Anyone have any tips or recommendations for painting resin or plastic wood loads so that the wood actually looks like lumber? I'm building an N scale saw mill and need lots of lumber in various size stacks. While I have created molds of the lumber stacks, I can't seem to find the correct color. Started with a base layer of tan, and then added some white wash to areas.  But as I look at photos, it seems like some deeper reds and oranges are needed to get the variability within lumber loads.

Here's the latest Davetown diorama. I'll put a slide show of the entire build together in a day or two.

I've been reading many articles and I'm a bit confused as to when I should put in the photo backdrop I'm planning. It seems it needs to go in earlier as I don't see trying to weasel it around behind landforms, buildings, trees, etc. especially with adhesive on the back. It certainly seems you should get the material you're using for a backdrop in (styrene, Masonite, etc.) And then painted if you're not using a full height photo (some only use the landform portion and cut out the sky.)

I was going to scratch build   a trestle I need for my layout but while shopping for other items I came across  bridge components from a company called "Grand Central Gems" They have assorted heights of trestle bents, both single and double  and a trestle deck with backheads.  The deck looks as if you would only have to add rails and not conventional bridge track.  Anyway, wondering if anyone out there has experience with this company?

Michael