Progress Is Slow (New Layout)

[Cannonball]

Some of you may remember me posting over at the "other place" about the new layout I was starting using a [url="http://www.terrainfortrains.com" target="_blank"]Terrains For Trains[/url] prefabbed layout. Progress has been slow, however. I finally got around today to putting on what I hope is the final coat of paint on the rocks. I've got a few buildings done and even a few people ready to put on when it's finished.

Here's the progress pics so far.
The first is a pic of some of my buildings and the second is one of the (hopefully) finished rocks.
You'll note the light streak of paint through the middle of the layout..... I messed up on the dirt road color and covered it up.
If anyone has suggestions on how to do a good dirt road, please let me know.

[Jesso]

Looking good, i like the colors you have chosen for the hills and rocks. For the dirt roads, you can go outside and sift some dirt through a small strainer that is the color you like and glue that down. I have read that dirt roads are typically lighter than the dirt around them since the cars tires grind the dirt down to a fine powder.

[Cannonball]

For the dirt roads, you can go outside and sift some dirt through a small strainer that is the color you like and glue that down. I have read that dirt roads are typically lighter than the dirt around them since the cars tires grind the dirt down to a fine powder.

I've thought about doing that but I don't know how the wife would feel about me baking dirt in her oven to get the moisture out.

Tomorrow I think I'm going to paint the tunnels and maybe start putting some grass down.

[cnw1961]

Yes, I concur with Scott, good choice of colors for the hills and rocks.

[LynnB]

Looks like a good start. For roads I usually paint a layer of brownish latex paint then sift on some baseball diamond dirt ( unbaked ) let dry vacuum off excess dirt then another layer of paint and keep going till you get the correct suface.

[Brakie]

In my best Yoda voice..What know you of slow?



I have to drive stakes to see if I am making any progress on my buildings.

I wish my layout was as far along as yours..

Seems I was faster building layouts when I was working.

[Cannonball]

In my best Yoda voice..What know you of slow?



I have to drive stakes to see if I am making any progress on my buildings.

I wish my layout was as far along as yours..

Seems I was faster building layouts when I was working.

Really.... With the money I paid for this thing, I shoulda just started form complete scratch and done another Scenic Ridge.
I actually had trains running on it faster than I did with this one. I've just been lazy about getting it finished.

I think for the road, I am going to get some fine ballast about the color I want the road to be and then bash it with a hammer until it's dust.
Then I'll glue that down.

[thumsup]

For the dirt roads, you can go outside and sift some dirt through a small strainer that is the color you like and glue that down. I have read that dirt roads are typically lighter than the dirt around them since the cars tires grind the dirt down to a fine powder.

I've thought about doing that but I don't know how the wife would feel about me baking dirt in her oven to get the moisture out.

I know, send the wife to a day spa, then use the oven all ya want.

Joe

[Cannonball]

I've thought about doing that but I don't know how the wife would feel about me baking dirt in her oven to get the moisture out.

I know, send the wife to a day spa, then use the oven all ya want.

Joe

[Trucklover]

Ill agree with everyone else, i really like the colors you have chosen for the rocks and hills

[Cannonball]

I did a little more painting today.
The tunnel portals came out way darker than I wanted. Too much black in the burnt umber.
The red areas in the second pic are bricks, so I tried to make them ore like bricks and weathered them a bit.
They look a lot better than the pic.

[Cannonball]

A closer view of the bricks.

[Cannonball]

A road appears and the pond is starting to fill up.

[Cannonball]

I need some opinions.
I think I got my pond too dark.
I'd like a more open perspective from someone other than me.
Also, is there a way I can lighten it up? Would a couple coats of clear over the top make a difference?

[TrainNut]

If that is Woodland Scenics Realistic Water, the color will fade with time. I always put a drop of blue food coloring in mine and when it first comes out, it's pretty vibrant but after a month or so, it fades and tones down.
Again, if that is WSRW, it will also shrink up as it dries giving you the opportunity to pour more in on top... this time with no coloring and that will help to lighten it up as well.