Proposed HO/HOn3 Layout. Colorado Midland/D&RG/C&S

[Hawghead]

Dennis,
 
The ones I bought were four feet however, each of the lights had a small receptical on each end so that they could be connected together either butted end to end or with a short space connected by an included cable.  I put up two rows of four each butted together.  If I remember correctly I bought an eight pack for a very good price.

Scott

[dcarrell8]

Dennis,
 
The ones I bought were four feet however, each of the lights had a small receptical on each end so that they could be connected together either butted end to end or with a short space connected by an included cable.  I put up two rows of four each butted together.  If I remember correctly I bought an eight pack for a very good price.

Scott

I will definitely look into it.  I'm almost to the point where the ceiling is all I have left to do before insulation and sheeting the walls can begin.

~Dennis

[dcarrell8]

I've gotten started on the town and river scene on the Time Saver.

I Started by removing the foam for the area to be worked.
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I drew in the river and had it disappear behind the structures
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Next I layered in a road that will be about a 1/2" lower than the town and about track level
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I wanted the river to have just a little dynamic movement to it.... (enter cliche' river rapid water fall)
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I spent a few hours out in the drive way and robbing my daughters rock collection to add to the river.  Some rock castings were also thrown in.
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Here is how it stands now until I do some color testing on the rock molds and such.  I really want to get the correct color of Colorado if at all possible.
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I'm open for suggestions on rock coloring for Colorado!!

~ Dennis

[dcarrell8]

Another thing... if someone could help me out with this whole uploading photo thing.  Every since I upgraded to the iPhone Max, I have to JUMP THROUGH hoops to upload pics.  My last pic I have saved as a JPG and reduced to the same size of the other pics, it still won't upload inline with the rest.

 I give up!! LOL.
~ Dennis

[Summit]

Dennis- I had been waiting for an update. The river looks like it should be between Buena Vista and Granite.  I lost many a fishing lure along that stretch due to the huge projecting boulders.  As for helping you with color - it varies so much in the mountains, study pics and replicate your favorites. 

I'm a Colorado Midland modeler myself and really like what you are building.

[Hawghead]

Dennis,

I like the way the scene is coming along.  As to colors, I'd suggest contacting Dave V. offline, as he lives in the area and could perhaps provide you with some color picture of like areas.

Scott

[dcarrell8]

I've done some testing, although I'm fairly happy with the texture of the work, I'm not happy with the overall color of the rocks and earth.  It's all too dark.  Especially the smaller talus that doesn't match the larger plaster rocks. 

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I used New England Brownstone Super Dirt and stuff from the driveway.  I also used some darker earth color grout that I'm not particularly fond of now that it has dried... too dark for Colorado I think.  I'm thinking I need to try dry brushing some of the smaller talus to match the larger rocks.

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Again, I'd love input how to improve on the colors for the Colorado area.

~Dennis

[dcarrell8]

I think if I change the grout to a beige color and figure out a way to get a similar color on the New England Brownstone talus I will be on my way to creating what I'm looking for.  I plan on doing some touch ups on this before moving on to the time saver. 

~ Dennis

[Hawghead]

Dennis,

I think it looks good, but I agree that the color is not "Coloradoish" based on the photos I've seen.  I think it needs more red and yellow color to it.

Scott

[dcarrell8]

Dennis,

I think it looks good, but I agree that the color is not "Coloradoish" based on the photos I've seen.  I think it needs more red and yellow color to it.

Scott

I agree,  It will be some trial and error.  I plan on doing a few more test runs before I start the process on the time saver.  I have ordered an acrylic color called Provincial Beige that Peter Sutton recommended but unfortunately it still hasn't shipped.  It may have been imported from Australia!! lol

~ Dennis

[Hawghead]

I agree,  It will be some trial and error.  I plan on doing a few more test runs before I start the process on the time saver.  I have ordered an acrylic color called Provincial Beige that Peter Sutton recommended but unfortunately it still hasn't shipped.  It may have been imported from Australia!! lol

~ Dennis

Dennis,

Just make sure to document your process here, that way when I get to that stage you'll have already figured it out for me. 

Thanks,
Scott

[dcarrell8]

I've finally settled on the basic colors for my rock castings.  I took my phone to ACE Hardware and did my best to match colors from internet photos.  I'm sure they are not spot on, but ultimately I'm looking for a good representation of the Colorado area while providing a good back ground for the Locomotives and trains.

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I settled on two basic colors. ACE Hardware “Sourdough" 14B-5 and "Hot Sand" 14B-3.  I made many test samples and decided on the following process.  A wash of the casting in black acrylic which leaves the casting a grayish color and some randomized areas made a little darker.  Next I washed the casting with a very thin solution of the “Sourdough”  This leaves the rock with at least three different colors depending on how the plaster takes the color.  The final step is a dry brush of the rocks with the “Hot Sand”.   I’m sure I will tweak this as I go but as of right now I’m fairly happy with the results.

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I’m still not entirely happy with the base ground color.  I’ve used sifted sand from the driveway, I feel it’s still too dark.  I’m trying to find a source for Polyblend Sanded Grout “Butter Cream”. I would like to add it to my sifted sand and see how it looks.  Right now I can’t find any to order on line.

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~ Dennis

[dcarrell8]

Another little project I’ve done in my spare time.  I watched a great video of Stephen Bennett’s where he and another gentleman by the Name of Bill Schopf scratch build a structure out of wood blocks.  I thought I would give it a go.

I Started with two scrap 2X4’s glued together and squared up on the Table Saw.

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After carefully cutting away the un-needed material and a roof with a slope of 35 degrees the end result is a nice wood block building.

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Next step is to apply scale siding with windows/Doors added.  I went with clap board siding.

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I then painted the siding antique white making sure I didn’t cover the whole thing to have a nice weathered appearance.  Then I washed the Paint with Vallejo “Dark Gray” wash.

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The rest is just standard weathering.  I went with a tar paper roof made of construction paper.

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~ Dennis

[Summit]

The structure is great if you have the notion, buy some Model Railroaders from the 1940s and you will see similar modeling as kits were few and far.
I for one appreciate basic simple models that looks like your finished structure.

Years ago I made a bunch of boxcars for HOn3 out of 2x4s cut down. They were covered with scribed siding and had all the other details like queen posts and grab irons.  The fellow that showed me how called them block cars.

Thanks for posting the update.

[Hawghead]

Dennis,

The building looks great, I really like how you got the peeling paint look.

Scott