Weekend Update - 2/18/2007

[John]

I don't know .. it looks ok to me .. throw a couple of super trees in front of it ..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Try hitting it with a mist of white, and some dullcote.

[bsoplinger]

Only outstanding issue is that the mortar joints are inverse to the prototype -- they are the darkest!

What about using mortar compound with a bit of grey/black added to it to get it away from the pristine white it'd be for bricks (which is what it was designed for)? It came up in the discussion thread about painting brick. To refresh your memory, one place to get it is here:
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=46109

[wm3798]

Egads!  The river side of the bridge does appear lighter than the back side.  Trouble is, most of us have only pondered the bridge from the side that doesn't need a boat or a mega telephoto!  It looks darker at the top, but the piers look pretty close to what you've done so far.

The backdrop painting looks pretty good, too.  A trick I've used is to blow some ground foam into the wet paint on the back drop, toward the bottom of the hill, to add some texture and to blend it into the live trees on the layout.

Lee

[John]

Is called weathering Lee

The darker colors at the top are probably the result of water running down the sides, bringing grime, oil, and soot from the locos with it .. since that stuff is particulate matter, you would expect the heavier stuff to settle first, hence the darker color ..

[keystonecrossings]

Randy Gustafson came up with the obvious idea that I had overlooked... just printing the backdrop from a photo using my color laser (not ink jet) printer.

Here's the results of the "proof of concept"...

[amato1969]

Jerry, that second "close-in" shot looks fantastic!

[John]

I like it .. how do you intend to blend the picture in with the rest of the backdrop?

[keystonecrossings]

I like it .. how do you intend to blend the picture in with the rest of the backdrop?

I'm actually liked it so much I am going to do the entire 40 foot backdrop that way. This coming summer I am going to shoot the proto scenes that I need and reprint/mount the whole thing.

[3rdrail]

Looks great Jerry, but aren't you going to need a time machine (or photoshop) to backdate photos to eliminate the structures built since 1954? Of course, if it's all rural mountainous backdrop there's no problem, but things have built up in the area over the past half century, haven't they?

[keystonecrossings]

Looks great Jerry, but aren't you going to need a time machine (or photoshop) to backdate photos to eliminate the structures built since 1954? Of course, if it's all rural mountainous backdrop there's no problem, but things have built up in the area over the past half century, haven't they?

I think I may be getting a lucky streak... areas in question not only don't have offending structures, but don't have cell towers either!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wow man, you NAILED that stonework.

Kick a$$ work!

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[Ian MacMillan]

Randy Gustafson came up with the obvious idea that I had overlooked... just printing the backdrop from a photo using my color laser (not ink jet) printer.

Here's the results of the "proof of concept"...

Last person I mentioned that to told me I was crazy (I intend to backdrop my layout the same way)... I'll have to direct them here and find some crow for them to eat...

Did you check out MRP 2007? Good layout in there that did the same.

[keystonecrossings]

Wow man, you NAILED that stonework.

Kick a$$ work!

The mortar color vs. the stone is still inverse of the prototype. As previously mentioned, I'd be tempted to leave it as it does look pretty good.

The back side of the bridge won't be seen, but is currently finished the same as the front. This weekend I am going to create some chalk dust and experiment with brushing it into the cracks. It can be set with Dull Cote. I'll do this on the back side to see how effective it may be.