Good things come in narrow packages - Printable Version

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Re: Good things come in narrow packages - X 3829 - 03-05-2009


[i Wrote:http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r310/nazgul-np/Bridge003small.jpg[/img]
Steve who makes this wonderful wooden Boxcar?

Well done bridge :mrgreen:

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - ocalicreek - 03-05-2009

Lookin' good, Steve! You're right, that WWV bridge has LOADS of character...and although it has no shoes, per se, it does have a solid abutment under each end.

I agree with tetters, perhaps just a smaller HO bridge would have the same effect you're thinking of.

As for the turnout and bridge ties, well, you could carefully clip away the existing turnout ties except for the long ties on either side of the throw bar and a few under the frog, then replace them with more closely spaced long bridge ties. No need to spike them unless you really want to. Just use a little Walther's Goo to attach the rail to the ties. Check the track gauge often during this procedure and you should be fine. You can do it, no problem.

Will you be adding a walkway for your brakemen & crew to use to get to that turnout to throw it? Safety railing is a good thing, and having it run along just one side of the bridge would be a nice, eye-catching and unique feature.

Galen

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - doctorwayne - 03-05-2009

tetters Wrote:If I may, I don't think you'd want to force the perspective too much, otherwise, it might ruin the illusion. I like Wayne's idea to disguise the wall area...except maybe instead of another train bridge maybe a bridge for motor vehicles. I would think it would help give the illusion of distance you are looking for as the vehicle bridge by default is already smaller. Possibly connect to the road you have roughed in on the left there.

Did that make any sense? Smile

Yup! That's why I specified a road bridge. Wink Misngth I'd suggest building it more-or-less to-scale, except making it much narrower - as long as you don't put any vehicles on it, it shouldn't be noticeable.
I experimented with forced perspective in the scene below (shot by Mister Nutbar) - from eye-level, the N scale cattle look pretty decent, but from normal viewing height (this part of the layout is 36" above the floor) my daughter commented on the midget cows. Misngth Once the second level of the layout is in place, viewers will be forced to view the scene at "eye level".
[album]670[/album]

Wayne

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - MasonJar - 03-05-2009

Steve Wrote:Gus, my friend....Thank you for the complement on my "scenic ability". Since you are so good at it, it means all the more Wink
Josh...Thank you! Thumbsup
Matthew...I appreciate it! Thumbsup

Small update:

As you can see in the pic, I am really going to be tight on space at the river. I think that we can all agree that curving it just wasn't feasible. I went with my original idea of keeping it wider in the front and narrow towards the back. Hopefully this will help give it an illusion of distance........we shall see. I widened it a little more up front and will use sculptamold to give it its final shape and also to slope the banks:

[Image: riversmall.jpg]

I will soon be turning towards my favorite part of the hobby.............Ballasting!.............oh joy! Wallbang

Well, I might disagree... Wink 35 I like the idea of the narrow bridge to disguise it, but another possibility is a (very) sharp hook, and some overhanging trees and other vegetation along the back wall, so that it looks like the river has come around the bend. You might even combine this idea with the bridge, so that rather than right against the wall, the bridge is moved forward to allow a bit of landscaping/scenicking/vegetation at the backdrop.

Just my $0.02

Andrew

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Steve - 03-05-2009

X 3829...here you go
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/112-4103
It really is a sweet looking boxcar...right Kurt Wink

I want to thank every one for their input Thumbsup Thumbsup Thumbsup . I can see that this scene needs a lot more thought (I'm not used to thinking Goldth ). No sense rushing it. I will check things out and see what works best. Thanks for the ideas!.
Back to the layout!

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - MasonJar - 03-06-2009

Steve,

Here's a couple of shots from Mike Hamer's Boston & Maine to illustrate what I mean about curving the river instead of running it straight into the backdrop. I believe the scene is only 9" deep - certainly not more than a foot...!

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438/2195/1600/IMG_3873.jpg">http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438 ... G_3873.jpg</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438/2195/1600/geeps%20at%20bridge.jpg">http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438 ... bridge.jpg</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438/2195/1600/2.0.jpg">http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7438 ... 00/2.0.jpg</a><!-- m -->

You can see in the above photos that the entrance to the curve is big and wide, and fools you into thinking that it is the same around the corner.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - doctorwayne - 03-06-2009

I did the same at Chippawa Creek, although the area which I had is 36" deep. The key to pulling this off convincingly is the level at which it's viewed:
[album]684[/album]

[album]685[/album]

[album]686[/album]

In the last photo, the "upstream" part of the creek ends at a waterfall hidden in the trees, located roughly between the light- and dark-coloured trees seen beyond the coal bunker of the tender. At this point, it's just over an inch wide.

Wayne

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - ocalicreek - 03-06-2009

RIver thoughts...where there's water there's life; at least that's what NASA keeps telling us. What I mean to say is, as you know, in the midwest there are often more native trees & shrubs along creeks and rivers. If you go with the perpendicular approach, you could use a canopy of trees to conceal the joint where water meets backdrop.

And another thought - how about a little public works project? I've seen some fine examples of locks, dams and spillways for creeks & waterways.

Wayne - I never tire of seeing your layout. You are right, perspective is everything. Steve, if your perspective on the layout is mainly from on high, then choose a way to blend it to the backdrop that takes advantage of your viewing angle.

And don't forget distraction. Put a nice little mini-scene like people fishing (WS has some neat fisherfolk in their latest offerings) or some good ole boys hooking a tow truck up to their pickup which has run off the bank into the river. Something that will make people stop and say "wow, neat" and only the nitpickers like us folks on The Gauge will look for the joint. Between the wall and the river, that is. Like magicians watching another magician. When you know how it's done you look at the technique and execution.

Galen

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Steve - 03-30-2009

Its been a while hasn't it?
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and ideas about how best to blend the river into the backdrop. In the end I have chosen to curve the river around to the left (or a close facsimile). I used sculptamold to give the banks the proper shape and flow, and added a small "island" to help hide the fake curve.
With the proper greenery/foliage etc. it should be pretty convincing...I hope. I still have to make the abutments of course.

[Image: NKl7UD.jpg]

[Image: jKyrxY.jpg]

[Image: iEimKJ.jpg]

I will be leaving the river "as is" until I get ready to do the groundcover.....but before I do that, I am going to start building the structures.

First up will be the coal house on the far left side of the layout.

Steve

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - tetters - 03-30-2009

I like it. It should work out very well for you Steve. Don't worry about rushing it. I find I'm working slower this second time around myself. Part Procrastination, Part Wanting to get it Right.

Keep up the good work my man! Cheers

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Steamtrains - 03-30-2009

Looks like that'll do the trick..!! Keep'em pictures comin'... Thumbsup

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Trucklover - 03-30-2009

Steve, i agree with Shane, the river should work out really cool, and i think your curve to the left will look great when, like you said, you can get some ground cover and foliage down in there Thumbsup Thumbsup Cheers

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Bigsteel - 03-31-2009

the river scene looks to be going great steve! i see some of your famous rockwork starting up....--josh

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Jesso - 03-31-2009

Look really good! I like the island idea. Keep up the good work!

Re: Good things come in narrow packages - Russ Bellinis - 03-31-2009

I like it Steve! What geographic area are you modeling? My wife and I visited the Oregon Coast near New Port last fall, and I would think Washington's coast is not a lot different than Oregon's. If you are modeling an area West of the Cascades, you could put in some heavy vegetation to further "hide" the bend in the river.