Thanks to everyone for welcoming me back. It’s good to be back modeling. I will be retiring at the end of the year and look forward to really having the time to devote to modeling. I thought I would start with one of my favorite structures from Brett, The Railroad Camp. I had worked on a version of this several years ago but, wanted a fresh start and I had a new unbuilt kit waiting.
I followed the instructions for the stone building using acrylic paints thinned heavily with water to stain the stones. For the wash, I tried something different. I used a combination of Liquitex black acrylic ink mixed with several drops of burnt umber acrylic ink. These were dropped into an approximate 50/50 mix of distilled water and matte medium with several drops of Liquitex flow add additive. It’s the first time I’ve used the flow add and it really seemed to help settle the wash into the casting.
I’m still not completely satisfied with the look of the grout and some of the stones but, it’s a start. I want to go back over some of the grout lines with a fine brush to darken them and tone down a few of the stones especially on the side wall.
I added a few extra details by cutting out the cast boarded-up window and replacing it with some weathered strip wood.
I’m not anywhere near the level of the great modelers on this forum but, I really like the camaraderie and interchange in the group and look forward to sharing my progress.
The stone wall turned out really nice! I think the coloring is very good. I’d be careful with darkening the grout lines. they may get too dark. I agree with Larry, they do look a lot like some older structures in CO.
Tom thank you for the advice. I’ve done more research and I find more pictures of old Colorado buildings with lighter grout lines more light grayish/tan than black. I would have thought that the grout towards the bottom of the building would have been darker but, I don’t really see examples of that.
Thank you again for the input and I would be interested in other’s thoughts on this topic. For me, I really enjoy the education I get from this forum and of course the incredible modeling.
Grout lines on an old building like that would lean towards lighter grout lines as you have achieved. They may darken a bit towards the bottom depending on moisture, shade etc. With your darker toned door and windows, which looks cool in green by the way, a lighter stone and grout line really sets them off nicely. Your addition of real wood for the boarded up window is taking that extra step in realistic detail work, your wood tones there look great. Personally I think the ladder in a vertical position leaning against the wall with the hangers showing would give it some verticality as it gets a bit lost in the horizontal stone work. Throw a rag over one rung, some junk behind it, that kind of thing. A bucket hanging off one of the hangers beside the ladder…oops, I’m getting carried away with myself here! lol. Looks great Steve
Ken, let me start by saying I’m a big fan of your work. It is great to hear your thoughts on my build. Thanks for the confirmation on the grout and I’m especially happy to hear you like the green trim against the stones and the boarded up window. I felt that at this point, the railroad camp has been done many times by some great modelers and I wanted to make some subtle changes to differentiate this build and create some interest.
While I really appreciated those comments when, I got to the ladder suggestion, well that just knocked it out of the park!!! Despite the detail of a scratch built ladder sitting on pegs put in the stonework, when I added it to the wall last night, it just didn’t pop visually the way I had hoped. But you nailed it, a horizontal ladder gets lost in the horizontal lines of the stone work. The next time I post a picture of the wall you can bet that ladder will be standing straight up! Such a clever idea, thank you.
As I was reading your comments, I thought, fantastic idea about the ladder but, I really liked those pegs (hangers) that I added to the wall. Well, Ken to the rescue again! A pail, a bag or the like hanging from a peg would adds great character and fit right in with every maintenance shop I’ve ever been in: “A place for everything and nothing in its place” A rag some where in the scene would add a different texture as well. All brilliant ideas and so clever, thanks again.
Hey you bet Steve!, this is what it’s all about, knocking elbows over some great modeling. You’re so right on your thoughts regarding making the model your own. This philosophy keeps things fresh and exciting, not only for the modeler but also the others perusing your work. With a kit, we know what Brett intended and the modeling by others just evolves from there. Not necessarily better just a reflection of the individual modeler’s taste, geographic region, scale, etc..Well done my friend.
I love the coloring of your walls. I always have a difficult time coloring stone as I tend to keep adding and adding until it looks forced. Yours looks very natural. Well done!
Agree with all the above. You got a great, natural look on those stones and your “extras” look great and help make it your own. Keep in mind this is a small part of the whole diorama so you can always come back once you’re a little further along and touch this piece up as everything takes shape.
I’ve been traveling the last five days and not able to make any progress but, when I arrived home tonight I tried utilizing Ken’s suggestion about the back stone wall. I don’t have the building on a base yet so, I weathered some boards to represent wood planks that were laid in the dirt so the oil drums could be set there. This blocked the ladder so it’s standing upright with a rag someone left on it because one of the drums was spilled when they moved it to the boards. Then, someone else came along and decided that the other empty ladder peg would make a good place to hang a gas can. Thanks again Ken. I think this puts more life into the back wall. I like being able to set scenes that tell stories.
Busy week with not a lot of modeling. Made some progress tonight. This is the wall that will be above the stone wall with the boarded window. I cut in a door and blanked out a window. I will add a stairway going up the outside of the building. I have more work to do on this wall: door knob, shades, some clean up of the clapboard but it’s a start. The other walls are braced and painted and waiting for clapboard. Should be able to make some progress this weekend.
