Hello! I need some advice, please. My newly retired hubby decided to resurrect his old train layout. He's very good at building, electrical, and techie stuff, but not scenery. He thought his cardboard tunnel was enough. Since I've been into scale miniatures for years (dollhouse type) I decided to tackle the scenery.
After reading everything and viewing videos, I still do not know how to handle the viewblock that will divide the town end from the grainery and feed mill area. I put in a piece of foam to indicate where it might be, but don't know how to finish it. There isn't enough room for a hill unless it was just an inch thick. Any ideas how to handle this? And how do I finish the ends so it doesn't just suddenly stop. Or should I not have it at all? Would that look all right?
A picture is here: http://janeane.luby.com/Viewblock_Problem.htm There's also a link to the rest of my side which includes the layout diagram.
Thanks for any help and ideas.
Gidday,
I would use !/8" "hardboard"glued and/or screwed to the layout using a couple of 1"x1"x1", or there- abouts wooden blocks, which could then be cunningly disguised as rubbish skips or whatever springs to mind. I have also heard of styrene (or plastic sheeting) being used in a similar fashion with the added advantage of being a bit more "bendable".
As for finishing, a photo or poster of a town scene, or you could photocopy up a montage to your liking from this thread, http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/59915/745065.aspx#745065 on one side, and a country scene or what you want on the other.
The thickness of the view block should take care of the ends, how about trying a card board mock up whilst continuing on your other projects to get a feel for it?
Just remember it's your guys railroad and as long as you're both having fun.........
Cheers,the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hoosier Gal Or should I not have it at all? Would that look all right?
Or should I not have it at all? Would that look all right?
It is a good question.
Looking at the photos on your web page, it is hard to see whether there is an adequate aisle for an operator behind the layout, and it seems like you maybe have planned to operate the layout from a fixed operator position at front left? If so, having a view block cut the layout into two scenes may not work all that well.
If you have adequate aisle space and a way to control trains on the rear half of the layout, it would be possible to make a taller (about twice as tall) and thinner (less than an inch) backdrop splitting the table into two scenes, with different scenes being painted on each side of the center backdrop/viewblock, using the space you save from not having a 2" thick view block to have some partial buildings, trees etc along both sides the backdrop. Partial buildings put along the backdrop/center view block is a perfect fit - we only see the front (or possibly a little of the side as well) of the building, so we can make it fairly big - big enough to warrant train service. Have a look e.g. at this web page showing some curved backdrop for 4x8 foot layouts: http://www.layoutvision.com/id47.html
Another question is the size of the table - what is it - about 9x5 feet, assuming H0 scale and sharpest curve radius about 18" ? If so, that means that you need about 11 x 9 feet of floor space for the layout.
In 11x9 feet, one could potentially build a surround layout with 2" deep shelves, and a removable section to allow people to get into the layout. That would allow a lot more of functionality for trains, and remove the problem that "the rear half" of the layout would be behind the front half of the layout - at any time one scene would be in front of you, another to your right, one behind you and the last one to your left..
Not saying that it is the only way to go, but cutting the table into two and adding two more sections to form a hollow rectangle might be worth considering.
Lots of options.
Smile, Stein
If the table is tucked into the corner, the view block will get in the way of the granary scene as mentioned by Stein. I might suggest some trees to separate the town and granary.
If you do keep it, JaBear's suggestions are sensible; the pasted photo approach was discussed in the May 2012 issues pf Model Railroader magazine. Keep in mind, nothing says the view block needs to be rectangular. As there is no room for a structure to hide the end, trees would work.
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
Thank you for the welcome and the ideas. We ARE having fun!
Yes, the layout is 9x5 and HO. I don't know much about actual operating, and I'm not sure Hubby does either, yet, so we're winging it. I guess we did think he'd operate it from the front, and viewers could walk around to the left and back to watch from there. There is enough room to watch or work in the back.
Thanks for that link! Some good ideas to ponder!!!
Here is another idea to tuck away till needed.
I saw on one layout where the builder used background buildings back to back. Thus having different buildings from each side. and doubling the opportunity for two industries and sidings in the space of one.
