There is never enough storage space

It's one of those N+1 things, like staging tracks. 

Congratulations on reaching this stage of your layout. 

Small bit of progress

This is kind of a "scenery in all stages" shot that shows a small bit of progress....The final scene has begun...

Rockwork

Re Rockwork

Hi Michael,

A suggestion - If its coal, then its very likely to be in sedimentary rock - If not horizontal, keep your bedding lines in the rock strata roughly parallel

Yes there was a coal mine under all that sandstone, 

They are aren't they?

May be hard to tell from the picture but the carved rocks are horizontal and mostly parallel. The large rock face in the center is from a rock mold so it's going to be bit different. More pictures coming today after I do some painting. The stark white wreaks havoc with a phone camera. I'm in the middle of a phone changeover. I went from I-phone to a cheap android which turned out to have a horrible camera and now I'm back to another I-phone. As soon as I can, I'm going to download a camera app that will give me better control of white balance.

A little transformation

It's amazing what a little paint, india ink/alcohol wash and some greenery will do! I'll clean the mess below later. I guess I need to be figuring out what kind of coal I want to buy.

A little color

Yup that's an impressive difference Michael!

Progression

Here's a pic of the scene as I left it last night. Yes, I know the painted backdrop mountain isn't much right now but bear with me, there's more to come. Just about to get started today...

Re: Progression

Hi Michael,

Now that is really starting to come together. Well done 

Mine Tail

I've gotten slightly sidetracked with some preliminary work on another project involving forced perspective but I got a little more work in on the scene today. This is where the tail track to the mine ducks into the closet staging just a bit. I've gotten the shape roughed in and applied preliminary coloring. At this stage, the coloring is more for visualization. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of room to work with because of the turnout.

Another progression

The portal scene as of this evening...

Wow

That work is terrific, Michael.  You added a lot of visual depth to a very shallow scene.  I've always struggled with that, and especially with using products like lichen.  Is that lichen?  Will you share how you do the shrubbery and greenery?  Very excellent work!!

Ancient scenery secrets (not really)

Thank you for the kind words Michael.

It's really just a process of building up layers of color and texture. I like to use a product called DAP Stucco Patch for the rock work. It has a sandy gritty texture and can be used to do rock work without a lot of effort. The rock work gets the standard coloring, India ink wash, dry brushing regime and then I follow with a dusting of various colors of fine ground foam. The moss isn't lichen, it's called "Forest Moss" and it's a preserved floral product. I just tear it in various size clumps and glue it with white glue. Then I spray it with hair spray and lightly sift fine ground foam of a contrasting color on it. You'd be surprised how much "pop" that gives and it brings out a nice 3D effect. Sometimes I'll tease the moss out and I've been known to even trim it with scissors after attachment. I'll go back and fill some areas with clumps of medium ground foam and I usually spend my day working on a scene is various time intervals before I call it good enough. I'm lucky enough to be able to visualize a scene and I kind of just find a zone and "Bob Ross it"... letting the picture I have in my imagination guide me.

Getting there

Here's a wide shot of most of the entire scene as of today. Coal and ballast arrive in the mail tomorrow. I have the board to make the storage cabinet beneath the mine, it just has to be cut to size. I'm toying with the idea of putting a plexiglass window/door to show the staging. If I do so, I'm going to model the tunnel interior and add some RGB LED lighting strip.

I think I'll call it a day...

On this scene at least. I have reached the end and the beginning. The entire railroad now has at least base level scenery on it but now the devil is in the details. Every scene needs more detail, cars need  building,weathering, tune up. The most glaring need as I see it right now is trees but It goes on and on but I'm just a little closer with one more battle fought and won! It was fun too...

Looks great

Progressed nicely. It looks great, if only you had unlimited space right?

Steve

Yes and no Steve

This  spare room sized L shaped layout has kept me plenty busy and the sheer amount of stuff I have left to do yet is daunting. About the only thing I don't have that I want is a River harbor. Maybe a yard.

Most Excellent

Hey, Micheal, it looks really great and progressing very quickly with excellent results, you have done a great job in getting the rock face look on the scenery. 

I agree

I agree, I think it looks great. Michael!