Colorado Midland in N scale 2.0

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Do it in winter or the mud season, ya wuss.

[CRL]

As one who absolutely abhors winter, (which is why I live in Wisconsin  ) I cast my vote for that "greener, brighter summer day".

Yeah, what’s up with that hating winter & living in Wisconsin thing? U-Haul shortage?

[Dave V]

Do it in winter or the mud season, ya wuss.

Winter...so snow up to the second floor of everything.  Tempting.  Winter in Midland country is about 9 months long...no exaggeration. 

But no.  Autumn or summer, those are the choices.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Winter...so snow up to the second floor of everything.  Tempting.  Winter in Midland country is about 9 months long...no exaggeration. 

But no.  Autumn or summer, those are the choices.

This is the Railwire. I can insist on the non-choice as vehemently as I please, sir.


Hahahahahahha.

Honestly though, what do you see when you close your eyes and think of it? Do that.

[davefoxx]

Honestly though, what do you see when you close your eyes and think of it? Do that.

Yikes!  I don’t even want to know what Dr. Hotballz sees when he closes his eyes! 

DFF

[dnhouston]

Honestly though, what do you see when you close your eyes and think of it? Do that.

Exactly!  It needs to be what you see when thinking about the layout.

Summer - bright greens, higher water levels in streams, some flowers
Autumn -  duller greens, aspen colors, lower water levels, possible snow patches

[DKS]

Autumn or summer, those are the choices.

How much do you want to challenge yourself? Because I'd argue that autumn is one of the toughest seasons to model effectively.

Many have tried. Few have succeeded.

[wazzou]

Model late Summer.  That is what I intend to do on the next one.
You get the best of both Summer and Autumn. 
Dryer grasses and still mostly green trees that are easier to tint with floral spray paints to show hints of changing colors.

[GimpLizard]

Yeah, what’s up with that hating winter & living in Wisconsin thing? U-Haul shortage?

No. Just stew...pid. 

[CRL]

No. Just stew...pid. 

Well, not if that’s where the job that pays the bills is located, or family constraints. You do what you got to do.

[Dave V]

How much do you want to challenge yourself? Because I'd argue that autumn is one of the toughest seasons to model effectively.

Many have tried. Few have succeeded.

I dunno.  How's this look?

[wazzou]

Beautiful Dave but not what I'd think of in a High Desert Autumn scene.
Full disclosure, I'm not that familiar with the area.
I live on the Westside (Wetside) of Washington and our Falls look a little more brown.

[Dave V]

Beautiful Dave but not what I'd think of in a High Desert Autumn scene.
Full disclosure, I'm not that familiar with the area.
I live on the Westside (Wetside) of Washington and our Falls look a little more brown.

It's Rico, Colorado.  There are almost no other colors beyond yellow in the high country.

[wazzou]

Dave, I was more generally commenting on the grasses.

[Dave V]

Dave, I was more generally commenting on the grasses.

Ah, I gotcha.  So this is where I deviate a bit based on personal experience.  I've lived in Colorado for 7 years now and have been surprised at how green autumn was in the high country.  However, the kicker was a tour of the RGS itself in the same September week I'd modeled on the layout.  I documented it carefully and attempted to match it.  You'll note, too, that the foreground matches the backdrop, which literally is the real Rico's backdrop, photographed in September.

I modeled Lizard Head as I found it as well.  It' another 1,500 feet plus higher than Rico and so experiences Autumn in late August.  I used browner colors.



All of that said, you answered my question and I'm guessing I didn't do as good a job as I'd thought.  That's a powerful incentive to do summer.