CN Yellowhead Division

[Scottl]

I'd like to something similar for my layout (I'm hoping to get to Colorado this fall to take the pictures) and I was wondering, are you cutting the photos to conform to the 3D scenery or are you slipping the photos behind the 3D scenery?

Thanks,
Scott

I'm cutting the backdrop to fit the scenery.  I am trying to line up the 3d terrain with the backdrop  and still working on getting that right.

Having said that, if you can leave a space to slip in the backdrop behind the terrain, it makes it much easier.  I have a few spots I can do that and it avoids any fussing and possible damage to the backdrop.

[Scottl]

I've prepared a 20' backdrop for the Park Gate-Devona section of the layout in GIMP.  I matched the tones from the different photographs, removed the sky and then added a single sky grading to white at the horizon.  It looks pretty good, but I have work to do before printing and mounting it. 

My experiments with draft backdrops showed that my 3D terrain needed some modification.  I've carved a lot of foam away from the Park Gate scene to get better slopes and remove some weird profiles at the horizon.  You can see where the horizon is altered by flashes of the underlying brown MDF board.  I'm much happier with this profile and how it interacts with the back drop.

You can see in the backdrop the prominent dip to the rock units in the mountain.  I've carved/sketched that dip and some folding into the foam to guide the casting of rocks.  I'm going to cast in place again, and this time use tinted plaster to slow the cure.  I want to get the right tint and plaster formula so I'll pre-bag units of dry plaster, then add a fixed amount of black paint and water to each as I need them.  This way, I get (hopefully) uniform rock tint but also the remains that cure in the bag will be broken up into talus for the slope.  I will need lots of that and commercial products don't look much like talus.

[Scottl]

The weather has been conducive for getting work done on the layout (-37C this morning).  I have started the rockwork at Park Gate.  I'm reasonably happy with progress but there are some issues I'll address.  Still, nice to see the scene emerge.

[Scott1984]

Hi Scott,
Just found your layout. Looks great!!! I really like you foam work, are you using plaster of paris for rock work? Just thought I would ask. I will be using foam board for my mountain/hills on my small Hon30 layout. Figured I would find out how you are doing it. Thanks!

[Scottl]

Thanks @Scott1984!  I do use Plaster of Paris, mostly because it is easy to get and cheap.  I have my own rock molds that I made years ago with liquid rubber.  I've been tinting the plaster with some black and umber paint to get a base color and it has the added advantage that it slows the curing of the plaster so I have time to clean any details up with an old knife blade.  I keep the residuals for talus on the layout. 

[Scott1984]

Great!! Thanks for the info on that. I have been using plaster of paris for my rock walls in my underground mine scene. Never thought about tinting the plaster. That feels like a time saver to me. I have more to make, I will give it a try. I have 25 post now so I can put my layout on here. It is not anything special but hopefully it turns out ok. I made my own mold using slightly crumpled tin foil. It has worked so far.

[Scottl]

Great, looking forward to seeing your layout.  I don't add a lot of paint, about 1" of artist tube paint and/or a quarter-sized blob of craft paint in 1/2 lb of plaster.  It lightens up a lot when cured.

[Scott1984]

Awesome!! Thanks a lot. I just posted my layout info on the forum. Appreciate your help.

[lock4244]

The weather has been conducive for getting work done on the layout (-37C this morning).

To be fair, isn't that a normal early April day in Alberta? 

[Missaberoad]

To be fair, isn't that a normal early April day in Alberta? 

I grew up in Manitoba and the weather in Central Alberta this week seems fine! 

[Scottl]

It's a dry cold, lol

[dandopinski]

  ScottI   

It's a dry cold, lol

 Its so cold my tires have flat spots.

[lock4244]

It's a dry cold, lol

I know it's cliché, but it does make a difference... a nicer cold but more nosebleeds 

[Scottl]

I have cast a lot of rocks and plenty of further refinement to the foam substrate in this scene.  The plaster and base coat is finished and time for some ground materials.  It turns out that the big sack of sanded grout the previous home owners left us is a perfect color so I am loaded up with supplies.

Time now to print out the final backdrops and mount those as well.

[wm3798]

That's really coming together nicely!