F-UnitMad Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 Okay, as my 'proper' digital camera has broken, I've managed to snatch a few pics with a cheapo phone camera, so they'll have to do for now... First up, the Skytrex Signal Cabin, trying hard not to look like a Signal Cabin... Oil drums are also Skytrex. Next up a view of the 'armco' at the side of I-294. The road will be the place for some fun:- "How many Cliche US vehicles can you fit on one road?" Actually the yellow Taxi is a New York one; Chicago taxis of this type were green'n'cream, but I haven't found one yet... ssshhhh..!!! don't tell anyone... Finally a dodgy close-up of the 'digital' (i.e. Finger Control) point switching; a Caboose Industries Ground Throw, and a Maplins microswitch for frog polarity... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rouse2037 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Great to see a different "viewpoint" and a micro in O too. Will be watching with interest Cheers Roger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 16, 2011 Author Share Posted April 16, 2011 Some more dodgy phone photos... it doesn't take very good ones, I'm afraid, certainly not close up... And an overall view (ignore the mess behind it...) The right-hand background has yet to be painted - HOW long to TVNAM, now..??!!?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Hi Jordan, Just discovered your thread, as I rarely venture out of 'Overseas Modelling'. Looks great, very unusual design. Look forward to watching progress. regards, Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 18, 2011 Author Share Posted April 18, 2011 Just discovered your thread, as I rarely venture out of 'Overseas Modelling'. I did put a 'Link Thread' in "Overseas" to lead US-outliners to it here in the Layouts section... that must've dropped off the first page by now... Glad you like it, anyway!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 I've managed to get in some time on this recently and get some of the outstanding jobs done. The right-hand backscene is now painted (sorry the pics are so rubbish ) On the Interstate, the gantry sign is now in place, and the embankment foliage complete. I still have to make some streetlights. The overall view now looks like this:- I had another try at close-ups, with the help of the sunshine today - not that my phone-camera seemed to notice... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Flynn Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Hi Nice idea and something a bit different will keep a eye on this one. Nice paint job on loco well done. Hugh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Delamar Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Hi Jordan layout looks great Ive been in a bit of a US mood having been watching the fostoria webcam recentley and Ive spent the last day or so reading back through your old threads on MTW and old rmweb about your lovely SOO line models. I love them, think thats my favourite livery, although I know very little about US railroads. keep up the good work Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 Ive been in a bit of a US mood having been watching the fostoria webcam recently ... That's been a very bad influence for many, that has!!! :lol: .... Ive spent the last day or so reading back through your old threads on MTW and old rmweb about your lovely SOO line models. I love them, think thats my favourite livery, although I know very little about US railroads.... Thanks for the compliments, Mike! It's certainly a distinctive livery isn't it? B) - that's what drew me to it in the first place... many years ago now... In fact I recently found a small picture of my first Soo locos, that I did in N scale, about 1991:- It makes a good "Spot the Mistakes" picture nowadays... but I enjoyed those models (and the layout I built at the time) enormously! In other words, don't let a lack of knowledge stop you from having some fun!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilM Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 Great idea - very impressive use of space. Note to self - get to TVNAM this year (if for no other reason than to be the smart ar*e that points out the taxi on vacation) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I love something a bit different and this is certainly a bit different both in terms of scale, subject and presentation. Excellent! Your track looks great. As you will have seen in my "hello" topic in Overseas Modelling I'm considering building my own O scale track. Do you have any tips, advice, etc for a complete novice at hand spiking track? And excuse my ignorance, but what is TVNAM...? Cheers, Longers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Trent Valley North American Modellers show - http://www.rmweb.co....712-tvnam-2011/ - a UK modelling group of independant modellers of USA practice, unconnected with NMRA(BR) - which doesn't just include modellers, and people willing to display their models, from that area Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Thanks Jack, that sounds like a great day out so it's been added to the diary. Maybe next year I'll have something to take and exhibit.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Thanks Jack, that sounds like a great day out so it's been added to the diary. Maybe next year I'll have something to take and exhibit.... It was a great day out last year (the inaugural Show) and we are all looking forward to it this year too - you'll be made most welcome, Longers! I won't be able to build anything new for 2012 (£££ as much as space!!), so to keep up the O Gauge presence amidst a sea of HO you could be the Main Man next year!!! B) There is also a dedicated Website for the Show (can't remember if it's in the RMweb thread - it should be!!) :- http://www.tvnam.co.uk/ Advice for hand-spiking track? I can only defer you to my own Guru, Prof Klyzlr... B) Apologies as this link is on yet another Forum, and the picture links appear to have broken, but tie it in with the pics of his layout on Carl Arendt's Micro-layouts Website and all should be clear... