Boardman - Columbia River transition scene

CORVID - 19 UPDATE:


WOW its been over two years since I posted on this blog!

I was sitting here and thinking what I could do to send to people, acquaintances, and internet contacts in our wonderful hobby, that could distract them in a nice way, from the current issues going on across the globe.

SO I thought that I would do a short "latest project" update so you all can see what my most recent  efforts have been aimed at. I've been working on this project for about 5 weeks now. When I started there was bare plywood and a blue backdrop behind the scene. I vaguely understood what I wanted but was struggling for artistic licence. But I forged ahead anyhow and very soon I had a clear vision on how it was all going to come together. Thats the beauty of this hobby. Jumping in can be the best thing!!!!! 

Nelle Inlet at Boardman. This inlet leads to a small boat Harbor (not modeled) The rocks are currently loose and are positioned so I can see and visualize how the scene will look!

Mocked up rock protection for the banks of Nelle Inlet

Here I've placed some loose rocks as a mock up as a test to determine what I want the scene to look like. The concrete road is a boat ramp!!!

In this photo I've roughed in an access road that the UP would use to access the mainline for maintenance. The cliffs on the opposite side of the main are basalt cliffs and these transition the scene from flat rolling hills to the cliffs along the Columbia River

Here I've added a DIRT road. I'm using powder pigments to simulate dirt. I used sculptamold as the road base , which I didn't really like the result. After this photo I painted over the top with house paint, earth color, and then put the powdered pigment on again. 

Here I've made the road run between the basalt cliffs. Maintaining access with the mainline, just so us "FOAMERS" can access and take photos up close and personal

Now I'm adding grass down the center of the road. Its been down for a long time and only randomly used. Although I do think the locals use this road to access the Columbia River for fishing and camping!!

Same same

Sometime in the long long past there was a landslip in this part of the Canyon. The earth has since settled and the UP railroad deemed it safe to run the tracks right by the resultant slip.

Them there cliffs are starting to get serious! 

  

Looking back towards Boardman

Ballasting the class 1 mainline has now commenced.