The Bridge (WIP update)

I think your progress 'rocks' Steve!

Very good of you to build that cinderblock wall around the dio, too!

Looking good SternO!  Excellent ground work - those tree roots really bring it together.  Have you got a good Hobby Shop in C'ville or do you mail order your stuff?  I am fortunate enough to have a "WW2 Friendly" Hobbytown USA in Richmond, curious as to where the best one in Charlottesville is.

rb

namrednef wrote:

Very good of you to build that cinderblock wall around the dio, too!

Thank you for your feedback! Sorry about the cinder block..was trying to get it outside for light...The cinderblock wall woundn't have taken nearly as long to build..

Lineman: Being the bridge and terrain are scratchbuilt I didnt just want to buy trees, I was a little leary of the wire floral tape method but it really works, thank you for the complement.

Razorboy: Thanks!!! Been wondering where froglevel was! There wasnt much to buy for this one yet except the figs and a galllon of sheetrock mud.We have a small model shop (lightship hobbies) here in c'ville, but I think he is in danger of closing...We do have a Hobbytown here which is where I get most of my kits, and some ground cover...I got real lucky with some of the stuff I got at Michaels...I seem to find more modeling material there everytime..they even have the resin I'm going to use for the water! I do end up ordering things occasionaly from the internet..have had alot of luck with Free Time Hobbies its in Georgia somewhere....

Michaels is a great source.  Buy yourself a "bunch" of dried caspia branches to have on hand for future groundwork.  In addition to the dried veggies, they also sell those ornamental brooms that make great scale straw and weeds too.  You can also get not only the resin that you mentioned but virtually every gauge of wire known to mankind!  Great place that Michaels, even if they are overpriced!

rb

RB ...thank you, It must be the Caspia my wifey found at Michaels...one bunch was a light green the other was dark...make awsome tree branches..Yes, I have bought lots of wire there.

Bodge: Thanks for the reply...I had started this monstrosity before I saw your 72 Normandy scene (Fantastic!) but you got my creative juices flowing, thank you. This, like yours, is completly scratchbuilt, you raised the bar way up...hope I can come close, I was so inspired by your camera work also...I want some cool outside shots!!!!!

Steve: Nice comments there!

I think you should paint tunnel entrances on the cinderblocks.....and then paint a terrain mural on the rest of it for background!

Seriously, I'm looking forward to seeing your resin water progress!

smeagol, I will go through the pics I have and see what I have for WIP on the roots...I will say they are real and I just kept tucking them in wherever it looked good...The ivy on the bridge are real roots with dried stuff sprinkled on..The ground work I will say is about 90% real, You can probably tell whats not...

David, A nice background on the block would be a hoot....don't get me started with anymore IDEAS!!!    It's funny because I do have a picture on velum papper for the back of the tunnel...Yes..I am chomping at the bit to do my pour....we will see.

Smeagol, This is the best I can do for WIP pics...The last pic is my false backdrop..

Ian..that Grass is a Michaels find...It is one of the few "fake" items...It was cheap and comes on a little rack with bunches that pull off...very realistic, and  in scale (which is the hard part). Here is a pic of one of the bunches, next to my homegrown cattails. Hope it helps.

Looking better and better with each post SternO! - Smitty we gotta talk, I got peeps in Palmyra.

rb

Yes, I made the trees..it is floral wire wrapped in floral tape, spraypainted brown then I added the dried caspia for branches. I saw someone mention this techniqe its called "twisted wire trees" I never looked at the tuturial but figured it out by the title...give it a look. Here are a few WIP pic of them....hope they help

In fact Smeagol, They dry on the bench maybe a day.....I don't paint them at all....wash them a little so you can see it better...better to do this after they are set with a wet paintbrush, they might break otherwise. I couldnt paint them to look real, that may take a little talent. I am working on a small tree with same exposed root config. would be happy to document it for ya

Breathtaking, realistic photo with that background Steve!.....cannot laud your dio enough!

(While at work yesterday with two friends/co-workers.......I logged on to FSM at a customers home ((it was okay with the homeowner))....and showed the guys some of the stuff going on here.

They appreciate craftsmanship in all forms and loved all I showed them but the dios were most popular. They loved your WIP's. Thought it was CG at first!

Personally, I think the secret to your realistic roots is a 'good eye' and knowing when enough is enough!