12-08-2010, 10:47 PM
Okay, another good evening on the bridge, things just seemed to go my way. 
I removed the yellow rivet plates from the girder, primed the areas with white paint, then repainted a couple coats of silver over the flat girder sections, being careful not to get on the ribs or even the dark wash lines. Repainted a couple coats of the yellow-tan mix in the square rivet areas and other spots as on the prototype. Redid the gray "grafitti cover" paint. Put the rivets on with a fine pointed pencil. Then stood back and looked at the bridge. The dark wash in all the cracks and grooves was a bit too stark, so I made a silver wash and with a tiny brush, ran the silver wash in the grooves to tone the black down.
I sometimes think I need an airbrush for these things, the brush and craft paint just don't make a smooth finish, and there are brush lines. For some things this is actually good, for example, vertical or sloped concrete surfaces, but other times it isn't desirable.
Anyway, here's the finished product and the real thing. I'm calling it good!
(Geez, I just noticed that the yellow is not quite the proper shade :| )
Also got the foam glued in place around the base:
Foam glued on for the approaches to the bridge. These will be trimmed level with the cork roadbed, and the slopes built up to match what is already there.
And a "scenic" shot:
I removed the yellow rivet plates from the girder, primed the areas with white paint, then repainted a couple coats of silver over the flat girder sections, being careful not to get on the ribs or even the dark wash lines. Repainted a couple coats of the yellow-tan mix in the square rivet areas and other spots as on the prototype. Redid the gray "grafitti cover" paint. Put the rivets on with a fine pointed pencil. Then stood back and looked at the bridge. The dark wash in all the cracks and grooves was a bit too stark, so I made a silver wash and with a tiny brush, ran the silver wash in the grooves to tone the black down.
I sometimes think I need an airbrush for these things, the brush and craft paint just don't make a smooth finish, and there are brush lines. For some things this is actually good, for example, vertical or sloped concrete surfaces, but other times it isn't desirable.
Anyway, here's the finished product and the real thing. I'm calling it good!
(Geez, I just noticed that the yellow is not quite the proper shade :| )Also got the foam glued in place around the base:
Foam glued on for the approaches to the bridge. These will be trimmed level with the cork roadbed, and the slopes built up to match what is already there.
And a "scenic" shot:
Three Foot Rule In Effect At All Times