecker]

Both look fantastic!  Which ground foam did you use on the one second from the right?  That looks like blue spruce.

Scenic Express hazy green

[Dave V]

Scenic Express hazy green

Sounds like I'll be placing an order soon then!

[eric220]

Sounds like I'll be placing an order soon then!

At least it's legal where you live.

[Dave V]

On day 2 of 48 hours of quarters restriction due to bad bronchitis...  I have energy but still coughing like an idiot (and today's duties were primarily to attend lectures at a national leadership conference, so coughing would have been problematic).  So I'll be working in the basement while I recover.

I've been testing colors and textures for ground cover.  I understand most of the Railwire brain trust is probably not familiar with what Colorado looks like in autumn (beyond the bright yellow aspen trees) but the ground cover itself ends up looking brownish-greenish-yellow.  Usually there is some thin field grass along with the ever present juniper bushes.  Out toward the part I model there is a lot of loose rock even on the ground (alpine glacial moraine).  Overall I'm pleased with the color and texture, but the bushes will need work.