The Very Last White River and Northern Railroad

[DKS]

Now our photographers have something to photograph...

[CRL]

Could have posed a pregnant bride and a couple of her “uncles” off to the side with shotguns. 😜

[pjm20]

This is New Hampshire, not western Pennsylvania

[DKS]

I made an improvement to my animated fishermen. Specifically, the one holding his prize aloft looked exactly like what it was: a rotating glob of silver caulk. The new version isn't perfect, but I feel it's an improvement. Given the normal viewing distance, I think it'll work.

[DKS]

Could have posed a pregnant bride and a couple of her “uncles” off to the side with shotguns. 😜

[DKS]

Continuing with the inn, I took the opportunity to model something I'd wanted to for a very long time, something I don't think is often modeled: a ribbon driveway (two strips of paving with grass down the middle). I made the concrete out of 0.020" x 0.100" strip styrene cut into individual sections measuring ~6 N Scale feet long.



With all of the principal details in place on the property, it was time to add soil. For this I used sanded caulk made to match the sanded grout I also use (I'd wanted to use the grout, but it wouldn't stick to smooth styrene).



Precision was required to get the contours just right, and work the caulk in around all of the various details. I used a variety of small screwdrivers to tease it into shape.



And here's a reference image for a ribbon driveway:

[DKS]

Once the "earth" had fully set, it was time for grass (Woodland Scenics "grass" ground foam), bonded in place with thinned white glue (roughly 3:1 glue to water).



Then I added Noch flowering tufts cut in half, and with the front yard done, I populated it with wedding party guests.



   

[DKS]

I just completed making four unusually small lamps for the brewery—one for the office and the rest for the brewery itself. It involved installing warm white 0201 SMD LEDs in Tichy N Scale lampshades. The lampshades had to be drilled out with a #75 drill. After inserting the wired LED, the leads were bent into a gooseneck shape and bonded that way with CA. The mounts were made from impossibly thin slices of 1/32-inch styrene rod drilled out with a #75 drill and bonded to the wall of the building. Afterward, the wall was likewise drilled out, and the leads were inserted and bonded in place. Then, because the shades were cast in translucent grey plastic, it took two coats of black acrylic plaint plus one coat of Floquil Weathered Black to make them opaque. I also applied white acrylic to the inside of the lampshade as well as the LED, which helped diffuse the light.

[tom mann]

@DKS That ribbon driveway brings back memories. I had totally forgotten about them, even though they were everywhere when I was a kid. I would rather have one now than a big expanse of asphalt - more "green".

[CRL]

Most all the ribbon driveways I remember looked just like the one in the reference photo... one in great condition and the other one all busted up.

[DKS]

@DKS That ribbon driveway brings back memories. I had totally forgotten about them, even though they were everywhere when I was a kid. I would rather have one now than a big expanse of asphalt - more "green".

If you want even more green, you could go with permeable pavers:

[MK]

Wow!  I like that!  Never have to pick weeds between the pavers!   

[Point353]

If you want even more green, you could go with permeable pavers:

How's the traction on that incline when the grass is wet?

[davefoxx]

How's the traction on that incline when the grass is wet?

Probably pretty good with the irregular texture of those pavers that tire treads can grab ahold of.

DFF

[DKS]

There are many patterns of permeable pavers available. Plus, there are some made out of very tough plastic that are all but invisible, so you see nothing but grass.