Louisiana and Arkansas 391 switching at Laskey.
7 Likes
Serious modelers don’t use lichen for foliage much anymore. I didn’t know that until I had bought a ton of it from a craft store so I’ve got to use it up but today’s supertrees look so much better. I’m going to use up what’s left on the outdoor layout over in Mississippi.
That being said, I didn’t realize how dry and bad that lichen looks until I posted that photo. I’m going to have to do something about it. It looks like a drought has come over the region that my branch is in. Maybe this is a good place to try out some supertrees.
2 Likes
Every aspect of every layout looks much better in person than it does in a photo. A camera is a layout’s worst enemy.
1 Like
The camera is also one of the best teaching tools there is. It reveals to you the shockers that you had not noticed and that you can fix to make the whole thing look better.
1 Like
Here’s another photo on which I did not doctor the settings. I probably should’ve left well enough alone, this picture looks a good bit better and closer to reality.
1 Like
I’m sorry but I don’t agree. Not sure if u would consider me a serious modeler but those who have viewed my layout have commented on my foliage, especially the lichen. Just saying.
Regards, Chris
2 Likes
Chris, I’m a fairly serious modeler and I use the lichen. For one thing, it’s pretty affordable when you buy at the craft stores.
The reason I made my statement about its apparent fall from favor was because when you look at all the big shot big layout big dog guys and their huge-gantic layouts all over the magazines and the Internet, they don’t appear to use it anymore. That’s all I was basing my statement on. Maybe I should’ve stated it better. I apologize.
2 Likes
My two brass MP engines. That’s probably it for me. I have four Bachmann decapods that are close enough to the Missouri Pacific prototype. The brass one in the background in this photo, while a great engine in appearance and operation, doesn’t warrant the acquisition of any more of them.
It’s the same story with the 86. It’s a beautiful engine, but when next to a Bachmann consolidation the similarity is more than astounding. The domes are the only real deviance from MP practice, and I can live with that. I have seven of those plastic consolidations now and with the 86, I have enough.
Only issue with these two engines is that they both have beautifully modeled coal loads in the tender. Nearly all steam engines in the region I am interested in were oil burners, but I’m not about to move those beautiful loads from those tenders. I’ll just have a few coal burners on the roster.
5 Likes
Patrick, no need to apologize. Maybe my response was a bit quick without thinking first. We’re all good here.
Regards, Chris
2 Likes
Comparison between the plastic Bachmann and brass consolidations. Except for the domes, the plastic engine it’s pretty close to the prototypical brass engine. I’m not sorry I bought the brass one, but I won’t be getting any more.
4 Likes
Before:
After:
New headlight, Bell, Whistle, and tender, and window pane mulliions added to the Cab window glass.
4 Likes
Lichen often follows the weather conditions, drying out and turning to dust in winter months and being wonderfully soft and spongy in the humid times. The biggest problem I’ve seen though is that the color can run. Most of what you find in craft stores these days is for fairy gardens and floral arrangements, meaning it’s pretty close in quality to what used to be sold for model railroad uses. Lightly dusting it with fine or super finely ground foam can both rejuvenate old lichen and improve it’s realism without having to destroy the forests you put so much time and effort into.
PS: water with a few drops of glycerin in it can rejuvenate old lichen but it may wash out the color.
4 Likes
A quick light go-over with an air brush also does wonders to restoring lush colour.
2 Likes
A wider shot of Thunder Grove.
The sky really looks like that on the Gulf Coast in August with 95° and 95% humidity.
5 Likes
The old triple H. Hazy Hot and Humid. 
2 Likes