Rasendyll

Bernard, I know just the type of street you mean, but alas I think you’re right and at this stage the software doesn’t. There are ways to guide it from actual photos which I may explore later.

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John, It turns out that coaxing the AI into doing straightforward terraced house backs is taking some persuasion. That said, these attempts along the way may be of some use too you?

They were made by a firm called "Townsmen" and, on doing a quick search just now, I see they can still be purchased online. I my have a go at some house backs, warehouses etc...

With the greatest of pleasure. I used an application called 'Midjourney', which is an AI tool that turns a text description into an image. Midjourney (no connection etc) required a moderate monthly subscription and is intern accessed through the free app 'Discord' - a discussion form. It's surprising how little text can generate a quite detailed specific image. For instance, the first image here is generated simply from the 'prompt' or command: "orthographic pencil and watercolour sketch in blue and stone tones of an elegant row of Georgian matching shop fronts, three storeys, isolated on white background --ar 5:4 --v 5.2 --s 250 --style raw" The description speaks for itself, the other parameters on the end are 'aspect' ratio (width x height), software version, and parameters governing 'artistic' expression. Happy to answer any questions.

An old way.. beloved of users of PECO, Merit and Townscene backscenes is to mount on stif card, cut round the buildings with a scalpel and have several tiered layers each in front of the other, to give a measure of relief in the distance. May pay to print diminishing in size too.

I wasn't thinking that they would - more envisaging low relief building for use in backscenes. Maybe that's an old-fashioned modelling technique these days? :)

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I've been experimenting with the very latest thing, an AI drawing tool that generates images from a text description. The tool I've been using is 'Midjourney', and amongst other things I've managed to create useable (I think) low relief buildings. Thought I'd post some here for other member's feedback and comments and for people to use if they find them useful.

Looking back over this topic made me think people might enjoy my recent series of paintings, done digitally with Tablet and Stylus, imagining the Nellie family as real locos. My own particular tribute to the (Triang) Hornby centenary... Hope people don't remind the revival of an old thread - though a long lived one - and the insertion of artwork rather than models!

I think the shop (of fond memory) was called "Hobby Specialists" of Shrewsbury. The best reason for climbing the hill up Wyle Cop, though didn't Sidoli's have an iccream parlour thereabouts at one time? Perhaps my age is showing...

Based on some feedback received so far, here are slightly lightened versions of the artwork. Also, one good suggestion is to print two copies, one on 300gsm or thereabouts stock and one on ordinary paper. The heavier card makes the structural items and the lighter does signage, chimney pots etc. Goods Office Lighter.pdf

Jonathan, That would be lovely of you, but I should let you know that I'm currently in Perth, Western Australia...

Though I'm still working (from home), isolation has left me with a little more time on my hands than is normally the case. I decided to invest a little of that time in getting back into active modelling- though I've precious little in the way of materials on hand. Hence, after some reflection, I set to with my computer and drawing software to try and develop the artwork for a simple card kit. I've taken a somewhat traditional approach, inspired by the card kits of my early modelling days:- Bilteezi, Superquick, Builder Plus and Prototype. Thus, you'll find brick textures that resemble those from Builder Plus, roll up chimney pots like Superquick, and drawn (not cutout) windows like Bilteezi. I'm quite pleased with the look of the result. However, I've neither card nor access for a colour printer for the moment to test it out. Thus, I'm sharing the result on here with an invitation for anyone interested to download a copy (I suggest downloading the pdf or jpg as preferred), print it and assemble it. Would love to receive any feedback and perhaps the odd photo of any results. All the best, Paul. Goods Office no background.pdf

Here's another.... can't quite think what the 'back-story' to this one would be (some have suggested the Highland Railway link), but I do think the result looks very elegant! The LBSCR B6 4-6-0:

What if the GWR's experiments with F.G. Wright's large boiler fitted to a Badminton Class loco, 3297 "Earl Cawdor" had been successful? Might the same idea have been applied on a larger scale to a Saint ? I'm sure people can find lots of reasons why not, but this is offered as a bit of fun, so see below for the drawing of a large parallel boiler Saint:

If the war hadn't started 1939... After Duchess of Hamilton's/Coronation's tour of the USA, Sir William decided to apply some American ideas to LMS locomotive practice. Hence, 'Royal Sovereign' the express passenger 4-4-4-4...

Two more ideas... I make no claim as to practicality, but they would make impressive models. The GWR Baltic 'Castle Tank' and the LNER 2-10-2 Firth of Forth.

I suppose one answer to the firebox size could be to build it as a 4-6-4 with a longer firebox? Hard on the fireman though...

Here are two photo-manipulationsI was working on today - they might inspire someone, though I see Gibbo has already been thinking along similar lines to one of them a couple of pages back:

Having been in Australia for most of many years, my memories of Allan are from his published articles... starting with the “In Search of Realism” series in the Railway Modeller in the 70s- who remembers the wool and flock thatched roof method? One of the first enhancements I ever made to a kit built building. Much more recently I had conversations with him in these fora. Always a gentleman, always an inspiration and always with an enourmous sense of fun. A reminder to us all to enjoy our hobby. Thanks for it all Allan, all the best.

I suppose I was envisaging something slightly different- lets say wheelbase and diameter from (one of) the Abedares/Krugers/Crocodile but inside frame, outside cylinders and taper boiler. I admit that's probably less likely but I went down that path simply because it would be a little more distinctive and eye-catching...