The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[LIRR]

Nice work on the trestle. Not to be an armchair quarterback, but shouldn’t you have ballasted track below first?

[davefoxx]

Nice work on the trestle. Not to be an armchair quarterback, but shouldn’t you have ballasted track below first?

Yes, but the trestle is not permanently installed.  Slide back a few rail joiners and pull a half dozen T-pins holding the track in place, and the trestle comes right out.  In addition to the ballast, I want to get a little more of scenery behind the trestle roughed in before it gets permanently installed.

DFF

[davefoxx]

Those are some good looking bridges. 
Looks like your rust streaks down from the bridge feet could run further down the abutment, and of course, the view could be much improved by covering all of it with kudzu!

Lee

@wm3798,

You're right about the rust streaks.  The first attempt was with my stinky Rustall that I have since thrown out, since I received my Monroe Models weathering washes.  I didn't like how the Rustall streaked, so I now need to go back in with my Monroe washes (I now have new rust and dark rust washes) and hit those abutments again.

Thanks,
DFF

[Steveruger45]

Yes, I agree, some very good looking spans indeed. Dave how did you get that ripple effect on your pond/river?
Mine are too flat and mirror like (poured envirotex). Just wondering how to improve the current (pun intended) situation I have to be more realistic.

[davefoxx]

Yes, I agree, some very good looking spans indeed. Dave how did you get that ripple effect on your pond/river?
Mine are too flat and mirror like (poured envirotex). Just wondering how to improve the current (pun intended) situation I have to be more realistic.

@Steveruger45,

Thank you!  Here's how I did my lake.  The last step you should be able to do over your Envirotex surface to add wave action.

First, I painted the lake bottom:



I have to admit that I tried to blend in a lighter color around the edge of the lake to show shallower water, but the dark paint really overpowered the lighter paint and it practically mixed entirely.  So, the bottom as painted was not as I intended, but the lake I'm modeling has dark water and also does not show shallows near the edge of the lake:



I stippled several coats of Liquitex Gel Gloss Medium over the painted lake bottom.  Done!  It goes on white but will dry crystal clear.  As stated, you could do this over your Envirotex.  I wish I could explain the method of stippling, but I sort of just figured out what worked for me.  In fact, I have probably five or six layers of Gel Gloss Medium down- not because it's necessary, but because I was not satisfied with the wave action.  I probably have too much wave action, but I think this is one of those things that requires a little exaggeration sometimes to be effective.



Hope this helps,
DFF

[Steveruger45]

Thanks Dave, I will give the liquidated (freaking auto correct, drives me mad) gel gloss a try. I’m guessing I can get this stuff at Michaels, I have to get some paints and brushes there for my week off modeling to do list tomorrow, so. Sry (wtf, I know I typed very) timely info.  Thanks.

[unittrain]

I'm going to try this technique also that water looks great.

[davefoxx]

I'm going to try this technique also that water looks great.

Thank you, but be sure to thank @DKS.  This is the method of modeling water that he taught me years ago when I built the lake on the Seaboard Central 2.0.  I recently discovered that the same jar of Gel Gloss Medium was still good and used it again on this layout.

DFF

[davefoxx]

D'oh!  Just got an email from the vendor that the Atlas Rock Island GP40 is not in stock after all.  Back to the drawing board!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Well, after learning that the Rock Island GP40 was unavailable (so glad that my order for detail parts for that locomotive already shipped from Atlas ), I ordered a Walthers Proto GP9 decorated for the Burlington Northern.



As originally planned with the RI Geep, this unit will be patched, which I think will look good with a bit of blue and red patching the BN marks and the addition of the SC logos and lettering.  By patching, I can get this locomotive up and running in no time, as compared to a complete teardown, stripping, and repainting.  I also need to decide if I'm going to finally break down and buy an airbrush before attempting that second SC locomotive.

DFF

[davefoxx]

I received the custom Seaboard Central decals from Jeff at Shawmut Car Shops today.  Wow, that was quick!  They look really nice.  I'll try to do a test on the trestle, to see how they do.  Then, the decision can be made as to whether the bridge should have the roadname on it.

DFF

[Dave V]

I received the custom Seaboard Central decals from Jeff at Shawmut Car Shops today.  Wow, that was quick!  They look really nice.  I'll try to do a test on the trestle, to see how they do.  Then, the decision can be made as to whether the bridge should have the roadname on it.

DFF

I was thinking that bridge crosses a water body, and at a height that pretty much prevents anything taller than a dude on an inner tube from passing under it, so I was wondering if railroads would bother to advertise on the side of a girder like that.  Then I remembered from our multi-day rafting trips down the Arkansas River through Browns and Bighorn Sheep Canyons (upstream from the Royal Gorge) we can still see the "Flying Rio Grande" on every single girder bridge even though only rafters would ever see it.  So...Ed's Law applies here.

[davefoxx]

I was thinking that bridge crosses a water body, and at a height that pretty much prevents anything taller than a dude on an inner tube from passing under it, so I was wondering if railroads would bother to advertise on the side of a girder like that.  Then I remembered from our multi-day rafting trips down the Arkansas River through Browns and Bighorn Sheep Canyons (upstream from the Royal Gorge) we can still see the "Flying Rio Grande" on every single girder bridge even though only rafters would ever see it.  So...Ed's Law applies here.

We're actually referring to the trestle, which is only a competing railroad's track underneath.  The issue is whether a railroad go to the expense and advertise in those circumstances.  The ACL photo posted on the last page or two is one example, but, it's true, usually you see the road name where it's conspicuous, as in over a highway.  But, Ed's Law does win every time, and I like the idea of showing the Seaboard Central name on that bridge, which is the first scene you see when you enter the train room.

DFF

[Missaberoad]

We're actually referring to the trestle, which is only a competing railroad's track underneath.  The issue is whether a railroad go to the expense and advertise in those circumstances.  The ACL photo posted on the last page or two is one example, but, it's true, usually you see the road name where it's conspicuous, as in over a highway.  But, Ed's Law does win every time, and I like the idea of showing the Seaboard Central name on that bridge, which is the first scene you see when you enter the train room.
DFF

I think bridges with advertising over competing railroads is more common then simply an "Ed's law" occurrence.

CN seemed to like to put advertising on every bridge that crossed over CP even in locations with no other public access...
They even used their Courtesy & Service slogan (perhaps somewhat snarky considering the circumstances  )

CN over CP at Comnee, ON

and Rennie, MB - older shot here

IMO for what little that is worth, the Seaboard Central would be a proud short line with few opportunities for advertising, the B&B foreman would definitely take the opportunity to show off a little! 

[davefoxx]

Rusted me up some I-beams.  I like the randomness of the washes sometimes.  I'm considering drybrushing white or a very light gray over some of the wood parts to represent bleached wood.  Any thoughts?



DFF