The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

While I was planning to move onto other obligations, I just came across my stash of Scotch-Brite pads, so I cut up several pieces to create shadows behind the SuperTrees to be planted here.  This keeps the blue backdrop from shining through the few rows of trees, making it feel more like a forest and less a fence row.



DFF

[davefoxx]

A little inspiration derived straight from the A&R yard in Aberdeen.

I’m not going for a perfect match, @wm3798, but I started with this turd:



How dis?



I’m not necessarily finished, and I definite need to work on the cinder blocks.

DFF

[wazzou]

Not sure what your method was and if it’s sealed, but “I’d” take a slightly damp Qtip and try to get a little blue showing through, maybe?

[davefoxx]

Not sure what your method was and if it’s sealed, but “I’d” take a slightly damp Qtip and try to get a little blue showing through, maybe?

Not sealed yet, so I can do that!

Thanks,
DFF

[conrailthomas519]

Dave,
 just a thought here...may want to consider painting that steering wheel black instead of that white ring. After you knock out that door glass.

[wm3798]

I'll be there this week if you need any more reference photos!

[davefoxx]

Dave,
 just a thought here...may want to consider painting that steering wheel black instead of that white ring. After you knock out that door glass.

That white ring is actually just a reflection off of that glass that should be missing.  I doubt I’ll knock the glass out, though, because the interior (including black steering wheel) isn’t highly detailed and worth showing off.

Thanks,
DFF

[davefoxx]

I'll be there this week if you need any more reference photos!

Haha!  Photos from out in the field are always welcome.  Have a great trip.

DFF

[davefoxx]

Wow, I’m coming into the homestretch on completing the terraforming on this entire layout, which is by far the largest layout that I have ever built  This is a point that I have rarely reached on any layout.



I’ll probably hit the lower part of that sewer pipe with my sand colored “earth” paint when I paint these landforms.  Maybe.  Or, I’ll wrap it with one of those ScotchBrite pads.  Eh, I’ll figure it out.  Either way, I’ll wrap it with as many Super Trees as possible, although I don’t expect it to be perfectly camouflaged.  That’s okay.  That sacrifice is a small price to pay for the much increased ops potential and enjoyment that the A&R expansion has given me.

DFF

[Bendtracker1]

although I don’t expect it to be perfectly camouflaged.  That’s okay.  That sacrifice is a small price to pay for the much increased ops potential and enjoyment that the A&R expansion has given me.

DFF

That's a positive way to look at it Dave.
As another poster on another forum is keen on saying "It'll just enhance the Operations"

[DirtyD79]

Yeah, I'd say just put paint and some trees around the pipe. It's just one of those things you can't avoid and trying anything too elaborate to hide it would ironically draw more attention to it.

[Chris333]

"Kudzu"

[mu26aeh]

That's a positive way to look at it Dave.
As another poster on another forum is keen on saying "It'll just enhance the Operations"

I know exactly who you're talking about.  He's about the only one I visit that forum for

[davefoxx]

Just when I was making good progress, I run out of lightweight spackling.  Crap.  Well, for what little scenic landforms I have left, I guess I only should buy a quart or so.  I shouldn’t need a quantity that even comes close to a gallon.



DFF

[davefoxx]

Work progresses around the A&R line.  A new quart of lightweight spackling was purchased, and the terraforming is complete.   I also cut up a couple more Scotch Brite pads for the forest fill to hide the blue sky behind the rows of SuperTrees to be installed here.



When I bought the spackling, I also remembered to pick up some wood patch, which I just applied to the defects in the fascia.  I may apply the first coat of paint to the fascia this weekend.  I already bought a gallon of green paint that comes close to matching the leaves on my SuperTrees.  I need to figure out what color(s) to paint the pulls for the turnout throws in the fascia, though.  I’m considering one color for the pulls where normal is pulled out, and another color for the pulls where normal is pushed in.  That way, a quick glance will tell if a turnout is thrown for normal or reversed.

DFF