One log hand sawn into large planks should be more than enough.
I have lots of dry driftwood logs in stock. Will use a few to cut timbers for the coal tipple.
All of my structures are made from scratch using spruce driftwood from the cobble beaches of West Jeddore on the Atlantic Ocean Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. I collect the wood after a good fresh water rainfall and have never had a problem working with it. In case there is residue salt content, I don't use this wood for rail ties or any other electrical applications. This photo was taken in April 2017 during one of my driftwood gathering hikes.
Cheverie red mud dried nicely into sandstone creek banks. Added Realistic Water to the creek and it's two feeders. Will begin work on the old abandonned coal tipple today.
Doing a bit of sculpting on top of the butte and around the hoodoo with red mud (sandstone when dry).
The sources of this creek include runoff from the butte and a pond. The creek runs off the back of the display base toward the Red Deer River.
Left butte mirror is cut and glued in place.
Dinner is served. On the right shells, cones and brown grass. On the left green grass. In the bottle light green grass that was run through a blender this summer past. Everything needs to dry before using.
Same steps with the small-diameter grass with one change. I have added a green dye to the boiling water and glycerin to give a touch of green to the final product.
Last step for the shells, cones and large-diameter grass is boiling water with glycerin.
Next on the menu, the large-diameter grass.
First in the pot with boiling water and isopropyl alcohol are the shells and cones.
Mud and clay dried solid. Will sculpt a creek bed in the Badlands today.
hon30critter Have you considered baking the mud and clay to neutralize any 'ingredients' that might let off certain undersirable odors that are sometimes associated with trips to the sea side? Dave
Have you considered baking the mud and clay to neutralize any 'ingredients' that might let off certain undersirable odors that are sometimes associated with trips to the sea side?
Dave
I have used this mud and clay for several years. Both are odourless. The shells and sea grass on the other hand, need treatment with isopropyl and boiling water. I have done this several times in the past as well. Another reason that I collect after a good rainfall is for a fresh water wash. Thanks Dave.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Letting both red mud and natural clay dry overnight for application to dried creek beds. After that, I'll add Woodland Scenics Realistic Water for a running creek. A creek will be added to the Badlands - there are real creeks there.
This natural clay from Cheverie, Nova Scotia is ideal for making highways and other ground features. The clay will stay in its wet state for many months as long as it stays in this sealed bag.
Red mud from Cheverie, Nova Scotia will be used in the Badlands.
Natural clay for ground cover and sculpting.
Red mud for ground cover.
Beach grass for ground cover. Larger hollow pieces can be used for several things including dead logs and old pipes.
Going to make small plants with parts of cones. Example, cactus plants for the Badlands.
Broken white seashell pieces. I'm going to try using them to make some of the skeletal remains of a bison for the Badlands display.
After more than a day of wind, rain and snow flurries, it was time to collect modelling materials from the shores of the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia. It was wet and cold but the Bay of Fundy tide was going out in the morning so it was not an opportunity to miss. The weather, high tides and rugged waves of the last few days were sure to erode the cliffs and shorelines, exposing fresh materials. I'll post a few pics of things I gathered and why.
The Alberta car won't appear in the mirror when the mirror is properly cut and positioned.
With the right sizing and placement of mirrors, the Alberta Badlands will become a magical landscape.
From my family in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to my geologist daughter's family in Calgary, Alberta.
Sub-ballast gypsum and glass-tie track laid on the Nova Scotia side of the display. Will let the Scenic Cement dry overnight then finish up with a fine gypsum ballast.
Had some lighting ideas pop into my dreams in the middle of the night so I got up, made a pot of coffee and did some experiments. Finally decided to use a laser (or lasers) instead of LEDs to light up the glass ties.
This weekend I will be developing a removable line of LEDs that will rest underneath the Nova Scotia-side glass ties (surrounded by gypsum sub-ballast/ballast) and light them up from below. The top surfaces of the glass ties will light up with steady light or various light patterns.