The Little Rock Line

[mu26aeh]

Awesome 

[Bendtracker1]

Awesome 

Thanks Adam!

[NorthWestGN]

I love the bridge scene Allen, the trees and foliage really frame it nicely, the signals look great too!

Brent

[Bendtracker1]

I love the bridge scene Allen, the trees and foliage really frame it nicely, the signals look great too!

Brent

Thank you Brent!

[Bendtracker1]

It's been awhile since I updated my thread.
I've been trying to focus on getting my JMRI tweaked and running better.  At this point, I think I have it about as good I can get it.
I'm getting smooth movements, consistent movements and a nice flow of cars getting to random industries.

I was looking around for something to work on and just wasn't finding anything that I wanted to get hands dirty with.
Then after an operating session, the backdrop behind the yard started making noises and I decided to get it filled with clouds.
Didn't think it would take too long or much effort.

I've been looking at this for the last several years.


Starting from the right and working left to cover the entire backdrop.









These were made using an airbrush and homemade stencils.  This time instead of using thinned craft paint (which worked ok) I decided to give Tamiya a try.  It went on very easily and the cleanup was a breeze.  The only thing I noticed was the Tamiya white was very bright, I should have mixed in a little blue.

I'm planning to have trees running the entire length of the backdrop to height of about 4.5" tall.  Although I wasn't sure at first until I looked at Google street views, both sides of Biddle yard is lined by trees.  On the north side, the tree line isn't a full forest like the south side, there are some buildings and if I can, I want to try and incorporate some buildings behind the tree line where you only see just the tops of some of the buildings.  I've got some ideas.

Right now I'm playing with either painting the trees or using photos.  For the photos (which I have none) I've been playing around with Google Gemini and I've had some pretty decent luck with them.  Here's a sample of what I've tested so far.   These are 100% AI, printed on Matte photo paper and glued to a sample backdrop.


 

[Bendtracker1]

I've been working on the AI printed tree line for the back drop in the yard.
They actually came out better than I would have thought, the quality of the print that is.

There are seven unique 11-1/4" wide sections that make up the long backdrop.  I used 2 more 11-1/4" sections for the angled backdrop (with the water tower), of which one of them I trimmed to fit.

The first shot is the left end of the yard where it connects to the main layout.


The left end



The right end



The small angled section on the right end

[OldEastRR]

Are you going to add model trees on the areas in front of the tracks (front edge of layout)?

[Bendtracker1]

Probably not.

[Bendtracker1]

I've been steadily working on the yard backdrops. Printing, cutting, aligning, gluing and touching up with the blue paint where needed.
Three down, one to go.