Author Topic: I just switched on you  (Read 15140 times)

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up1950s

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2007, 04:22:48 PM »
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Almost any size and color can be found someplace , even no ballast in spots .


Richie Dost

asciibaron

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2007, 04:23:32 PM »
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Thats an interesting point, it DOES look like there are different sized ballasts in use...


19th century ballast=huge
20th centruy = not so huge

that Conrail picture is a great example of perspective - like squishing someone's head with your thumb and index finger or blocking out the sun with your hand, cause you know the sun is smaller than your hand...

-steve
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tom mann

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2007, 05:01:54 PM »
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Guys, the problem I had is that the scale-sized rock looks like tile grout*.  Sure it's scale, but it lacks dimension.  You need bigger ballast to create shadows, textures, and holes, like the real stuff (at least as how I see it).


*or caviar, in some cases: http://therailwire.net/smf/index.php/topic,10867.0.html

Mark5

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2007, 05:27:28 PM »
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Thats an interesting point, it DOES look like there are different sized ballasts in use...


19th century ballast=huge
20th centruy = not so huge

20th century (1952):



Been said here before, if you are modeling a prototype go see what size/color they use (used).


3rdrail

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #19 on: January 02, 2007, 05:56:20 PM »
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You've got a number of different trains of thought going on here. The way I understand Tom Mann, he's talking about the perceived size and appearance of ballast, while others are talking about the actual size of ballast. First off, ballast does come in different sizes. At the AN, we once got a car of ballast the size of softballs. As soon as the Roadmaster got the hopper doors closed, Vulcan Materials heard about it and it was on its way back. Don't know who bought ballast like that, but the AN sure didn't! If you want to go the other way, I don't think there was any stone ballast in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, when I lived there, just oyster shells. The GM&O actually used river sand on its main line.

Now, I am inclined to agree with Tom, I ballasted my portable layout using HO ballast (N was not available back then). I used Highball N ballast on my photo diorama and agree it looks a lot like tile grout. Having tile floors in much of my house I know tile grout.

This goes back to the "theater set" concept of a model railroad as opposed to railroad models. What looks right becomes more important than being exactly to scale in the overall impression of reality reduced to a tiny fraction of the actual scene.

Mark5

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #20 on: January 02, 2007, 05:58:59 PM »
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Then there's the "eye of the beholder" concept - the WS looks too big to me. :P


ryourstone

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #21 on: January 02, 2007, 07:18:08 PM »
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I came to the same conclusion, even in close up photography the scale size stuff looks too much like sand. And leaves you no where to go when trying to create contrast with yard and fill cinder. WS ballast mostly got it's bad rap because if not applied very carefully, it floats all over and looks like crap. But done with a little care, I think it's unbeatable. This pic uses WS grey for ballast, and Highball N scale for the cinder fill:



-Rich

Sokramiketes

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #22 on: January 02, 2007, 10:43:52 PM »
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I came to the same conclusion, even in close up photography the scale size stuff looks too much like sand. And leaves you no where to go when trying to create contrast with yard and fill cinder. WS ballast mostly got it's bad rap because if not applied very carefully, it floats all over and looks like crap. But done with a little care, I think it's unbeatable. This pic uses WS grey for ballast, and Highball N scale for the cinder fill:

-Rich

Rich-

Shhhhh...   We're trying to add to Tom's indecision, not help him think he's found the answers...  If he finds answers he'll have no excuse to move from diorama's to a layout...

Mums the word. ;-)

tom mann

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2007, 08:15:30 AM »
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Rich-

Shhhhh...   We're trying to add to Tom's indecision, not help him think he's found the answers...  If he finds answers he'll have no excuse to move from diorama's to a layout...

Mums the word. ;-)


Thanks Skibbe, but why all the pressure from everyone to build a layout?  I arrived home last night to discover someone had spray painted "build a layout or get out" on my garage door.  There is more to model railroading than running trains.  And at this point, I wouldn't even know what scale to build in - n or z.  I like the diorama approach, and plan to build bigger and better dioramas this year.  They might even evolve to switching layouts, who knows.

Sokramiketes

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2007, 08:39:34 AM »
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Rich-

Shhhhh...   We're trying to add to Tom's indecision, not help him think he's found the answers...  If he finds answers he'll have no excuse to move from diorama's to a layout...

Mums the word. ;-)


Thanks Skibbe, but why all the pressure from everyone to build a layout?  I arrived home last night to discover someone had spray painted "build a layout or get out" on my garage door.  There is more to model railroading than running trains.  And at this point, I wouldn't even know what scale to build in - n or z.  I like the diorama approach, and plan to build bigger and better dioramas this year.  They might even evolve to switching layouts, who knows.

Sure, there's lots more to MR'ing than running trains.  But running is what separates us from the plastic model crowd. <grin>

wm3798

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2007, 08:46:00 AM »
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There's always military models... ;D  Lot's of scenery, and nothing moves!

Lee
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SAH

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2007, 09:01:50 AM »
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Rich-

Shhhhh...   We're trying to add to Tom's indecision, not help him think he's found the answers...  If he finds answers he'll have no excuse to move from diorama's to a layout...

Mums the word. ;-)


Thanks Skibbe, but why all the pressure from everyone to build a layout?  I arrived home last night to discover someone had spray painted "build a layout or get out" on my garage door. 

Wow - Tough neighborhood.  At least they have their priorities in order.   ;D

Steve
Steve Holzheimer
Lakewood, OH
Modeling the AC&Y Spur 4 Serving the Tire Industry

Mark5

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #27 on: January 03, 2007, 11:19:54 AM »
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but why all the pressure from everyone to build a layout?  I arrived home last night to discover someone had spray painted "build a layout or get out" on my garage door.

Small world, my garage was decorated with the very same graffiti ...


Sokramiketes

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2007, 11:20:16 AM »
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Rich-

Shhhhh...   We're trying to add to Tom's indecision, not help him think he's found the answers...  If he finds answers he'll have no excuse to move from diorama's to a layout...

Mums the word. ;-)


Thanks Skibbe, but why all the pressure from everyone to build a layout?  I arrived home last night to discover someone had spray painted "build a layout or get out" on my garage door. 

Wow - Tough neighborhood.  At least they have their priorities in order.   ;D

Steve

You should see what we do to the "modelers" that buy everything and shelf test it.   :o

Tom gets off light since he does do a few things now and then...

Allentown Hump

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Re: I just switched on you
« Reply #29 on: January 03, 2007, 02:27:44 PM »
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I came to the same conclusion, even in close up photography the scale size stuff looks too much like sand. And leaves you no where to go when trying to create contrast with yard and fill cinder. WS ballast mostly got it's bad rap because if not applied very carefully, it floats all over and looks like crap. But done with a little care, I think it's unbeatable. This pic uses WS grey for ballast, and Highball N scale for the cinder fill:



-Rich

Oooooooh... CP Aldene....

Hey Rich, when can we get some more layout photos from you?
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