The Old

The original scene looked like this...

The bridge is based on WP practice, but the 3-D scene around it is freelanced.  I based the surrounding area heavily on Palisade Canyon, Nevada.  Lots of photos here  http://www.rgusrail.com/nvpalisade.html .

The Humboldt River doesn't have much large vegetation around it through here, so I initially went with the prototype and just had some thicker, greener grass around the water and left it at that.  Unfortunately, the narrow benchwork didn't leave much space to handle the backdrop transition as well as I'd like.  Plus, my layout is set some distance to the east of the real Palisade, so I'm under no obligation to copy it exactly.

Other Ideas

Some locations near me have a similar overall look to what I wanted for the scene.

This is a tributary drainage to the Weber River in Utah, along the UP transcon.  The trees provide a convenient way for a water course to blend into a backdrop.  I took these photos in the fall although my layout is set in late summer before the colors start to turn.

A short distance from the above photo, the Weber River itself winds past these bridges.  This view also illustrates how trees and other growth can obscure sight lines.

Using these and other similar images as a guide, I painted some new trees and undergrowth around the supposed path of the stream.  Next up, some 3-D vegetation should blend everything into a more cohesive scene

Nice!

It is definitely an improvement. I wish I was that far along on my own railroad. Nice work painting the trees. The fit really well and look real. 

Nice looking girder bridge.

    With that much water it might need some more vegetation along the banks, looks like willows or other water loving plants in the last prototype photo. Would be neat if that leaf shimmer look could be captured....DaveB

How Much?

The model scene started with the amount of vegetation one would encounter in Palisade Canyon.

Along with those above, this image from  http://www.rgusrail.com/nvpalisade.html shows just how limited greenery along the Humboldt can be, so I'm already deviating quite a bit.

The 3-D revision will probably look more like this, with cottonwood, box elder, and willow ranging from shrub sized to larger trees.  Both the Weber and Humboldt have similar amounts of water in them in these photos (the Humboldt's wider), but the vegetation is very different.

Nice improvement.

I look forward to the results once you add the shrubbery along the creek. 

The painted on shrubs are quite convincing. Your painting eye and skills are exceptional.

Trees

What can I say Rob? I'm always in awe of how great your backdrop looks. Those new trees you painted are fantastic!

The way you have small trees bracketed by the larger trees on the side make it look like the river winds it's way somewhere down between those taller trees. I'll be coming back to your pictures when it comes time to disguise the course of a river on my layout. As always, well done!

Thanks All

That's the idea - to provide the illusion of the water course turning left through that gap once it hits the backdrop.  Good to see the effect seems to be working. 

Painted trees? Rob, your

Painted trees? Rob, your skill with paint is unbeleaveable, most folks could not use real trees and get it to look that good!

The New

I planted some 3-D vegetation, a combination of Supertrees and Silflor "sycamore foliage" material.

There's also a dead tree and assorted deadfall on the ground from sagebrush twigs.  The Silflor foliage was used for smaller plants.  Trees were carefully arranged to keep shadows off the backdrop except where painted trees could absorb them.

This view shows the east switch at Milton.  I kept foreground plants away from it both to avoid damage and because the scene didn't really require them.  The creek supposedly runs behind the embankment so there's a good reason to have the extra growth back there.

Agree

I agree with Rob in Texas. Your 2D trees look better than most 3D trees on layouts! That's why I had to come back and look at this post again, it's that good.

Rob, I don't know if I'm out of line to ask this, but I'd really enjoy seeing a little tutorial on the technique you used to paint those foreground trees on the backdrop. I have a feeling others would enjoy it too. Care to share?

Thanks!

I like that you made the

I like that you made the foreground tree just tall enough to allow a train to show above it.

Great job!

Rob you have a real artists eye and the scene looks very natural with all of the improvements.  Interesting that the weathering on the bridge was kind of lost in the original version, but now it really stands out and looks great.

@Rob...

what can I say that hasn't already been said...you're an artist, beautiful, realistic scene. Please continue to post your progress, changes or structure construction, always inspiration.      John

Outstanding!

Rob, your work is outstanding as usual. I love what you did with this scene!

How-To?

I pulled techniques that you could get from Margaret Kessler's "Painting Better Landscapes"   http://myfrencheasel.blogspot.com/2008/08/painting-better-landscapes-by-margaret.html , and "Painting Backdrops for Your Model Railroad" by Mike Danneman  https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/product/book/12425 .  Those sources probably explain things better than I could here.

Add dots to the background hills?

The changed scenery looks wonderful.  

Your photos of the actual area show clumps of vegetation as far as the eye can see. I think it would add even more depth if the hills were peppered with darker spots indicating clumps of grasses.

Re: Doug

You're cordially invited to come paint them then.

Don’t upset the nice balance

Interesting comment, Doug, because I think adding that detail would actually distract from Rob’s scene. 

Photography can force us to focus on elements within a scene that we probably wouldn’t focus on if we were actually there. I think Rob has achieved a very nice balance between detail in the foreground (where we put most of our attention) combined with a gradually more impressionistic look as we view the backdrop from middle ground into the distance. 

Personally, I like a more impressionistic look to a backdrop because it helps us imagine greater distance without necessarily calling attention to itself. 

If one could have backdrop envy, I think I’ve caught the emotional disease when it comes to Rob’s creations.

Thanks, Scott

I have no idea how to add the "missing" backdrop detail without totally making a mess of things.  Besides, it amounts to an intentional omission as I'm going for a not entirely photographic effect.  Given that, my invitation for Doug still stands if he'd like to come over.  I have free snacks.

Backdrop envy?

I have layout envy!  .            John

It's Just One of Those Things

I didn't think there was anything wrong with the original scene...

...until you showed how you changed it. As always, great work, Rob.

George

Balance

Rob

I have to agree with Scott, you have a great balance where the backdrop is just that, the backdrop. It enhances the scene and doesn't bring a lot of attention to its self leaving the foreground scenery the center of attention

Don

Thanks Guys

I appreciate the observations.