WPF 09-05-08

[RedSkin]

Well I was sent to CA for some training and so I haven't seen my layout in a month... But I did get to see some old Santa Fe Refer cars that the Army bought and dumped out in the Desert.

Just thought I would Share.

Brad

[Don Z]

Here's a photo of something I tried for the first time today.....making trees using Joe Fugate's method from his Volume 5 video.

Please hold the laughter to a dull roar.....

Don Z.

[twhite]

Don--

No laughter from here, my friend.  Those trees are just FINE!!  #2 and #4 are the kind of Cedars I'd find up around my home town.  Very nice!

Tom

[sfcouple]

Don,

Those trees look excellent.  I've made some using the same method and have had some success

using green Squadron Putty to thicken up the trunk, followed by an ink/alcohol wash.

Wayne 

 

[gear-jammer]

I would like to compliment everyone.  There are some high quality shots this week.  Thanks for sharing.

Sue

[Don Z]

Tom & Wayne,

Thanks for the reassurance! I couldn't believe how easy it was to make these (other than cutting the sisal twine) and how fast they could be assembled. Tom- here I was, thinking all of the trees were the same, and you clearly see different species! Wayne, good idea on the squadron putty....the woodworker in me was trying to figure the easiest way to bore out different sized dowels to slip over the twisted wire trunks....

Thanks again!

Don Z.

[loathar]

Anyone up for a little graffiti?

[img]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q186/forum-1/P1010003-42.jpg[/mg]

Never!

[Grampys Trains]

Hello:  This is my first post to WPF. A few shots of my coal mine scene.  An odd place to be watching trains.  Old Blackwood mine # 1.  Truck dump and mine run-off killed trees.

[Grampys Trains]

Hello Don:  I agree, those trees look great.  Keep up the good work.

[YoHo1975]

Nice trees, better than mine. How do you get the thicker branches?

[dahumphrey]

How 'bout Video Fun.....

We've mostly been readers but now we feel we have accomplished enough to show it off so here's the debut of our layout. Check out the youtube link. Constructive criticism always appreciated - Dave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxLcHlOfwc

[modelmaker51]

Let's make that link clickable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxLcHlOfwc

[fiatfan]

Hello:  This is my first post to WPF. A few shots of my coal mine scene.  An odd place to be watching trains.  Old Blackwood mine # 1.  Truck dump and mine run-off killed trees.http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm237/GrampysTrains/P1010281-1.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm237/GrampysTrains/P1010286.jpg

Very well done, DJ.

 

Tom 

[dahumphrey]

Let's make that link clickable:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxLcHlOfwc

Thanks Jay for making my link clickable. I don't know why it wasn't

Dave

[C&O Fan]

Here's a photo of something I tried for the first time today.....making trees using Joe Fugate's method from his Volume 5 video.

Please hold the laughter to a dull roar.....

Don Z.

nice looking trees

have you thought about coating the trunks with latex cauk

[tomkat-13]

Jacon 12- nice pics!

here's my contribution, an older pic.

I painted my elevator white also....

[Blue Flamer]

Here's a photo of something I tried for the first time today.....making trees using Joe Fugate's method from his Volume 5 video.

Please hold the laughter to a dull roar.....

Don Z.

Don.

If you want to see some weird trees, just step outside and check out the trees and bushes in Mother Nature's 1 to 1 world. In my humble opinion, with  a little bit of work on the base of the trunks to disguise the wire armature, those trees will fit in on just about any layout with no problem. Well done.

Blue Flamer. 

[Don Z]

Terry,

It's great to see you back on the forum! Thanks for the kind words regarding the trees...I've never heard of using caulk on the trunks. I'm trying to come up with something from the woodshop to hide the wire armature trunk. Look in your email box later for some photos of my layout.

BlueFlamer,

Thanks also....I drove through the countryside today going to a customer site and spent the whole drive looking at trees. You're right....Mother Nature can be a freak sometimes when she makes a tree!

Thanks!

Don Z.

[C&O Fan]

Don its really very easy

you just cut off the tip of the caulk tube so the hole is the same size as the armature

Stick the armature down in the caulk tube like a nail

then pull it out while squeezing the tube and you get a nice even coating

all the way around the armature

lay aside and let harden and the paint if desired

[YoHo1975]

Putty or some form of plaster might be a bit less mess/easier cleanup, but caulk would work.

[Don Z]

YoHo,

I forgot I didn't answer you earlier question about the limbs. I used straw from a whisk broom that was cut into a million pieces about 3" long. Once the limbs were in place and painted, we sprayed them with hairspray and sprinkled sisal rope fibers onto the limbs to give them auxilliary branches. These were then sprinkled with ground foam to fatten them up and give them color.

Don Z.

[sfcouple]

YoHo,

I forgot I didn't answer you earlier question about the limbs. I used straw from a whisk broom that was cut into a million pieces about 3" long. Once the limbs were in place and painted, we sprayed them with hairspray and sprinkled sisal rope fibers onto the limbs to give them auxilliary branches. These were then sprinkled with ground foam to fatten them up and give them color.

Don Z.

Don, 

Outstanding idea...I'm gonna try that out tomorrow.  Thanks for the tip.

Wayne  

 

[YoHo1975]

YoHo,

I forgot I didn't answer you earlier question about the limbs. I used straw from a whisk broom that was cut into a million pieces about 3" long. Once the limbs were in place and painted, we sprayed them with hairspray and sprinkled sisal rope fibers onto the limbs to give them auxilliary branches. These were then sprinkled with ground foam to fatten them up and give them color.

Don Z.

 

Whoa, I like that even better then just the Sisal rope.

I need to make some more trees.

 

[Flyboy41]

Better late than never. My wife's bike looms over the mountain.

 

[Anonymous]

Cool looking scenery, Flyboy41!

I sort of forgot about these pics....guess I'll post them now. 

A few weeks ago we stopped at the Stamford, CT museum for a "train exhibit" which turned out to be Lego trains, but it was still pretty cool. I was rather impressed by the detail on the models, although they don't compare to regular models. Apperently the people who build them are train nuts too.

 

[Bapou]

I installed the Walthers detail kit on my Athearn F7 A and B. I didn't take pics of the B unit though.

(Photos removed)

So that's what an old athearn F-unit will look like with one of those, looks pretty good. I'll be looking for an old BN one in P-cola next month, and a few of those packs.

How does yours run? the local MR club has a BB SD40-2 but it's noisy, was wondering if it's possible to make them quiet.

Yes, you can clean up the gears on Athearn BB locos, Jeff told me how. I haven't done it yet, but it is a bit quieter with DCC. 

[twhite]

Okay, I know it's WAY late for WPF, but I just did my first 'character' shot, and I wanted to post it. 

"Hey, Fred, we know you're a go-getter, but we just DUMPED these ashes!"

Okay, now I'll go away for a while. 

Tom

[Flashwave]

Sorry, I don't remember enough about how steam engines to get it. Please fill in gaps.

Love the details.

[GraniteRailroader]

Sorry, I don't remember enough about how steam engines to get it. Please fill in gaps.

Love the details.

Fresh/Hot ashes, wooden car...

[twhite]

Sorry, I don't remember enough about how steam engines to get it. Please fill in gaps.

Love the details.

Flashwave--

What Graniterailroader said, LOL!  Thanks for the comment, though--I'm still having focus problems with this new camera. 

Tom