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Getting the information across


Kris

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Having gone down the route of adding the extra sections to Avonwick I have been intending to add an information board as a visual break between the old and the new layout. This has to happen because of the fixed nature of the backscene on the original Avonwick board. I have though about a few things that I want on this board, and some things that I don't.

 

I do want

  • Information on the layout and reasons for it.
  • Information on the Kingsbridge branch line.
  • A map showing where this all is.
  • Pictures.
  • The layout name.

 

What I don't want

 

  • Lots of words.
  • To much information.

Given this I have come out with a rough plan for this info board.

 

blogentry-163-003183700 1291575250_thumb.jpg

 

 

The board will come start at floor level and reach up to just beyond the top of the facia of the Avonwick Board (about 6ft). The width is 2ft. These sizes are fixed as the board will double as a protective cover for the main layout board during transportation.

 

I'm not sure about the background colour or the layout of the information that I will put on the board. I am sure that I can't go much lower than I have already with the information shown on the plan. This would be too low.

 

All thoughts and and suggestions are welcome.

 

 

Extra info added 8/12/10

I've had some further thoughts about this and have quickly knocked up an example info sheet for a loco. How does this look?

 

blogentry-163-025189800 1291806376_thumb.jpg

 

10 Comments


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  • RMweb Gold

Good idea to have something Kris as usually exhibition guides can only convey so much.

 

That said, it depends what you want to convey and I think your do's and don'ts above is probably about right.

 

How about going with a digital screen idea though ;) It would keep it simpler and has the advantage of flexibility in that you can choose how much or little you want to show, make alterations to suit particular events, combined with the ease of upload of information on a memory stick?

 

Feel free to ignore of course...

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Hi Kris :)

 

It looks like a great idea to me and I was planning something similar for Highclere. That way you dont have to 'clutter' the front of the layout up with leaflets, show plaques, etc. My plan was to paint it to represent a chalk board then I could 'chalk up' info on operating engines or similar at shows. Have you considered using a digital photo frame for the layout information? Pete is using one and it is a far neater way of displying layout info instead of the numerous posters, you could also change the displayed info really easily.

 

Missy :)

 

EDIT:

 

Pete beat me to it, see above...!

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  • RMweb Premium

The chalk board idea is a good one Missy, I like it.

 

I'm not so sure about the use of photo frames on this project, not because this is a bad idea but more down to the depth that they will take up, the cost and the extra weight. I will look into this though and see what can be done, might be something to look out for in the Jan sales, well before Jan 1st and the VAT rise anyhow. The ability to make alterations according to exhibition is very tempting and I agree they can look neater than posters. The other option would be to get a single sheet printed instead of individual sheets.

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  • RMweb Gold

Kris - I wouldn't be discouraged by any of the issues you raise on the digital frames:

 

Depth - My one is 11mm deep, and thickens to 30mm overall for all the internal gubbins...

 

Weight - Again, shouldn't be a problem for your panel (assume its timber?) as my fascia/backscene is 3mm cardboard and it slots in and out of foamboard runners.

 

Price - Check out Amazon - they had some really good deals - or, as I did, you could always convince the 'Avonswick' household that one is required...and it just gets borrowed 'occasionally' to coincide with exhibitions :P

 

Besides....tis the season to be jolly pretty soon.... ;)

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  • RMweb Premium

Thanks for the info on the depth info about your photo frame. I think that I will be going down the poster route rather than the photo frame route due to the cost for this project. I looked into this earlier today at the moment I don't feel that I could justify the cost for the size or resolution (and the other half is a technophobe so trying to get this past could almost guarantee an ear bashing biggrin.gif ) . For the next project though the digital route is more likely to be taken but I think with monitors. I feel that the extra space and resolution that these give are beneficial. Depending how far off this next layout is touch screen might be the route taken (costs are dropping). I feel that this is the ultimate route for interactive layout displays.

I'm going for light weight and cheap for this and seeing as I have a good piece of hardboard of about the right size this is tempting to use, obviously it would need a little framing. Using this would also enable me to put a slight curve / arch on the board which would help with the linking of the 2 parts of the layout.

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  • RMweb Gold

Fair comment - Could I suggest then, that you build in an element of flexibility to it? - rather like those elegant 'menus holders' you see in front of restaurants, where you could have pre-set openings in your panel and you can then slide in/out from behind the differing panels of information to suit exhibitions.

 

Could be pretty slick and easy to use?...blimey....I will be mentioning 'shadow gaps' again soon :rolleyes:

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  • RMweb Premium

Elegant menu holders, we're not talking Burger King or KFC here are we laugh.gif .

Gaps in the panel to slide the information into, hmm now that's an idea. It would sort out a boarder. I shall have to try this out on some scrap board to see how it would look. Would mean printing on card but that's not an issue.

 

Further on the presentation side of things I have progressed on with the lighting of Avonwick and have picked up some low voltage lighting to allow me to overhall Boost blow away the existing lighting that didn't go down to well. We'll see how well this new solution works. I need to pop into town tomorrow and pick up some wire and some plugs.

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  • RMweb Gold

Elegant menu holders, were not talking Burger King or KFC here are we

 

Certainly not....I was thinking more MacDonalds :lol:

 

Forgive the analogy, but I was thinking more around the idea of flexibility.

 

Why not print your information sheets on paper...but then get them laminated - would last longer and look a little more polished too?

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  • RMweb Premium

Laminating sheets is something that I have considered and may well do. I would need to make sure that the paper is straight in the laminating pouch or it somewhat looses the impact (not that I've ever laminated anything like that before, honest rolleyes.gif ). Over night when not sleeping I have been having some further ideas about the background that I'll have a play with later to see how it would work.

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