Stephen Lamora ‎Modeling Bushes for the FJ&G

This is everything you will need. Super leaf. Hairspray, Krylon Camo paint dark or light your preference, twine purchased at Walmart 3 or 4 dollars, tacky glue. And a 12mm static grass mine is Noch. But the woodland scenic would be great and cheaper. You do not need a static grass applicator for this!!

I separate them to make a smaller Bush. But you could use the three pieces all together for a full one.

Cut the twine to what ever length you want. Leave space at the bottom for planting into the layout.Push down on top the the twine and spread the fibers out Until you get what looks like a bush.

Then add the tacky glue around the piece. This will hold it together during the process. It you don't they will fall apart. I know this from experience, let it dry over night. After it has dried you can push it out again to get the desired look.

Then you spray it with the spray paint. Put a good coating on this is what the static grass will adhere to.

Then take the 12mm static grass a pinch in between your fingers and sprinkle it over the bush.

 Then spray it again with the spray paint .

Now take your scale leaves and sprinkle them over the top .Then I turn it over and do some from the bottom.Next I spray it with hairspray and set aside to dry overnight. I have found without the hairspray I lose a lot of leaves. When planting I trim it close to the Bush itself and make a hole and use the tacky glue to set it.

You can make them as big or small as you like. This is up against a fence to give you an idea of height.

Stephen Lamora

What Can I Get For $5?

I'm really a plastic kit builder. I kitbash, save every extra part from every kit I've ever build. I used to build them for others and sometimes build to sell them, especially when I didn't have a layout. So working with plastic is my gig. I spend time at shows looking for old kits of my youth, Revell, Tyco, Like-Like, AHM, etc...buy them cheap, build them quick. I needed a quick and easy back round  on my layout. I spent $5 on this Tyco, truck terminal. Pola actually made this kit for Tyco so it looks very European. First thing I had to do is get rid of that weird looking roof. I found sheets of Kibri "metal roofing" I bought years ago at a hobby shop closeout for 50 cents. Measured it up and cut it up. The sheeting actually came with the roof cap which is really nice. The building is molded stone which doesn't make sense for modern building, so I painted it dark grey to hide the stone look. These doors on the building are meant to operate, but not realistically at all so glue them shut! The steps are new from another kit and I will add scale handrails.

I weathered it up, took about 8 hours of total work and ready for the layout! This will hide in the back and do its job!

Rob D

Ken Karlewicz February 2019 Layout Update

 

After buying some  wonderful new scenery products from Scenic Express at the Springfield show this month, I’ve spent  much of the past  couple of weeks planting and detailing the Cherry Valley area of my layout. I have been working with materials from the Martin Welberg line, and have been astounded by how beautiful this material really is!! I will let the images convey what is so special about all of these wonderful textures. The  coal dealer at Buesing’s Bridge  still needs a bit  more weathering in order to make it look truly abandoned, but I plan to have vines growing up the sides, rust added to the chutes, and the remains of an auger pit  added as well.

 

The stream still needs to be finished, but I’ve been working on the foliage along the embankments as thing move down the branch.

This scene was inspired by the Battenkill Railroad AKA, the D&H Washington Branch.

 

Real sifted cinders were used on the line (above and below) and the late summer landscape takes form across the valley and up into the hills.

Many varieties of flowering plants were combined with grasses and shrub like textures along the embankments.

 A newly planted field is seen  above as we round the curve into Cobleskill.

 

The scenery creeps down into Cherry Valley  above ,while also expanding across Richmondville  and into Cobleskill below.

 

All scenes are  still developing and under construction, but progress moves along with a huge boost from Scenic Express and the new Martin Welberg line!

Happy Day to all 🙏🏻

Ken Karlewicz

The Confalone Weathering Dojo

 

I started doing this car up at Mike’s over the weekend and I am about 95% done with it now.I  just need to finish the trucks, wheels and couplers and I think this guy will be ready for the rails. Watching Mike weather cars is something to see cause he just goes at it  without hesitation and certainly inspires the hell out of me, to strive toward excellence in weathering as well. This car was done using one color of oil and two colors of powder.Only the Dullcote was sprayed from an airbrush, but that could also have been done with a spray can. Halfway through, I was struck with  a bit of fear and wanted to quit before I “ruined the car” when it looked like this photo below. 

Weathered yes, but lacking any real contrast and the impact I had  initially hoped for, given the cars cool periwinkle color. Mike convinced me to keep going, and I began to hit the car with some Titanium White oil.I was instantly excited with the results and happy I had gone beyond where I would have likely stopped. I’ve learned from Mike this weekend among other things,  to be bold when approaching weathering, as the most it could cost you is a car and your ability to move beyond your current skill level. When we venture beyond our comfort zone, we are  able to create huge breakthroughs in our modeling and in other areas of life as well. I wish you guys some breakthroughs of your own this week...

Have great day!!
Ken Karlewicz

Few Pictures from Springfield 2019

Rob D

Build A Compressor with Wayne Sittner

I got the idea to build the compressor after finding an old B&W print from the Wilkes-Barre D&H roundhouse taken in 1968.  I used the castings in a JL Innovative Design kit to get a head start.  (To say it's crude is an understatement.) I used Evergreen styrene for all the detail corrections and additions.  

Since the kit showed the innards I decided the leave the door on one side slightly open.  The air hose was a left over length of insulated wire.

Wayne Sittner

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Gino's Rail Blog

Railroad and trolley history from Gino DiCarlo, author of Trolleys Of The Capital District and The Saratoga And Mount McGregor Railroad.

Rebuilding the FJ&G with Steve Lamora!