no, I'm not talking about improving health habits or anything like that! I've been looking at photos of this section of my layout...

and I'm not happy with it. I figure that posting a thread about it might motivate me to make some improvements. The steel mill flats in the background are pasted to the backdrop so I'm looking at ripping them out as a last resort. I'm pondering adding details to the buildings and also squeezing in some foliage between them and the elevated track to create an illusion of distance and also one of urban greenery gone wild... I'll post attempts as I try them.

OK, just about to hit the "Submit" button...do I really want to put this out there?

Ralph (who sometimes benefits from external motivation!)

Actually, I like the mill in the back-background. My only suggestion would be to make it grey instead of brown. More of a subdued color and maybe just a hint of raised relief to cast a shadow. For example, could you hint at a roof line by using thin styrene colored to match and glued in place, then use thinner styrene for the walls below the roof? That way you'd get just a hint of three dimensions but without interfering with the backdrop. Color the whole thing a depressingly dark color, weathered from lack of exterior maintenance, and you might be able to add dimension to a flat background. (Just my two cents.)

how bout adding a construction scene to the building

how much space between the tracks and the steel mill flats?

I like Herc's suggestions! Good idea to work on the backdrop a bit, and then blend the whole thing (backdrop and low relief flats) together with a gritty, industrial colour wash/weather. I think the buildings are exactly what you'd see along the tracks. Maybe some garbage/litter, a high chainlink fence, weeds, etc.

Also like the art deco columns supporting that raised track!

Andrew

Damn Ralph...You scared me there.
I thought you were thinking of changing era's...Like bumping up to early Conrail.
Don't do that!....my heart won't take it..


But after reading your post I calmed down and have to agree.
That area does need a little work, just to bring it up to the same detail as your other scenes.

Change eras? Never! Some one has to keep the memory of the Penn Central alive!

Herc's suggestion about the brown flat way in the back made me think of possibly doing the equivalent of cabinet refacing on the backdrop buildings. I may cover them all with a darker gray material, increasing the continuity between them and covering up some unsightly seems, etc.

Every time I log onto this thread and see my photo I think..."Hmmmm, not so great looking!" This motivation thing is going to work out!

Ralph

Ralph-I know exactly where you are coming from.I've torn out a couple of sections on my layout because I wasn't happy with them.The redo's made a big difference. Sometimes moving buildings around makes a difference.
Bob

Quote:no, I'm not talking about improving health habits or anything like that!

Whew! You had me worried there. . . .for a moment or two. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Two possibilities, well more actually, but two for now. Backdrop detail for still photos, or backdrop detail for viewing operation/ videos.
In short, for viewing moving trains, a highly detailed backdrop is distracting, and a "Matte Painting" would be better.
For still shots, ...Detail, with emphasis based on "viewing angle" of the camera, and lighting angles.

it looks way to sterile most mills i'v seen were realy dirty , is the back drop painted blue its hard to tell from pic if not blue with a pall of urban smog. the elevated track would look better on a steel viaduct ( just my preferance) more open and airy.
jim

Ralph, I think it might help to remove the pictures from the backdrop and glue them to foam core cut to just fit the picture. Then dirty up the foreground buildings with weathering, and spray paint a light haze over those buildings in the back to make them disappear a bit indicating that they are behind the foreground (relative of course)buildings. I just reread your first post. If those building flats have enough relief to stand out a bit from the backdrop, just weather them. You don't need the foam core to add relief. I would still spray a haze over the background buildings that are painted on the backdrop to suggest more distance between them and the flats.

Ralph; Love your PC stuff and your dedication to the "Failure-road". Was in the Bessemer message board today, and this link brought you and your thread to mind. Just as inspiration, a guy who has carried "Steel Mill" way further than most. Maybe some ideas/techniques you can use or adapt to your wants. http://www.tacoma-trains.com/bobspage.htm Enjoy. Bob C.

Maybe add a little weathering, shadows and highlights, and some debris?

Seems a shame to tear out great looking stuff like that.

Ralph,

I think what you need is weeds and weed trees. Those undefineable "trees" that are really weeds that grow in clumps. Thin, spindly little things that are 8-20 foot tall and sparse, open vegetation.You need them both below your viaduct and a few growing on top of it near the edge so the trains pass behind them. They'd also grow along the walls of the buildings. Not a forest- just here and there. They'd be the weed trees that the MOW gang would cut down but no matter how many times they do- there they are again! Other then that... I like the look of trhe mill- soft as you have it. I drove by the Bethelehem Steel Mill and you have it just right for "buildings off in the distance".

That's my threepence.

Mark

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions guys! I really appreciate them. I'm weighing alternatives between dressing up the current scene and doing a tear out to start it again. I keep going down to the layout and staring at that section. I cut out some pieces of cardboard as possible mock ups. There isn't more than two to three inches between track and backdrop so I have to be creative with forced perspective and any vegetation I add. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with this scene and will post pictures as things change. Thanks again!!!

Ralph

PS,. Bob, I enjoyed the link!!