TN, I'll have some issues with the backdrop-bayou junction. I'll have to make do. Even though the proto bayou I am modeling is straight, with the bridge crossing at a 90 degree angle, I did angle it a little bit to the backdrop. With the layout being 58 inches above the floor, I think the bridge will help hide the junction. There will also be road bridges in front of the rail bridges.

This is definitely a problem area, hopefully the details in front will draw the eye away from the backdrop.

Even intentionally running the water straight back to the backdrop, and being satisfied with the results can be misconstrued by viewers. I've often been asked what I plan to do in the background of the photo below...

[attachment=19874]

...and my answer is "Nothing." This is where the river empties into Lake Erie, and, when you look out over the lake, all you see is the water meeting the sky. Perhaps I didn't accomplish what I was trying to show, but it looks right to my eye. Maybe I need to add a distant laker on the horizon, with a tell-tale smudge of smoke trailing behind.

From where Barney Secord sits, though, it won't fool anybody, even me.

[attachment=19873]

Wayne

DocWayne, you are certainly right, when looking at a large body of water, all that is seen on the horizon is water and sky... no matter the viewing angle! But the viewing angle will determine where the expected horizon will be. From a low angle, the horizon would pretty low, like in your first photo - I like that one alot! But Barney Secord would be seeing the horizon "way over yonder". How high is your layout in that area and what is the normal view?


On the backdrop behind the layout, I am going to try the following:

I've mentioned it before, the layout is at 58 inches above the floor, which pretty much limits the viewing to a low angle. Here is a photo of the bayou on the other side of the bridge:

[attachment=19876]

I did make the bayou curve just a little as it approaches the backdrop, so if I paint the following, it seems that it would be okay, again considering that the bridge will block some of the view. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

[attachment=19875]

It appears to me that the water naturally curves into "disappearance" before it even reaches the backdrop, so to me it works really well. I'd look into getting that scene blown up into a poster size and using that as a backdrop.

Tom, that is a good idea, but my fear is that I would need to use photos for the entire backdrop. Any idea on what it costs to reproduce a photo to poster size? With 170 feet of backdrop, that is alot of poster photos!

On the note of cost though, I am somewhat considering hiring an artist to do the backdrop scenes... man... would y'all lose respect for me if I did that? :oops:

Check out winkflash for having posters made <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.winkflash.com">www.winkflash.com</a><!-- w -->. Every now and then they have a sale that brings the price way down. They do terrific work too.
Charlie

Gary...I saw a video some time ago (don't remember how I found it... :oops: ), where a guy did just that (hiring an artist). The guy did some beautiful work...seamless transitions between scenery and backdrops....As I remember, he also did some of the scenery work so the effect was really astounding...

As to the respect thing....I don't see a whole lot of guys making their own engines, rolling stock, structures....You get the point.

Charlie B Wrote:Check out winkflash for having posters made <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.winkflash.com">http://www.winkflash.com</a><!-- m -->. Every now and then they have a sale that brings the price way down. They do terrific work too.

I got to the website, but then the poster page took forever to load. I'll check it out tomorrow when I have a faster net connection. Thanks for the link.

Steamtrains Wrote:Gary...I saw a video some time ago (don't remember how I found it... :oops: ), where a guy did just that (hiring an artist). The guy did some beautiful work...seamless transitions between scenery and backdrops....As I remember, he also did some of the scenery work so the effect was really astounding...

As to the respect thing....I don't see a whole lot of guys making their own engines, rolling stock, structures....You get the point.

And I figure since I am using flex track and store-bought turn-outs, I am pretty much below respect already!

But seriously, if I could get a color slide of the bayou pic, I could shine it on the wall to help paint it, at least it seems like it could work. I'm not expecting the backdrop to be photo quality, but to provide something somewhat pleasing. Still though, the picture poster thing is a possibility. We'll see as time goes by.

Gary,

I think your idea will work well. It's all in how you choose to view it; from the prospective of a 1" tall individual or yourself. If you stand above the canal, it may loose the effect, because the river drops off at the backdrop. However, if you are photographing the scene, you won't be looking down at the canal and the photo will be shot at ground level.

Larry

Hello Gary----no words of advice or suggestions,just a big thank you to you (and other contributors) for providing the inspiration and "how to techniques" for those of us who are in the planning stages of creating our own layouts

fast car Wrote:Gary,

I think your idea will work well. It's all in how you choose to view it; from the prospective of a 1" tall individual or yourself. If you stand above the canal, it may loose the effect, because the river drops off at the backdrop. However, if you are photographing the scene, you won't be looking down at the canal and the photo will be shot at ground level.

I was doing some thinking, the average height for a male is 5' - 10". That is 70 inches. The layout height is 58 inches. Eyes are around 5 inches below top of head, so the average viewer will see the layout from 65 inches, or about 7 inches above the layout height - a fairly low angle. I think it will work. Now, I am 76 inches tall, so the effect won't be as good for me!

cn nutbar Wrote:Hello Gary----no words of advice or suggestions,just a big thank you to you (and other contributors) for providing the inspiration and "how to techniques" for those of us who are in the planning stages of creating our own layouts

Mr. Nutbar, I'm glad you can make some use of all this, and thank you for your interest. We all learn from each other, both the sucesses and the failures. As for my "how to" techniques, you'll probably be better off following the "and other contributors" that you mention above!

I do feel that I bring some unique solutions to some of this though, like my manual turn-out controls and the DIN rail inside the bridge.

Again, thank you for following along!

Gary S Wrote:...I figure since I am using flex track and store-bought turn-outs, I am pretty much below respect already!

Au contraire my friend... how many guys out there built there own building to house their model railroad? Not many. Be assured the respect is high on this end for sure. If I had the space to do what you've done, I probably would have bought an old boxcar or a couple of those gigantic shipping containers and called it good. Wouldn't the homeowners association have fun with that one!

TN, I used to see the advertisements for used cabooses in the train magazines. I always thought it would be so awesome to have one in the backyard and buildthe layout inside it.

Even though the cabooses were only $5000, the shipping charges were quite high. There is/was a website that chronicled one man's adventures in acquiring and installing a caboose in his backyard- very interesting and an enjoyable read. From his cost figures, it was cheaper for me to build the new building! Plus the building has more space than a caboose.

A boxcar would be really cool too.

Thank you for your respect comment, it is appreciated!