Backwoods NE in Florida

[cuse]

thanks guys...actually getting more work done today...nothing photogenic but soon

Chris, it's a commercial backdrop from TrainJunkies.com. The guy was great to work with and can blend and adjust stock images to your specifications...on a previous layout, way back in this thread, I had similar backdrops that were made by a friend in the car/bus/boat wrapping business. He had all of the equipment and skills to throw it together right in front of me. It was originally inspired by pictures I took when I visited the Alaskan narrow gauge RR in Skagway...the skies and views were surreal and I came home totally inspired to try to capture the feeling. It was a little nerve-wracking because (just like modeling NE Fall colors) it can only be awesome or terrible . We ended up finding pictures on the web (rather than my own) as he was better able to manipulate, blend, darken/lighten, etc. It was a great experience...he gave me lower res proofs to bring home and scribble on to help plan the final scenery contours before final high-res prints were done. This time around, my buddy was retired and all of his equipment sold...the nerve.

I looked all over for similar images and was very happy with TrainJunkies...I have another one for the last module and I probably should get it off the floor and mounted before a dog or grandkid gets into mischief.

[chris.mincemoyer]

Thanks!

[cuse]

A little more scenery progress...the fun stuff can go pretty fast

[ReadingBob]

That looks great, John!

[Larry C]

John that's looking soooo good; great looking backdrop.

[cuse]

Thanks guys...did a little more last night. Maybe I went a little overboard with the foreground trees and undergrowth, but I had the idea that it would be cool to make the viewer work a little to see what's behind them...sort of compounding the whole benefit of the shadowbox concept - to control the viewing angles and make it seem bigger than it really is because you can keep finding things.

Lots of contortions will be required for today's track cleaning...I'm not frugal with the glue application after years of watching ground cover move around - especially on a modular layout that might someday be moved. I also picked up some pre-strung Woodland Scenics line poles that I'm excited to install (for further maintenance challenges  ).

[cuse]

next up...
-paint and detail/weather the road bridge...it's just sitting on a piece of foam for now - I'll have to come up with a better looking support
-pave the road and grade crossing and blend it into the bridge
-install the line poles...somewhere

then, I'll turn my attention to the other module around the corner...I'm contemplating a mine scene, or...

spin 180 degrees and re-work my Swiss-themed plywood central Nscale layout across the room.

[Larry C]

Very, very nice!! Have fun track cleaning.

[Zephyrus52246]

Wow.  That looks great, John.  Nice trees.

Jeff

[Rick]

Trees are excellent and look great where you put them.
Careful with the track cleaning.

[Jerry]

John ythose trees are great.  A very nice update.

Jerry