April Layout Party

[P5se Camelback]

Gary, you needn't model the prototype in every way, but the deal about freelanceing, especially when freelancing based on a prototype is to emulate the prototype. There's no need to take it as far as my club is going, where the neighborhood in San Bernardino near the Depot is all structures built from plans of the actual houses.

But if you build your freelance houses using a similar architectural style, similar colors and landscape plantings, the layout observer will be comfortable that they know where they are, because everything they see is familiar to them. In other words, if your scenery was like in one of California's valleys but the houses look like they've been plucked from a West (By God) Virginia Coal Company Town, the look would be troubling to the viewer, sending a mixed message.

That's why your bank scene is so successful, it is "familiar.

So once again, observation is key! Look at and see the houses in the area where you are modeling. They may be very similar to your own, or not very much like yours at all. Discover the flavor of the houses where the rail line that you are emulating runs and sketch up a rough diagram of what makes them look the way they do, and those will be the elements to include in your houses. Steeply pitched or relatively flat roofs? Gabled or hip roof styles? Wooden, brick or stucco construction? Large or small windows, single or paired ... those are all the types of things that will make your little neighborhood "feel like home."

Now ... have at it!