Cisco Bridges: a new layout concept

[Scottl]

Well, some prospects for a larger house have emerged this week.  My wife is now careful to pitch the relative size of the "train space" as a feature.  I'm not sure I can imagine more space right now...  Black Canyon is certainly an attractive modelling scene 

[C855B]

Robyn and I always joked about buying "a three car garage with kitchen and bedroom". We tried that with one we had a few years ago, but we ended-up so focused on the garage with a finished attic/loft we glossed over that the house was... well, "ugh".

Of course I realize our end game with the separate layout building on a downtown lot next to the tracks was a convergence of stars and not something everybody is going to be able to do, but even after the three years of work before the first stick of flex went down, I still think this is a good concept. If we were to do it again, it would likely resemble the same formula, modified to buying a solid but modest house on a bit of land (~1 acre), and erecting a pole barn to spec. We have noticed that others in our region have the same idea - small to medium house with a bit of property, and build a nice hobby shed.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Nothing quite like having a separate place for a Model RR. My Fun & Finance manager agreed to allow for a 20ft x 20ft shed that is now the home of the SFRSD. Only drawback is it gets very hot in our 40 C summers even though it is insulated.
Rod.

[Scottl]

A shed would be better than moving, but I hope neither is in my future.  I don't want to put modelling on hold for it, and I don't want to move.  I have a 3-minute commute to work and great neighbors.

I'll just have to muddle through with my existing space.  The layout will be finished in 2022 at the rate I am going 

[GaryHinshaw]

But do I understand correctly that your wife wants to move?  Doesn't that seal your fate?

[Scottl]

She does, but I'm not sure how committed to it she is.  I'm resisting...

[Santa Fe Guy]

Your in a great bargaining position then.
Rod.

[Kevin C]

I have just been onto the Model Railroader Video Plus website and watched the latest edition ( Episode 29 ) of Drew's Trackside adventure where he takes us for a trip up the Fraser River Canyon. There is only a small clip of the Cisco Bridge but what I gather is that the bridges and that area will be covered in greater detail in the next episode.

However, nice to see a small piece of the CN and CP operations in that area.

Kevin

[Scottl]

Thanks for pointing that out.  Looks really interesting, probably worth subscribing just for that.  Mike Dannemann has been making trips to the Fraser Canyon for photography for years, so it will probably be a great video with his involvement.

[mu26aeh]

I have a 3-minute commute to work and great neighbors.

I am in same boat.  3 mins to work and great neighbors, as in, no one bothers me and a head nod or wave of the hand is all the communication we have with each other. 

I do have an opportunity to expand my layout, but I will have to build on a garage onto the end of our house to replace the garage that is in the basement(below grade).  Unless I win the lottery some time soon, I doubt that will ever happen.

[Scottl]

It is pretty hard to move from a good situation, especially taking on a mortgage, hassle...    I think the risk has passed.

I have been interested in simulating a night shot.  A lot of attempts in the dark did not work out, but this kind of seems like a good simulation of moonlight, I think.  The lights would probably be brighter.

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

Scott did you do that photo in post with editing or are you trying to shoot in that light?

[Scottl]

Post editing.  I tried with low blue light too, but it was a disaster 

[GaryHinshaw]

Hmm.  Maybe lighten it up a little, add some snow* and a photoshopped twilight sky and you could have an awesome "blue hour" shot worthy of a Mike Danneman.

* You shouldn't really add snow, but it would be sweet.

[C855B]

Post editing.  I tried with low blue light too, but it was a disaster 

What I'm finding (...already...) is that these newfangled digital camera thingies want to push the image into white balance whether you want it or not. The more automatic the imaging device, the worse it is. Once the GC&W is ready at some stage for photography, somehow I'm going to have to master the art of tweaking settings to dial this stuff back. I already saw the effects of this problem in this photo, where I had the effects lighting dialed in for moonlight, but had the house lights on. You can see the discoloration in the shadow of my head.