The Los Pinos and Toltec Smelter

[Peter S]

Thank you for your very kind comments Gary. I'm lucky enough to have an artistic "eye", it just happens. Sometimes though areas lack inspiration for a looong time. But when I'm happy with a scene. I like to stand back and watch the train run through it. This scene brought a lot of elements together, water, bridges, trees and colour.

[Dave V]

Well, FWIW I live here in Colorado and have for 5 years so I'm 100% immersed in the prototype...and yet you've captured the look and feel of the local scenery better than almost anyone else I've ever seen.

[Peter S]

Dave, thank you very much for the high compliment. It's very hard living on the other side of the world facing completely different vegetation, but luckily there are some excellent photos (and photographers) both past and present that give me inspiration.

[Peter S]

Another week and I am in a mess. Plastering. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to see where I've been! This time I am using "wet" molds, attaching them to a hard shell base. I have a few to go.They are all going on the entrance to the layout. Since I like one particular mold it is going to be slow progress. Also just finished the Narrow Gauge Colorado Delores Mill. It still amazes me what laser cutting can do. It's a nice kit. Not as large as I thought. This scene is from the other end of the bridge..where the scenery stops. The bridge is scratch built, the piers Chooch. I know the backdrop doesn't match up, but there are compromises. When you're running trains you don't notice it that much! Trust me.

[Peter S]

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[Mike C]

 Nice pic !  What are you using for the bushes , Supertree material or something else .....Mike

[Santa Fe Guy]

Nice shot Peter.
Rod.

[Peter S]

The bushes are a relatively new product from Scenic Express called "Briar Patch." I've found them to be a great product and very natural looking. Trees are Supertrees and the conifers made by myself, with Scenic express foams (both coarse and fine).

[Mike C]

 I'll have to try those !  How far does the material go ?  I'm thinking I'll need a lot of it .....Mike

[Peter S]

There are five different briar patches available from Scenic Express. They come in a bush type configuration around 6 plus inches wide on a plastic branch base that can be easily cut apart. It's great material and goes along way and easily glued to all types of bases.

[Peter S]

"Warren" isn't so much of a town as a stopping point for "off layout" reasons for a train stopping there" mail and papers, passengers, freight, whatever. It's based around an idea of "less is more" where the trains stand out against the scenery. The volcanic plugs in the background are cast from an 14 inch lump of coal I acquired for my rock mold connection. Every side of this magnificent feature is cast, including top and bottom. The photo probably doesn't indicate the green level. Digital photos are really hard on green. Other than that I am still working on the entrance to my layout room. The cliffs have been cast, the ballast laid, the ties painted. I now have cliff painting and grass and shrubbery to apply.
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[Peter S]

I must admit I don't run my C19's as often as I should. I want to master decoder pro speed match them and run them as a consist. But here's a nice photo I discovered by accident ion my collection with one stopped at the water column at Warren. I usually follow a pattern. I have a running day with my friends. Everything is tidyed up. I run for a few days and start a project which mess everywhere. I clean up and it starts again. At present I am still working on the entry area at the front of the layout room. I have just finished 40+ trees, I can make 9 a day before I loose my mind.I now have to clean up, and move on to the next phase vegetation. There is just so much stunning scenery material out there now I want to make best use of it. Then the guys are coming. Time to tidy up! Oh the C19 has been lightly weathered for the occasion. Dusted with Valejo engine black, bell rope and whistle rope and a red leather arm rest to lighten it up.
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[Santa Fe Guy]

C19 #346 has come up a treat Peter.
Looking forward to my next visit.
Rod.

[Peter S]

It's January and its time to clean up the workroom. But because its been twelve months of accumulated "stuff", it's going to take lot of small bites, because I keep getting distracted wanting to run my layout next door. There is another reason for cleaning up the workroom. I have installed a 4 track yard and need o complete electrical work and turnout installation.  The entrance to the layout room is finished bar for some carpet tiles. It's looking good to me, I am just thinking about animals to put there at present.
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[Dave V]

@Peter S ,

It's been great having other narrow gaugers on the Railwire for the moral support, but I think I speak for all of us when I say your work is on a completely other level entirely.  You've really inspired me to double-down on my scenery, and I still have a long way to go to be mentioned in the same breath as you and your layout.

Regardless of who models what I hope even the dyed-in-the-wool N scalers are dropping by this thread to see some amaze-balls work.

You get the Dr Hotballs Seal of Approval.