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted April 23, 2011 Share Posted April 23, 2011 Thanks for the links I doubt it will be finished but it would be good to have something to take to the show next year Cheers, Longers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 23, 2011 Author Share Posted April 23, 2011 As the TVNAM Show is getting closer, my thoughts are turning to the height this layout should be exhibited at. I know this can be a contentious issue, and there's no pleasing everyone, but what are your thoughts in this case..? I plan to have it set quite high, so the average adult gets the 'trackside' view without stooping, and I designed the height of the backscenes and the size of the Viewing Window (for want of a better term!?!) with such a view in mind. It also prevents looking right over the top to the hidden sidings. This does mean that younger children would need to be lifted/stand on something to see it - in fact so will the rear Operator!!, but wheelchair users will have no chance. I doubt small children or wheelchair users could see it if I only lower it by just a few inches, however, if I lower it by much, adults will be at eye-level with "Schiller Point" on the fascia, and have to bend to get the sort of view I intended, so nobody benefits. Should I just not worry about those too short to see, and hope that there's enough other layouts at lower heights for them to view instead...?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I agree with your initial thought, the closer to eye level the better, especially with O Scale where you really get a sense of the mass of the locos & freight cars by looking at them from a more prototypical angle. But... this layout is of an unconventional shape by directing the viewpoint along the length of the tracks rather than the usual 90 degree angle. You could follow this theme of manipulating how someone views the layout to it's best by taking it a stage further; if you want it at a height everyone can see mount it at table top height so it's at the correct height when viewed from a chair (I see that TVNAM is in a village hall so there's bound to be some chairs available). By the correct height I mean around chest or shoulder height while sitting down. That way everyone gets the view you intend I once saw this "forced viewpoint" used very effectively at a show while on hol's in the US. The guy had a similar shaped area on display as yours but slightly larger. It was viewed from the narrow end with the trains running across the wide end. You were encouraged to almost put your chin on the front of the layout. Directly in front of you, almost touching your nose, was a 1/24th car with some 1/24th railfans sitting beside it. A couple of foot into the box a simple HO line ran across the back of the box. Because of the restricted viewing angle, clever lighting and superb modelling, you couldn't see the "empty valley" between the 1/24th foreground and 1/87th background but the effect of watching a train rumbling by in the distance was awesome! Cheers, Longers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 24, 2011 Author Share Posted April 24, 2011 ... By the correct height I mean around chest or shoulder height while sitting down. That way everyone gets the view you intend. ... I dunno... I don't think many adults will bend down that far... as there's no lid they'll just peer in over the top for that all-too-common "Helicopter View" which really goes against the whole plan of this thing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longers Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 Oh, I didn't realise it didn't have a top (actually, I'm not sure why I assumed that it did!) In that case I would say go as high as possible. TVNAM seems like a specialist show and I think that approach would suit the audience on the day. If for a more general show then perhaps mount it slightly lower at a more conventional height? Cheers, Longers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Holmes Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Great idea for a layout. Brilliant concept for presentation. I love it! Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share Posted May 16, 2011 Great idea for a layout. Brilliant concept for presentation. I love it! Cheers, Ian!! Digital Camera problem resolved (i.e. buy a new 'un!) here's a few more pictures, also including my latest loco I've just finished, an Atlas SD40, #755. Firstly a "Punter's View" shot... .. and the SD40 rolls into the stabling yard... The 'View Block' arrangments under the bridge work quite well, I think... A view by the office; don't get run over by the SW1200!! Which Railroad's property are we on, again...?!? Finally, can we just remind viewers at home that the curves are two foot radius, Code 100 rail (This was shot without the sound effects on) ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny4472 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Just caught up with this thread. Great concept and your rolling stock is superb. Loving the GP40 Soo Bandit. Donny Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Cheers, Donny Your avatar is pretty good, too..!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Looking good Jordan - look forward to seeing the real thing in a couple of weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glorious NSE Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Nice one. 8) Look forward to seeing it SOOn... (sorry!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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