If interested, I can show images of the early messy stages of the project.
That's a very interesting scenic concept! I bet James Van B. has a lot to say about railroads running along East Coast estuaries.
dave
Quote from: deemery on February 28, 2026, 06:39:22 PMThat's a very interesting scenic concept! I bet James Van B. has a lot to say about railroads running along East Coast estuaries.
dave
Dave,
Look forward to checking out James Van B's work.
Before and after, but not complete.
Deem, that's some very good scenery work.
I especially like the cracked mud.
How'd you do that?
Quote from: deemery on February 28, 2026, 06:39:22 PMThat's a very interesting scenic concept! I bet James Van B. has a lot to say about railroads running along East Coast estuaries.
dave
My layout shows the B&M meeting tidewater in three places. Two of them are finished, but only the second got documented in the old RR-Line forum. This is where I started the Little River (Newbury MA) crossing of an arm of the Great Marsh:
https://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=6843.45
But I didn't finish it till late 2015, so it's spread across 7 pages of my layout thread. Sorry...
I built the Rowley River area a decade before I discovered modeling forums, but I'll add prototype and model pictures to my layout thread over the next few days.
Quote from: Rick on March 01, 2026, 08:33:16 AMDeem, that's some very good scenery work.
I especially like the cracked mud.
How'd you do that?
Rick, the cracked mud is a thick layer of latex paint covering premixed unsanded grout.
I used a product call Distress crackle-clear-rock candy. It comes in gel form and I mixed it into the latex paint.
I experimented with it at first, and it is surprisingly durable when dry. I tried to pry off the "flakes" with my nails and a screwdriver; woundn't come off.
It has to be applied thickly. I like how it bonded well with the grout underneath it.
That technique works well. It would probably also suit the apron of mud around a cattle water tank.
Quote from: jbvb on March 01, 2026, 09:16:18 AMQuote from: deemery on February 28, 2026, 06:39:22 PMThat's a very interesting scenic concept! I bet James Van B. has a lot to say about railroads running along East Coast estuaries.
dave
My layout shows the B&M meeting tidewater in three places. Two of them are finished, but only the second got documented in the old RR-Line forum. This is where I started the Little River (Newbury MA) crossing of an arm of the Great Marsh:
https://modelersforum.com/index.php?topic=6843.45
But I didn't finish it till late 2015, so it's spread across 7 pages of my layout thread. Sorry...
I built the Rowley River area a decade before I discovered modeling forums, but I'll add prototype and model pictures to my layout thread over the next few days.
James, I am in the midst of doing laundry, I will check out the link later today. Cheers
Howdy,
Your grass is amazing. It appears to be static grass, but it could be something else. Can you share your technique?
Have fun,
mike
Quote from: friscomike on March 02, 2026, 08:07:34 AMHowdy,
Your grass is amazing. It appears to be static grass, but it could be something else. Can you share your technique?
Have fun,
mike
Hello Mike.
I used a mix of different height static grass and shades. I sprinkled the grass on a mix of white glue with latex paint using a static stick. I do not remember the brand of the stick; it is somewhere in a box.
It was a messy endeavour. After the grass dries, I put a sock on the end of the vacuum tube to catch left over grass or grass that has wondered onto other areas even the floor.
Howdy,
It is the very best I've seen. Thanks for the tips.
Have fun,
mike
Thanks for the how-to on the cracked mud.
Your grasses look exceptional.
Quote from: friscomike on March 02, 2026, 08:06:05 PMHowdy,
It is the very best I've seen. Thanks for the tips.
Have fun,
mike
My pleasure, Mike.
Quote from: Rick on March 03, 2026, 07:12:04 AMThanks for the how-to on the cracked mud.
Your grasses look exceptional.
Thank you, Rick.
There is a modeller out there that in my opinion is the best at grasses. He's got layering and mixing down to a fine art so much so the photos of it look like the real thing. But I can't remember what forum or thread he was on. Will try to find his work in order for you to be directed to it.
I was going through some old images in my photolibrary, and found a shot on how I did the banks in its early stages.
This is grout smeared over the carved extruded foam, then misted with water. After it dried, I painted it with latex paint.