First layers of ground dirt is applied on the two mine I use sifted backyard dirt mixed with fine sifted sand. It is applied in random patterns beside and over the existing track ballast. I also added a little green fine turf to simulate first weeds between the runaround tracks.
I continued the work on the mainline section below the mine run with some rock painting. First pass is a to highlight some spots with a raw sienna and ocher to mimic some color variations caused by nature. In the second pass I applied a dark umber wash to some deeper spots and rock seams...
Work continued on the Coal Branch with the construction of the bridge structure that crosses the branchline after Bend Jct. As the bridge needs to span a rather odd cut of 17 cm in length no commercial kit would fit — at least I know of. So I decided to build the bridge from scratch....