The In-ko-pah Railroad

The In-ko-pah Railroad http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html The In-ko-pah Railroad IMG_5902 All the plants in this scene are artificial, modeled to correct scale. They represent the kind of plants typically found in the desert regions of eastern San Diego County -- scraggly ocotillo, “Teddybear” cholla cactus, brittlebush, and other shrubs . http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#0 f24b1d7c-b6da-4e30-936c-e0e9579b4d39 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5902/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5902/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5902<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">All the plants in this scene are artificial, modeled to correct scale. They represent the kind of plants typically found in the desert regions of eastern San Diego County -- scraggly ocotillo, “Teddybear” cholla cactus, brittlebush, and other shrubs .</p></div></div> IMG_5900 All the plants in this scene are artificial, modeled to correct scale. They represent the kind of plants typically found in the desert regions of eastern San Diego County -- scraggly ocotillo, cholla cactus, brittlebush, and other shrubs . http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#1 6652be35-6f22-4b5e-8287-ca33743e39d8 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5900/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5900/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5900<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">All the plants in this scene are artificial, modeled to correct scale. They represent the kind of plants typically found in the desert regions of eastern San Diego County -- scraggly ocotillo, cholla cactus, brittlebush, and other shrubs .</p></div></div> IMG_5910 Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- I start with this plastic greenery from Michael’s. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#2 604b7586-8331-4383-bdb0-14ff4c7642f8 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5910/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5910/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5910<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- I start with this plastic greenery from Michael’s.</p></div></div> IMG_5912 Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- The greenery comes apart into sprigs like this. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#3 4b6dbeb5-c3ae-4f02-94ff-77fba51a9ee8 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5912/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5912/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5912<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- The greenery comes apart into sprigs like this.</p></div></div> IMG_5914 Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- I cut up the sprigs and trim them to shape, then hot-glue them to toothpicks. Some are grouped in clusters of two or three. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#4 8d6cc5c2-b856-43e7-bdec-7b3372df8220 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5914/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5914/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5914<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- I cut up the sprigs and trim them to shape, then hot-glue them to toothpicks. Some are grouped in clusters of two or three.</p></div></div> IMG_5916 Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- The cactus plant is coated with artist’s acrylic matte medium, then sprinkled with fine-grained, craft sand. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#5 e6562b8a-b7ec-4bc3-856b-7ded8ca9857c http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5916/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5916/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5916<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- The cactus plant is coated with artist’s acrylic matte medium, then sprinkled with fine-grained, craft sand.</p></div></div> IMG_5922 Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- After the matte medium has dried, the cactus is painted using Apple Barrel acrylic paints. When the paint has dried, the plants are sprayed with a couple coats of Krylon UV Matte finish. The toothpick can be cut off and the cactus glued to rocks or mortar. The cactus on the right was mounted on a galvanized nail, for planting in soil. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#6 4370a081-6780-42b7-9f0e-7a5379cf30df http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5922/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5922/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5922<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling “Teddybear Cholla” Cactus -- After the matte medium has dried, the cactus is painted using Apple Barrel acrylic paints. When the paint has dried, the plants are sprayed with a couple coats of Krylon UV Matte finish. The toothpick can be cut off and the cactus glued to rocks or mortar. The cactus on the right was mounted on a galvanized nail, for planting in soil.</p></div></div> IMG_5918 Modeling an Ocotillo -- For these large, weird-looking shrubs, I start by twisting together some pipe cleaners. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#7 89c8299c-933b-421a-8744-56d0fbecc596 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5918/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5918/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5918<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling an Ocotillo -- For these large, weird-looking shrubs, I start by twisting together some pipe cleaners.</p></div></div> IMG_5924 Modeling an Ocotillo -- Next I melt the pipe cleaner fuzz with a blow torch. You don’t want to burn it completely off, but just melt it so it coats the wire with a layer of plastic. At the base, the partially melted plastic fuzz creates a solid mass. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#8 c851eaa9-014c-40bd-9064-e844573cd950 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5924/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5924/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5924<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling an Ocotillo -- Next I melt the pipe cleaner fuzz with a blow torch. You don’t want to burn it completely off, but just melt it so it coats the wire with a layer of plastic. At the base, the partially melted plastic fuzz creates a solid mass.</p></div></div> IMG_5926 Modeling an Ocotillo -- At the base, the partially melted fuzz creates a solid mass of wire and plastic. The twisted wires give the branches texture. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#9 c963a3da-b81b-4d67-9fd1-131e6e91b41e http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5926/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5926/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5926<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling an Ocotillo -- At the base, the partially melted fuzz creates a solid mass of wire and plastic. The twisted wires give the branches texture.</p></div></div> IMG_5936 Modeling an Ocotillo -- The skeletal shrub is first painted with grayish brown acrylic paint. While wet, the lower half of the plant is sprinkled with sand to thicken the branches. When dry, the plant is painted again, then sprinkled with a green, plastic “grit” from Plastruct (Item #GC-104). This grit makes good miniature leaves. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#10 9c47052b-d49a-4ffc-9c36-48b575a8a72d http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5936/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5936/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5936<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling an Ocotillo -- The skeletal shrub is first painted with grayish brown acrylic paint. While wet, the lower half of the plant is sprinkled with sand to thicken the branches. When dry, the plant is painted again, then sprinkled with a green, plastic “grit” from Plastruct (Item #GC-104). This grit makes good miniature leaves.