Wisconsin Central - Heritage Division

[LIRR]

The photo backdrops are very effective. I really like the one with the pair of silos. Nice work.

[w neal]

I keep working on the Shakey Lake Rd. crossing. I like to kid myself that it is getting better. I keep revisiting scenes like this, adding a bit at a time. Just my way of avoiding "burnout" I suppose. Someday, I will animate the signals. I've got this electrical engineering friend who likes trains...

[PAL_Houston]

I keep working on the Shakey Lake Rd. crossing. I like to kid myself that it is getting better. I keep revisiting scenes like this, adding a bit at a time. Just my way of avoiding "burnout" I suppose....

I don't think you are kidding yourself at all:  Every time I check in on your layout thread you've got some new neat stuff added to your layout....and it is always adding to the realism, I think.

And it motivates me (and a few others, I bet) even though I haven't been able to spend all that much time up in the train room lately.

Keep it up!!!

[JSL]

Looks good to me! All your scence's look great. Love to see it in person someday.

[w neal]

Thanks fellas. I am my own worst critic.

Tours always open JSL.

[w neal]

The Supertrees were hung from the ceiling with care...




... and three more hours disappeared, while unaware.

[mcjaco]

Thanks fellas. I am my own worst critic.

Tours always open JSL.

Personal pressure is almost as bad as peer pressure!

[MichaelWinicki]

I keep working on the Shakey Lake Rd. crossing. I like to kid myself that it is getting better. I keep revisiting scenes like this, adding a bit at a time. Just my way of avoiding "burnout" I suppose. Someday, I will animate the signals. I've got this electrical engineering friend who likes trains...

W., I think what bothers me about that shot is the road-extension painted onto the backdrop.

I think the road color is good.

The blue/green along the side of the road... I think it could be better.

First I would consider adding a stipe of brown along each side of the painted road to simulate the same type of shoulder you have alongside the modeled road.

Secondly I'd take some of that static grass that you've used and see if your local paint store can match a paint color to it and then use that color along the edges of the painted road/shoulder.

[w neal]

Great point. Thank you. I'll give that stuff a try. Busy next few days. If it turns out incredible, I'll post pics. If not, you'll never see this scene again. 

[conrailthomas519]

It will turn out just fine! Hang in there....

[Leggy]

Annoyingly I cannot see any of the pictures....

[Dave Schneider]

I wonder whether taking a picture of your modeled road, forcing the perspective in Photoshop, and then pasting it on the backdrop would work. There is always a problem with the sharpness of edges, but maybe they could be hidden by foliage, wires, etc...

Just a thought for color matching.

Best wishes, Dave

[w neal]

Interesting idea David. Too late for the above scene, but I have another one down the line that maybe I could try that on. As I look back since starting the scenery on this layout, I have learned a lot and would no doubt do some things differently.

You are not missing much Leggy. My scenes are not all that fantastic. I'd be happy to email you some.

[w neal]

Michael,

Here is the results of the first pass. Eh, not great, but much improved. Many thanks for the ideas. I would restate that all my scenes are unfinished. I prevent burnout by rotating between several. I like to revisit some places and add new items. I will revisit this scene in time. Thanks again for the ideas. I'll post more pictures after the next try.






Maybe later I can get it to look like this:

[Leggy]

w neal, I always enjoy seeing other people's layout work! I guess email would be the way to go unless you can send a link to where your pictures are hosted?