Time to move forward with covering the ground with vegetation. The layout being set in late summer/early fall, a mix of dry and green grass is required.
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| CPR, St-Gabriel-de-Brandon in the 1950s (source: unknown) |
Looking at several prototype pictures from my "inspiration" folder, it became evident that burnt dead grass was often lining the tracks on the gravel shoulder, followed by straw colored dying grass, then some dull greens. Thus, I decided to go forward with that recipe.
I worked by stretches of about 2 or 3 feet at a time, repeating the same procedure over and over, making sure to implement a few variation to break the pattern. Most grass was applied by hand directly in white glue, using a random daubing motion. I really like that step.
Ground foam was also sprinkled here and there to model small plants and I added some tall grass on the lower portion of the roadbed and ditches. That's probably where I made a first mistake. I used very dark green long static grass thinking that vegetation in the ditches would be greener, but looking at pictures again, I found out they also die rather quickly (at least, the very long shafts dries early). Using my airbrush, I toned them down a little bit and added leaves over them to create bushes.
Speaking of bushes, it was my first time using polyfiber and creating them. Quite easy and effective. They were sprinkled with Noch leaves and foam. I only add very bright green leaves, thus I decided to change their color by mixing them with some PanPastel into a small container. A really effective way to alter their color! However, I made them brown and they should have been closer to a yellowish green. I'll probably fix that in the future by making another batch of leaves. As you can see, ones should always follow pictures in such cases.
I haven't yet covered the fields because I want to experiment with basket liners as often shown in UK modelling books. It looks like a very interesting way to create tall grass in an effective and realistic manner.
The UK books are amazing. It is a different world over there. I was wondering if you were reading them. Which one are you.reading for the grass techniques?
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm reading Gordon Gravett's books on trees and grass. Wonderful techniques. I'll have to experiment a lot with this layout and I have ordered some hanging basket liners to try tall grass techniques.
DeleteI like the Intercolonial boxcar! I'm currently working an S scale version.
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's my favourite. I found it by sheer luck years ago when an American gentleman ordered a custom run from Accurail. I still have CDS dry transfer for their Fowler car.
DeleteI have a couple S scale CDS sets for the Fowlers also. This summer I scored some Government of Canada Fowler sets and a couple Intercolonial passenger car sets along with the truss rod car mentioned above. Of course in S I have to build the cars to put them on!
DeleteInteresting! I'm currently in the process of vectorizing scans of S scale sets (higher definition) to print them as decals. Would it be possible to scan the Intercolonial passenger cars? They are so hard to find.
DeleteI think the world has moved on from hanging basket liner (a la Barry Norman). Gordon Gravett's books in the Wild Swan range are well worth a read for both inspiring modelling and superb techniques for crafting trees, bushes, hedgerows, and grassland. He even tackles roads and pavements too!
ReplyDeleteGordon has done such a wonderful gift to all of us by publishing these books. I'll still trick some basket liner but for replicating some type of bushes and thickets branch structures. Need to try the wire armature tree too.
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