Inspiration for the backdrop behind Cedar comes from several prototype locales.  The following give some idea of where we are.

Above is a view of the northern end of the Hansels Mountains adjacent to I-84 near Snowville, UT.  This location is the freeway's summit.  Much of the area is a complex mosaic of varying landforms, plant communities and agricultural uses.

This scene is a few miles west of the one above, showing the range disappearing toward Idaho in the distance.  The barren areas in the middle ground are recently plowed fields.

The first spot to reach more-or-less completion is around the Cedar train order office.  Here's how the scene looked as of my first MRH blog post:

And here's how it looks today:

At left, note the road that disappears into the distance, along with the fence.  These will tie to 3D elements in the modeled scene.  Except for the area right around the road, the foreground painting isn't entirely done, but is close.  The spur track at left is a recent addition.

A more straight-on view shows the road and cottonwoods.  This isn't a pro-caliber shot of course, and some of the color has washed out from the overhead track fixture.  I think y'all can get the general idea though.

It looks fabulous. Looks as if you are past New Jersey!  I'll stop gushing now.

Did you make those or buy them?  I need a few thousand or so...

The cottonwoods are all just painted, so I guess I can say I "made" them.  The plan is to add some more built from Supertrees and sagebrush in the foreground.

At first I thought those trees were models, that is until I got down to the last photo. Of course I had to look closer. You did a great job painting that scene.

Den

Really wish I had your talent for painting Rob. Like the above post, I thought those were modeled trees before I read the commentary and took a second real good look! Just looks wonderful.

It must just be the lighting or something, but the trees in the first picture of your backdrop look like they are 3D and not painted on the backdrop. The second shot shows that the trees look "right" from a wide variety of viewing angles!

Very talented work, indeed!

George

I appreciate all the kind words.

Since the lighting in the straight-on model photo was so off, I tried again by re-aiming the lights.  This gives a much better idea how the road and foreground trees come together.

Beautiful!

Do you hire out?

Don