`mike c   Dave, I like to see ballast and scenery on a staging yard, if it can be easily viewed.  You spend a bit of time there, so why not contribute to the overall look of the yard.  Adding some discarded freight items like pallets, boards, buckets, oil cans, broken couplers, etc here and there adds to the realism, IMHO. 

Jaime,

Thank you for continuing your photo history of the narrow gage conventions.  I look forward to it every year.

Mike C

Nice job, Steve.  Your work is convincing!  ~mike c

Thanks Craig.  That worked well.  ~mike c

Thanks for the update.  ~mike c

Jerry, the corrugated iron look good and is convincing.  It matches the oldness of the rest of the mill.  Nice job as usual.

Thanks for the update, Jerry!  ~mike c

Karl,

As always, you created another magic scene.  Congrats.

Thank you,
Mike C

Very nice!

Nice kits nicely done, Mike.  Persist!  ~mike c

Nicely done Steve.  I have the kit in the closet, and you have inspired me to get it out for a build.  ~mike c

Howdy Tom,

Nice build for a tricky kit.  Can't wait to see the finished structure.

Have fun,
Mike C

Perhaps animation, e.g., water tank spouts, signals, people moving... ~mike c

Howdy,

I took a clinic from Dave Frary at one of the early (2007-2009) Craftsman Structure Shows.  During the clinic he stated that most water, regardless of color, looked deep blue from land. 

His techique was to use a darker blue around banks, and docs to represent shadow and depth.  The colors used were cerulean blue, medium green, white, and black.  He used gesso instead of enviro, and it looked terrific and was very easy to control. 

Check this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnOE-qWhGVs

Have fun,
Mike C

Oh the shame of it all.... Lorrie, you have out done yourself again, but where is the Salvation Army band out front?