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Geezer
Fireman
USA
8185 Posts |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
USA
1994 Posts |
 Posted - 07/07/2011 : 02:01:52 AM
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EDIT: I added photos showing the Incredible Growing Mountain! Here's how the eight sections of carved styrofoam fit together to form the Cielo Incline:
Here's the finished rockwork. I added a hoodoo to the left of the picture, behind the talus rock. There's still final ballasting, blending the talus rock colors, and adding more saguaros and other vegetation.
The portal was completed using spackling compound to fill in the gaps between the foam blocks. The scary face remains, I am open to ideas for a name for this spooky guy!
I took care to color the mountain to look like a similar mountain quarry provided the rock for the retaining wall. I like the steep, rugged feel of this section of the layout. |
Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 12/04/2011 10:37:19 AM |
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dallas_m
Fireman
USA
3006 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 02:31:08 AM
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| You've succeeded in creating a variety of amazingly-cool scenes in a really small space ... and, those crazy braces on the retaining wall make sense now too! Really outstanding ... look forward to the finishing touches. |
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milocomarty
Fireman
Netherlands
4927 Posts |
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Geezer
Fireman
USA
8185 Posts |
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Dustymalaymann
Engine Wiper
Malaysia
133 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 08:19:40 AM
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Verne, I think you cracked this seen, some great ideas in there & looking real good.
Keith Miller |
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railman28
Fireman
USA
1726 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 10:08:43 AM
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Verne,
Looking so good! BTM is totally gone now! A little more desert flora, a few sheep to keep the [:-tiger] happy.
As far as naming the "guardian"; Do you have a relative to get even with? Geronimo is too used/obvious. How about after the President- Teddy? Or a real evil guy, Rasputin? |
It's Only Make Believe
Bob Harris |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
USA
1994 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 11:53:12 AM
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Thanks Dallas, now I know why I put that sag in the retaining wall! I really appreciate your suggestions, and the many others provided by form members!
Marty and Keith, thank you for your comments.
Geezer, the family has voted and the unanimous results are in: 'La boca Diablo' it is! Translation: 'Devil's mouth'. It's a fitting tribute to the guardian of the tunnel portal, thank you for the suggestion.
Bob, thank you for your comment, I would like to find a way to make bighorn sheep. While rare in the Sonoran, they can be seen in the highlands. Must feed kitty! As for the name, 'Rasputin' would be too unfair to that patch of innocent styrofoam! It did receive Honorable Mention status, as he was certainly one of history's most unsavory characters. The Longfellow mine (and the incline that served it, with a tunnel similar to what I have modeled) was discovered on the birthday of the famous author, and the well-schooled prospectors paid tribute by naming it after him. I will leave political names out of the equation, it is too tempting to let fly given the times we live in! |
Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 07/07/2011 11:54:04 AM |
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Tyson Rayles
Moderator
USA
10169 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 3:15:13 PM
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| Verne that's a first class second class railroad you got going there! [:-thumbu] |
Mike |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
USA
1994 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2011 : 7:31:18 PM
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| Wow, thanks Tyson! A promotion! We always figured we were third-class! |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
USA
1994 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2011 : 11:57:02 PM
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Progress continues on the Cielo Incline.
Viva agave! I made several agave from plant parts gathered at a Michaels craft store, and a stalk carved from bamboo. They bloom in the spring, and make an amazing display.
Some of the stalks have a mass of blossoms in one large group at the top of the stalk. This blooming process is called inflorescence by botanists. It is amazing to consider that a relatively small plant can push out a stalk and blooms like these!
I have several of these plants around the layout, but am using them sparingly, as they are time consuming to make! They add interest to the scene, I have other desert plants in the works to add more variety to the scenery. |
Edited by - MinerFortyNiner on 12/04/2011 10:51:28 AM |
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rgn280
New Hire
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2011 : 07:51:11 AM
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| Really like the way this scene has come together. Especially like the last shot emphasizing the shelf aspect of the right of way in this area. As a modeler of the Chihuahua desert region, I am always looking for desert fauna, just no Saguaro. |
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reklein
Engine Wiper
USA
233 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2011 : 10:30:37 AM
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| Its interesting to see your desert scenery come together. A few years back my wife and I drove from central Idaho to Pheonix. It was interesting to see the land and vegetation changes as we went south.There were some really beautiful vistas. There's a pretty cool desert railroad at Ely,Nevada that I would have liked to visit more,it was Nov. though,and the temp was 12 degrees F. so we didn't hang around long. BILL |
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milocomarty
Fireman
Netherlands
4927 Posts |
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MinerFortyNiner
Fireman
USA
1994 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2011 : 11:30:12 AM
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rgn280, I am not an expert on the Chihuahua desert, but I believe the yucca, prickly pear, agave and senite cacti would be appropriate...as well as mesquite, creosote, jojoba, etc. I would be interested in seeing what you are doing and to compare notes!
reklein, that is quite a transition between Idaho and the Sonoran Desert! I am glad you find the desert beautiful, many don't see the beauty there. To each their own, I suppose. I wanted to model the desert since I grew up here, lived most of my life in saguaro country, and had never modeled it before. So I chose to take the path less traveled...
Marty, thank you very much...this is a long way from your beautiful coastal layout, but I appreciate the encouragement! |
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Topic |
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Building the Estrella & Sonora Grande RR
Topic Locked
