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focusing my attention...(edit to include new pic!)


bcnPete

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Good afternoon,

 

This post is threefold really...

 

First, the inset track of CJM is stalling mojo at present so a good time to jump on the overnight sleeper bound for Scotland... :D

 

Secondly, I had been asked to provide a few photos to the 2mm Association of the track (for possible inclusion in a revised edition of a 2mm article on track) hence the need to photograph it.

 

Thirdly, I recently bought a Sigma 70-300mm lens with Macro for the camera so I wanted to test it out.

 

It was nice to slide the layout off the shelf brackets and see it again after the recent period of wrestling with redoing the inset track and the first thing that struck me was that it was a pleasure to have a portable layout that didn't need to be connected and joined together to get running...all self contained on one (you guessed it) Ikea Lack shelf (no royalties by the way)

 

Upon blowing away the dust and seeing how the backscene has become delaminated again :angry: I decided to try and re-photograph the picture I posted sometime ago when I was trying to recreate a scene from the Michael Palin Rail Journeys video.

 

At the time I had taken a few snapshot stills off the TV on my phone and it was good reference material for the station etc. Here is the picture I was referring to...

 

blogentry-3290-0-91166300-1340554939_thumb.jpg

 

I had to remove the Scottish blue sign firstly and using the Scalescenes station signs download, I printed some standard BR Black and white signs instead.

 

And here is my new attempt at it...this one actually shot with my standard 50mm Nikon lens...tripod, self timer, natural light in case of interest.

 

blogentry-3290-0-45314100-1340555002_thumb.jpg

 

Disclaimer: I know the loco in the prototype is the 'other' end (but I didn't finish front end detail on that yet) and the BR blue colours are a bit different...the ramp is steeper than in reality...oh and the coach should have a Scottish number...and the roof vent detail is different etc etc...but it was the first attempt since completing the layout...

 

Here's another from a slightly different vantage point...

 

blogentry-3290-0-59552000-1340555662_thumb.jpg

 

Then using the new lens, this shot was taken from about 2 metres away from the layout....

 

blogentry-3290-0-78328300-1340555455_thumb.jpg

 

And lastly, again with the Sigma on Macro mode...

 

blogentry-3290-0-73557700-1340555485_thumb.jpg

 

In summary, it was nice to see the layout again and I would like to get around to working on some more dedicated rolling stock for it, but CJM beckons. I am very happy with the new lens and I hope to be able to understand it better through further use so there may be the odd post again appearing on here.

 

Must go now...the sleeper is leaving bound for Cornwall... :bye:

 

EDIT: During a 5 min break at the office this morning and armed with an espresso, I dropped an image into PAINT and had a quick play around. I am not that familiar with these packages yet but inspired by the work of Jon Sandhills I had a quick play around with the contrast and brightness and got this...a bit better perhaps and worthy of spending more than 5 minutes on next time...

 

blogentry-3290-0-88558100-1340619267_thumb.jpg

  • Like 9

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Excellent stuff, commuting between your two layouts must be a big part of the fun! I'm going to have to go and inspect the state of the art 'Lack' wise as I need to get a new book shelf..

 

..that and some meatballs!

 

An Ikea shelf would be the perfect home for that Looe-ish T gauge layout I keep pondering about...

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  • RMweb Gold

What Will said! Lovely stuff Pete.

 

I picked up a LACK shelf when they were on offer a little while back.....Stage 1 of the slippery slope is complete!

 

Tom.

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Hi Pete. Do they have a TV on the sleeper... I presume you're watching the footie! Right, that's all very nice and very nice to see Kyle again. Ah yes the Sigma 70-300. I have one of those - mine's quite old though and the macro only works at 300mmm fl. I'm guessing yours is similar. One thing to watch for is the telephoto distortion that can occur at these focal lengths. With a wide angle clearly the perspective is distorted a little but with a tele, the distortion goes the oher way; look at your last photo, at the left hand side the coach looks like its a bit bigger that in the middle of the photo (tele's will do that). Maybe a lower angle will help? As for that TV journey; I'll hve to look that one up; only last night SWMBO and I were wondering (over a rather nice Curry) about a night sleeper journey up here for all of us (a bit of an adventure for the boys) .... so maybe digging the episode out (youtube?) should be worth a shot.

 

Still looks superb all this Pete... should be good article once published.

 

Jon

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  • RMweb Gold

I can see the advantages of a one board layout. Rather nice to just run a train it and sit there looking at it. ( evil thought sound chip under the layout with a 37 ticking over probably have swmbo looking for an axe!). I would prefer to travel up with daylight for the best parts be a shame to miss all the scenery. The photo looks good best way to avoid distortion is maybe to crop the edges.

