I enjoy scenery. I think many model railroaders like the engineering side of the hobby. In fact, I’d wager why there are so many tech types, engineers, and architects in this hobby. I, however, like the artistry side of it. I love “painting” with soil, ballast, Super Trees, and static grass. I’ve started a new project that will finally allow me to build a small mountain (in N scale) and experiment with tunnels and rock castings… and I need to figure out palm trees. That said, I still enjoy the small, mundane details of slowly developing the scenery on my Farmrail Fransen Industrial Park layout.
Color palette is important. Most of the structures in this area are a dust-covered white. These tanks from my first Fransen layout, built in 2018-2019, are the perfect stand-in, and honestly might earn a permanent place. The red soil in the foreground is actually from Oklahoma, and was graciously sent to me by my friend John Strenski.I’ve been enjoying developing the tree line. The trees are Super Trees from Scenic Express, and there’s a horizon line of synthetic steel wool placed along the backdrop to ensure you don’t see glimpses of blue around the bases of the trees. The rip-rap around the culvert was also recently added, and is based on a ditch on the prototype spur.Despite the unpainted structures, I’m very happy with how this scene is coming together. There will eventually be chain link fences (from Alkem Scale Models) in both the foreground and background.I’ve also been improving the “train room” with more shelving and such.
I was also spoiled this Fathers Day with a very special gift from my wife and daughters…
That’s all for now, but soon I’ll have an update on the new project: The Los Santos Subdivision. Its a freelanced, N scale tribute to happy memories of passenger trains on the California coast!
Red Dirt and Rails 