Another rock, scenery update

Well, given that RailFun 2014 is now just than 2 months away (and this layout is open for that convention) I had to draw a line and declare the plaster & rockwork done enough - and start switching back to track and getting the layout running again.

So - here's where the rockwork stands today.  It's not finished, but the major colors are complete, and all of the layout's been painted a basic soil/dirt color as a base.

Here's the Enterprise branch:

And a few of Hesperus and Wildcat Canyon:

Here's an overview of Ophir Loop:

 And more Ophir shots:

Here's a couple overview shots of the Telluride branch and townsite (which is a peninsula):

ANd a couple of the canyon on the branch leading up to Telluride:

And one last shot - this is the canyon running thru Ophir; this shot is just upstream of the big 45-A trestle site:

A rocky update

OK, it's finally time to share some more photos.  I've been working on rocks for what seems like ages, molding, placing, blending.  It's finally time to move on to coloring, as I've decided the blending is good enough (for now, at least).

So, here's a quick tour of the layout's newer rockwork.  It's got a base spray of black india ink  alcholol, just to cover the white.  I intend a dark wash of charcoal, then several successive layers of lighter colors to get the final look.

Here's the Ophir Loop highline area:

And a few of the Ophir Loop townsite, including the canyon running through the town and under the big trestle 46-B:

And a few from the Hesperus / Wildcat Canyon area:

A couple from the Telluride branch:

And finally a few from the Enterprise branch:

Quick update

No pictures this time - just a quick status update.

On my own website - http://www.rgsrr.info - I've completed months of work and finished updating something like 2000-3000 photo links of RGS prototype photos, from various libraries who've changed their URL schemes.  That is finally complete, and now I can return to the (very long) backlog of other updates people have sent me.

I also fixed or removed another 450 broken links throughout the website.

On my own layout, I'm still slowing working through all the rockwork.  Nearly all the rock casting is complete now,and installed, and nearly all the finishing work of patching and cleaning up the castings is complete.  Right now, I'm focused on sanding and smoothing.  This rockwork is probably 85% of the full set the layout needs, and it's a lot.  The Ophir highline section alone is nearly solid rock castings, and it's maybe 25' long.

If you're not already aware, my layout is scheduled for a (highly informal) test operating session, and open house during the NMRA Midwest Regional meet, in May.  Given that the track is still buried beneath plaster dust and tape, I have a strong motiviation to finish up this rough stage of scenery work, and get trains running again.

New photos! Leo Croonenberghs collection posted!

Leo Croonenbergh was one of the better known engineers on the Rio Grande Southern, and his granddaughter has just publised a large collection of his photos!  This is an amazing collection, and there's stuff here I haven't seen published anywhere else.

Enjoy!

https://plus.google.com/photos/104975826465163872011/albums/5497598280162327441?banner=pwa

More progress on RGS #20 - smokebox being added, tender truck details

Some nice photos and description of the ongoing restoration of Rio Grande Southern #20:

http://ngdiscussion.net/phorum/read.php?1,255964


The Colorado Railroad Museum is still looking for donations, to fund this restoration work.  If you're interested, more information on donating is located here.