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In search of Appalachia.... Journals/Blogs
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MRH Author 5,547 posts Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,547 posts
Michael Tondee

I posted some pics over on the Memorial to Labor Day Challenge thread that I started this year but I always like to post here on my blog as well and ramble on a bit about what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. The pics below are of my progress on "McClanahan Gorge" which is named after one of the masters of our hobby, the late great Bill McClanahan. I've always modeled  western scenery on my layouts before and all my layouts have been and will always continue to be freelanced affairs. This is my first attempt ever at trying to capture the look and feel of Appalachia.  I'm breaking one of Joe F.'s rules in that I'm not working direct from photographs but rather the memories that are etched in my mind from the numerous trips I've taken over the years up into the Great Smoky Mountains  of Tennessee.  I'm also drawing inspiration from other modelers work including some of the recent work done by MR staffer David Popp on the  "Virginian"  and " Thin Branch" project layouts. The rock work is a hodge podge affair made  from pieces of Noch foam rock I had salvaged from a previous layout and also plaster rocks cast with a combination of commercial molds and also some I made by using liquid latex rubber on rocks I found around my land. Coloring is done with "Apple Barrel" brand acrylics from Wal-mart.  I mix the the initial coat of gray by eye, using white and black and then apply it to the rocks in a thick uniform coat. After that dries I come back with an India ink and alcohol wash. Finally I drybrush with brown and also a hint of the light tan that is my base color for the rest of my scenery. The surrounding scenery is done with various shades of fine ground foam but the rock faces themselves have had Woodland Scenics "clump foliage" applied. I'm not finished by any means, there is still much more to do including weathering of the bridge and the installation of guard rails and bridge timbers. Track also needs to be ballasted with a combination of cinders and gray ballast. There is a myriad of other things to do as well. I think it looks pretty good right now though. Hope you folks do too.....

Gorge2.jpg 

 

Gorge.jpg 

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Station Agent Frequent poster 527 posts
Station Agent

I swear I've been there before...

Although it seemed to have more foliage at the time.

RM.jpg 

This scene is from a 3' X 5' module I built back in 1994.  Rock is hand-carved and the foliage is Woodland Scenics clumps, which were a new product at the time.  I think I had planned to add some taller trees at some point.

 

Barry Silverthorn
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claymore1977 Active Member 62 posts
claymore1977

Excellent Craftsmanship

Excellent Craftsmanship, both of you!  Noah, I'm lovin those rocks.  Great job!

----

Dave L

http://therustyspike.com/

"A penny for your thoughts, but you get to put your two cents in.... hey, someone's making a penny!"
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,547 posts
Michael Tondee

Of course I plan on adding trees....

Just haven't gotten around to it yet. I've got to figure out an economical way to model individual deciduous trees. I've always done evergreens using the "furnace filter method".  I've got to bone up on different types  of trees if I plan to successfully model Appalachia although I still plan on throwing some evergreens in here and there as well. I guess I will begrudgingly go with the " puff ball" method when it comes to covering a whole hillside with a forest canopy.  I'm not always a huge fan of how that looks but I've seen some convincing examples lately that give me inspiration.

And speaking of inspiration.... Barry that scene looks gorgeous!!!

Regards,

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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jdhogg69 Active Member 64 posts
jdhogg69

Sweet.  

Sweet.

"....just when you thought it was safe to go back to Middleport...."
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Station Agent Frequent poster 527 posts
Station Agent

Creepers

For me, pretty much everything in that part of the world seems to be covered in vegetation like these vines in West Virginia.

 

 

Barry Silverthorn
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,547 posts
Michael Tondee

Kudzu?

 That looks like Kudzu in the first picture to me. You can literally almost watch that stuff grow!   I know my scene is still too " barren" at present. I've actually been adding foliage  since the photos were taken. I do want my rock faces to show through though. My memory of the Smoky mountains is lots of vegetation broken up by occasional outcropping of brownish black rock. Dug up some photos from my last trip up there and I think I've nailed the rock. I've just got to get used to adding a lot more ground cover. I modeled much more barren territory for years!

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Dan S. Regular poster 105 posts
Dan S.

I think it looks great and i

I think it looks great and i will be watching this with great interest to see how you finish the scene.
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albabbitt New member 5 posts
albabbitt

In search of Appalachia

You'll need thousands of small trees to cover the area. The fastest way would be the old "puffball" method for "fill" and place  more detailed trees up front. I used filter material painted black for the puffball trees. Cut into various round, oblong and tree shapes, cover with hairspray and bounce around in a bucket of ground foam(use coarse as it resembles leaves)of various colors.

 

Al Babbitt

ABC Model Supplies
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jwhitten Frequent poster 555 posts
jwhitten

Kudzu History

I know that kudzu is not native to America nor has it been here an overly long time. What I don't know and am wondering is when did kudzu start taking over and what would the area have looked like prior to its arrival ? john
Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in its final days of steam. Heavy patronage by the Pennsy and Norfolk & Western. Coal, sand/gravel/minerals, wood, coke, light industry, finished goods, dairy, mail and light passenger service. Interchanges with the PRR, N&W, WM and Montour.
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Kudzu

Kudzu has been around for a long time. A web search should give you detail info. I did an experiment on making some and you can find it at this link: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6085

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,547 posts
Michael Tondee

Kudzu came from Japan

I think.....    If what I remember my Father telling me is true, it was introduced in the southeast US for erosion control but now has become more of a nuisance than anything else.  One of those "the best laid plans" deals.

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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