</p></div></div> IMG_5938 Modeling an Ocotillo -- The tips of some branches are painted red, then the plant is sprayed with Krylon UV Matte finish. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#11 f9fc5a90-a051-4750-ab3c-358cbf62fce4 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5938/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5938/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5938<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling an Ocotillo -- The tips of some branches are painted red, then the plant is sprayed with Krylon UV Matte finish.</p></div></div> IMG_5928 Modeling Brittlebush -- These plastic flowers are the basis for brittlebush and other desert shrubs. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#12 e76e9505-5260-46bf-b9f9-f56d5f4aae93 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5928/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5928/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5928<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling Brittlebush -- These plastic flowers are the basis for brittlebush and other desert shrubs.</p></div></div> IMG_5931 Modeling Brittlebush -- The flowers are pulled off the plant, then mounted on toothpicks for painting. They can be trimmed and shaped as desired. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#13 7a207889-f5a1-4de5-9400-ca8cbdf4982e http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5931/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5931/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5931<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling Brittlebush -- The flowers are pulled off the plant, then mounted on toothpicks for painting. They can be trimmed and shaped as desired.</p></div></div> IMG_5932 Modeling Brittlebush -- Three shrubs made from the plastic flower. The two on the left represent brittlebush. The middle one was trimmed. The plant on the right is a generic desert shrub. It was made from a trimmed flower, painted gray-brown, and the tips of the branches were dipped in green grit. All the plants are sprayed with Krylon UV Matte finish. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#14 60b88d81-e6cc-4470-96f0-fcd0228a4f27 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5932/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5932/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5932<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling Brittlebush -- Three shrubs made from the plastic flower. The two on the left represent brittlebush. The middle one was trimmed. The plant on the right is a generic desert shrub. It was made from a trimmed flower, painted gray-brown, and the tips of the branches were dipped in green grit. All the plants are sprayed with Krylon UV Matte finish.</p></div></div> IMG_5791 Modeling Brittlebush -- The various shrubs are stuck into blocks of modeling clay (with the wrapper still on) while the paint dries. The UV coating is sprayed on all the plants at once while they are mounted on the clay blocks. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#15 73df384b-82fa-446f-bc42-b5469777f4e1 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5791/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5791/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5791<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling Brittlebush -- The various shrubs are stuck into blocks of modeling clay (with the wrapper still on) while the paint dries. The UV coating is sprayed on all the plants at once while they are mounted on the clay blocks.</p></div></div> IMG_5793 Modeling Brittlebush -- The various shrubs are stuck into blocks of modeling clay (with the wrapper still on) while the paint dries. The UV coating is sprayed on all the plants at once while they are mounted on the clay blocks. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#16 2c321009-90bb-4524-a1cb-9eb7c4279cd2 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5793/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5793/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5793<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling Brittlebush -- The various shrubs are stuck into blocks of modeling clay (with the wrapper still on) while the paint dries. The UV coating is sprayed on all the plants at once while they are mounted on the clay blocks.</p></div></div> IMG_5941 Modeling generic shrubs-- These are another type of plastic flower, used to represent different shrubs. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#17 3edb8da5-ba2d-4785-b959-110f78a848d7 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5941/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5941/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5941<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling generic shrubs-- These are another type of plastic flower, used to represent different shrubs.</p></div></div> IMG_5942 Modeling generic shrubs-- The flowers were painted, then dipped in green plastic grit. As always, the shrubs are coated with Krylon UV Matte finish for protection. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#18 7160716b-51c8-460b-b977-b250521be29f http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5942/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_5942/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_5942<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Modeling generic shrubs-- The flowers were painted, then dipped in green plastic grit. As always, the shrubs are coated with Krylon UV Matte finish for protection.</p></div></div> IMG_6259 Beavertail Cactus -- These members of the prickly pear family were individually sculpted using Primo brand polyclay. This is the same material I use to sculpt my human and animal figures. They were mounted on toothpicks for ease of handling. The toothpicks were cut off before the cacti were “planted”. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#19 523f55ae-f3f9-4b28-955b-a0eddec7f163 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6259/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6259/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_6259<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Beavertail Cactus -- These members of the prickly pear family were individually sculpted using Primo brand polyclay. This is the same material I use to sculpt my human and animal figures. They were mounted on toothpicks for ease of handling. The toothpicks were cut off before the cacti were “planted”.</p></div></div> IMG_6264 Beavertail Cactus -- Here’s an example of my beavertail cactus after being “planted” on the layout. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#20 61d57ac9-e9a2-4c1b-a315-2fde5fc35d94 http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6264/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6264/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_6264<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Beavertail Cactus -- Here’s an example of my beavertail cactus after being “planted” on the layout.</p></div></div> IMG_6321 Beavertail Cactus -- Here’s another example of my beavertail cactus on the layout, along with a jackrabbit and several other scale plants. http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants.html#21 c248ff4c-1de7-41d4-8c96-401951f96e7b http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6321/thumb.jpg http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Plants_files/Media/IMG_6321/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_135_70"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">IMG_6321<br/></p><p class="Caption"><br/></p><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; " class="Caption">Beavertail Cactus -- Here’s another example of my beavertail cactus on the layout, along with a jackrabbit and several other scale plants.</p></div></div>