Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Wetterau Food Services Micro Layout Part 7

Basic Backdrop Painting and Static Grass

Posts here have been few, but work progresses this summer!

I painted the backdrop sections a basic sky color for now.  The plan is to add a photo backdrop to the scene as well as painting a few background trees and clouds...nothing fancy.



The next step was to begin adding another layer of texture to the scenery base.  I used a homemade static grass applicator and a static grass blend from Noch for this step of the scenery process.  More textures will be added before calling this scene complete.



















Now it's time to clean the track and run some trains!  Hey, I have already done this!! A video of my recent operating session will be the subject of the next WFS Micro Layout Update.

That's all for now!!

Tom

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Wetterau Food Services Micro Layout Part 6

Painting and Ballasting Track

Work continues on the WFS layout.  I like to paint and weather the rails and the individual ties/sleepers before applying ballast.  I use acrylic paints (Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Payne's Gray, and Unbleached Titanium) and paint the individual ties/sleepers in a random fashion.  The rails are painted with a Floquil Paint Pen (Rail Brown).



I like to use a blend of Monster Modelworks Diorama Dirt (sifted) and Woodland Scenics Fine Gray Ballast to ballast the track.  I carefully apply the ballast material being sure to keep ballast grains clear of frogs, guardrails, and turnout throwbars.   I like to use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol as a wetting agent, and Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement to fasten the ballast into place.  The alcohol and scenic cement are applied with a pipette.  The photos below show the various stages of painting ties/sleepers and ballasting track.






Sunday, March 1, 2015

Wetterau Food Services Micro Layout Update 5

Scenery Work Begins

Started adding scenery to the layout by applying a base coat of paint to the ground and track.   I also filled in the foam core roadbed sides with Sculptamold.  I like to add some earth-colored latex paint to the water before I add the dry Sculptamold.  Adding this color tones down the stark white of the Sculptamold.   I used a palette knife to mix, apply, and smooth the Sculptamold.






The road through the scene was made with a foam core base and Woodland Scenics' Smooth-It applied over it.  I applied the Smooth-It with a palette knife. I used an old freight truck, screwdriver, and Bright Boy track cleaner to keep the flangeways and rail tops clear of the plaster.







Tom