Hi Guys,
I figured it was time I started to update you all on what's been going on with the 3rd Division. Since making the decision that I was going to be a host for a layout tour in the NNGC this year...I've found a lot of ...ahem...motivation...to get things moving

You can find the majority of what I have been doing work wise on my SmugMug site here:
https://www.riogranderr.com/ModelRailroading/Construction/Scenery/Garfield/i-2wLchN7But also...here are a few shots of what I accomplished over my 1.5 weeks off from work


At the top of the Garfield Switchbacks is the old Limestone Quarry they used to mine (circa 1890's to early 1900's). They quickly realized they needed more then this could offer and opened the large mine (as it still stands today).
So knowing I was going model the switchbacks, I knew I wanted to throw this detail in. So I spent a LOT of time looking over pictures of the area today (that I took)...and tried to match color tones and streaking effects as much as possible.
One Item of note....as strange as it is...the dirt 'base' color is something I tried to match very closely too. The area around the old quarry had some darker dirt...which really surprised me. So I ended up using this color tone across the whole area. I will be putting down some real dirt as well to help blend. But still something that I studied to try to get right.

Another shot of some of the rocks around the Garfield switchbacks. This method was a LOT of fun to learn on...and was a hoot to work on coloring.
I also was able to get a new portal built up for this side of the layout on one of my tunnels. I really thought that on this side it would be cool to have a "Mud Tunnel" type of portal....so here it is:

I don't have a final shot of it in place with the ground color started....but hope to have something on here when the dirt starts to be put down