Don

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I don't think the prototype has done a good job of disguising that unsightly join in the backscene.

 

Interesting take on the Mark 1 roof ribs debate too.

 

Regards, Andy

  • Like 1
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  • RMweb Gold

Excellent stuff, commuting between your two layouts must be a big part of the fun! I'm going to have to go and inspect the state of the art 'Lack' wise as I need to get a new book shelf..

..that and some meatballs!

An Ikea shelf would be the perfect home for that Looe-ish T gauge layout I keep pondering about...

 

Thanks Will - As a minimum, buy yourself the meatballs...the vacuum packed smoked salmon is really good too...

 

What Will said! Lovely stuff Pete.

I picked up a LACK shelf when they were on offer a little while back.....Stage 1 of the slippery slope is complete!

 

Thanks Tom - Keep spreading the good word...the sizes available set the constraints which is what I like...

 

Do they have a TV on the sleeper... I presume you're watching the footie! Right, that's all very nice and very nice to see Kyle again. Ah yes the Sigma 70-300. I have one of those - mine's quite old though and the macro only works at 300mmm fl. I'm guessing yours is similar. One thing to watch for is the telephoto distortion that can occur at these focal lengths. With a wide angle clearly the perspective is distorted a little but with a tele, the distortion goes the oher way; look at your last photo, at the left hand side the coach looks like its a bit bigger that in the middle of the photo (tele's will do that). Maybe a lower angle will help? As for that TV journey; I'll hve to look that one up; only last night SWMBO and I were wondering (over a rather nice Curry) about a night sleeper journey up here for all of us (a bit of an adventure for the boys) .... so maybe digging the episode out (youtube?) should be worth a shot.

Still looks superb all this Pete... should be good article once published.

 

Thanks also Jon - I have the MP video if you wish to borrow sometime? Sounds a nice trip with the family...was tempted this year (the boys said "can we go see Kyle?" but we reverted to Cornwall again) I now see what you mean about the lens and the macro working a long distance - however it's attractively priced and I think I can experiment a bit with it. In terms of the article, it's more an explanation of 2mm track building set against the prototype and I am providing a few photos of the Easitrac range...which may or may not get used.

 

I can see the advantages of a one board layout. Rather nice to just run a train it and sit there looking at it. ( evil thought sound chip under the layout with a 37 ticking over probably have swmbo looking for an axe!). I would prefer to travel up with daylight for the best parts be a shame to miss all the scenery. The photo looks good best way to avoid distortion is maybe to crop the edges.

 

Thanks Don - Liking that sound chipped 37 idea...

 

I don't think the prototype has done a good job of disguising that unsightly join in the backscene.

Interesting take on the Mark 1 roof ribs debate too.

 

At least the prototype backscene is delaminating though... :laugh:

 

Should have done my homework more...the Bachmann Farish coach does have a Scottish Number...and relooking again the vents look ok-ish...

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  • RMweb Gold

Oh dear, the coach door window isn't open either ... :tomato:

 

It is now...:D

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Pete,

very nice as usual. I'm still not convinced by Dapol's interpretation on rail blue - to my eye its much too green.

 

Jerry

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  • RMweb Gold

very nice as usual. I'm still not convinced by Dapol's interpretation on rail blue - to my eye its much too green.

 

Thanks Jerry - am with you on that one...I prefer the Farish interpretation myself...

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Hi Pete,

 

That Nikon 50mm lens takes some nice sharp shots, which is one thing I struggle with with my camera.

Great layout, I love seeing the updated pictures and the nicely weathered stock.

Great job!

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

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  • RMweb Gold

That Nikon 50mm lens takes some nice sharp shots, which is one thing I struggle with with my camera.

Great layout, I love seeing the updated pictures and the nicely weathered stock.

Great job!

 

Many thanks Jeremy - It will keep cropping up on occaision...

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  • RMweb Gold

Pete I was not thinking of putting the chip into the loco due to the problems of fitting a large enough speaker. Instead you could mount a decoder under the layout with a reasonable sized speaker and feed the track from that. However if you could fit a speaker in one of those blue boxes it could work. Fitting them into kettles is not so easy!

Don

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Don - Yes I reread your post and understood what you meant...but my reply was somewhat confusing!

 

I haven't got into all this sound stuff yet...not that I don't want to, but unlike others I don't have a dedicated layout room so the thought of all that noise at the dining room table is not going to get a good reception!

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Hi Pete,

After a brief search, I found this.... back to days when travel was simpler ?

Jon

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks Jon - Saw your post on FB.

 

That 8 minutes is probably the best bit of the DVD...always good to see Kyle...

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