03-27-2014, 09:40 AM
However, just in case anyone should think I've totally lost the plot and gone abjectly off topic, there is also method in my madness.
Although a little early in the day, thoughts have already turned to the scenic elements of the build for which I plan to employ a variety of methods - some familiar, some not so - to represent the built environment. What I'd like to do, is employ as much texture into my modelling as possible without going over board, of course (must try and keep to scale). However, as several of the buildings will be located some distance from the observer, I reckon IMHO, that texturing would be a waste of time and a suitably 'weathered' medium would be more than adequate. For instance, the narrow corridor between adjacent buildings or 'brick canyon' as it is commonly referred to, portrayed in the several photos on this page <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/ATSF_ThePatch.html">http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/ATSF_ThePatch.html</a><!-- m --> would be a case in point. As I intend to erect a picture frame type front to the layout for the observer to view through, this will in effect prevent them from viewing the corridor at a distance of less than a foot and as the adjacent buildings could throw shadow onto the area, any attempt at texturing would be lost to - except to me of course, as I would know it was there even if it wasn't glaringly obvious. Therefore, rather than go through the protracted process of constructing bricked up windows and lintels in plasticard before having to persuade them to hold a curved shape etc, I could quite easily, and more quickly, create the same scene from some of the better printed brick papers available these days, a medium far easier to cut and contour and easily downloadable. I'm quite impressed, like a lot of we UK modellers, with the products produced by 'Scalescene' <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.scalescenes.com/">http://www.scalescenes.com/</a><!-- m --> which are not only available in a variety of appearances e.g. old/weathered etc...
but also can be printed to a variety of scales, including HO, with various types of lintels available for widows and doors too - I think they'd be ideal to portray at least one of those walls!!! Once sprayed with a suitable artists' varnish and suitably weathered with some cheapo powders as per my paper edifice above, I'm sure it will look quite effective - from that given distance, of course!! Even if it turned out to be a total disaster, there would be little in the way of time and money wasted, so in effect, it wouldn't be much of a wasted effort. Anyway, just thinking out loud and getting to grips with the 'editor'.
The next stage will be to construct a simple light frame to hold my light source - that fluorescent I mentioned earlier in the thread - and I really will try and keep this as light as possible as I'm quickly approaching critical mass here as far as my back's concerned
Then I can cut and hang the picture frame front (with short wings at each end) which will raise and lower on a piano hinge I've got out in the garage somewhere to ease rail cleaning/maintenace etc.I can then work out the final location and sizes of the curved back scene. Then, and only then, can I get down to the good part - although I must say I've thoroughly enjoyed the whole process so far. A great hobby!
Till next time,
Jonte