I believe that on a small layout such as yours you could possibly use a piece of Styrofoam (pink) insulation to form a narrow hill especially if you could widen it out at the bottom, and with a few puff ball trees and other buildings or scenic features you may be able to create a believable divider that would work for you from the sides, wouldn't look too good from the ends.
Not really an expensive concept to play with, Why not give it a try? If you don't like it tear it out and try something else. The foam is always recycleable.
Just my worth, for your consideration.
Johnboy out.................................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I did something like Johnboy suggested by constructing a small hill to more or less separate my layout into two sections, without totally blocking the view from either side:
Wayne
Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.
Thanks for the ideas. I'm collecting them all in a file for consideration. Appreciate all of you taking the time to reply!!!!
Nice work, Wayne!!! I was originally thinking of something like this, but don't think there's room. A variation, perhaps. I probably need to finish all the buildings, to see how much room is left. Thank you!
Welcome to the forums.
I have a small, 4'x6' HO layout and use a viewblock. It is made of 1/4" plywood, bought a 2'x4' sheet at a big box lumber store. I left it full length, but shortened it about 5". It is painted skyblue, lighter near the bottom, a technique mentioned in several articles and posts. I have tried some clouds, but haven't perfected them yet, just blue does for a start and since you can paint over if needed, pratice right on the backdrop. Mine sits in a groove, that I can romove it to work on.
My controls are at one corner, so that I can stand at the end and see both sides.
The backdrop is not parallel to the sides, makes it less noticible or at least I think so.
At one end I have a rock cut, which stands somewhat higher than the trains and helps block the view around the end. The top of the cliff has some smalll trees and bushes. The other end has the track shielded by trees. By having something there, it breaks up the stark end of the backdrop. Many folks have a large building for the train to go around or it can go between two.
You can use background buildings or photos against the backdrop. Since mine is very rural, I used a piece of 2" foam, shaped like rolling hills. A couple of rock castings on the face (about as big as my hand), puffball trees on top and taller trees along the base of the hill to help mask the steepness of the hill. There are videos and books on painting more detailed scenes, hills, trees, etc. available.
Nice to hear of a couple working together, each using their skills to produce the finished product. (Layouts are never truely finished. Improved skills, new ideas, added detail and changes of mind, keep them a work in progress.)
Have fun,
Richard
Richard, what you have done sounds great!!! Thanks for sharing. Do you have pictures? Either posted to this forum or sent straight to me? I'd love to see your work.
Will consult the more computer knowledgeable members of the family. Wife working and best equipped son away for the week. It may be a day or so.
Don't worry about the viewblock "just ending." The brain quickly learns to ignore that "edge of the sky" look. In fact guys (and ladies) who have tried to disguise the ends usually end up making it more obvious and intrusive. The blander the better as a rule.
One alternative to the "hills and sky" type viewblock was the subject of a feature years ago by Art Curren, a Kalmbach employee who was a masterful "kitbasher." His viewblock was an ingenious string of structures, not complete or full depth. and the "other side" was a different set of structure fronts entirely. you had an entirely different feel as you went to the other side of the layout. I no longer recall exactly how he did it or what issue it is in*, but as with any viewblock the idea was to prevent you from being able to see clear across the layout in one glance.
* I found the article: January 1999 Model Railroader, page 125
Dave Nelson
Good idea! Along with all the previous ones. Thanks so much. I'm pondering and experimenting.
Hi again,
Sorry it has been so long, But.
The article on the double sided scene divider made with building segments. that I mentioned as having seen earlier on, has been located.
It is in the 65th Anniversary Spectacular of Model railroader magazine dated January 1999.
The article is by Art Curren and is on page 121 which is a fold out section.
Also in this edition, for those so interested is a great story and drawings of the CB&Q "Pioneer Zephyr" as well in a fold out format.
Hope this is some help to you even though late in coming .
It is interesting to note that the above mentioned edition has 240 pages and even the Last December issue only had 102. ......... HHHhhmmmm However the price has stayed close to the same.
Johnboy out............................................................