As someone mentioned above, you can wrap it in some mirror like material. If that's difficult to find, check the sheet metal aisle for HVAC materials for some semi reflective metal that will wrap it. Small metal posts really aren't that distracting. Could be worse. I have a diagonal steel beam bracing a large support column. There's no hiding that.
thanks everyone for the pictures and ideas. I didnt think my issue would be as common as it appears to be here!
I was in a local meeting discussing how to hide lamp poles in a parking lot. The consensus among the technical types was to paint them black to make them disappear.
In this case, that might not work. I would look for a few things to hang on the post, particularly logos and emblems from the home railroad.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I suggest to build the scenery as you normally would. An unnatural shape to the scenery might draw attention to the area more than disguise it.
Paint it sky blue or even black. Artists use black to represent something that's not supposed to be there, and model railroad layouts use sky blue to represent the "unknown beyond".
As Wayne said, he doesn't even notice it.
Your brain will train your eyes to ignore it because you know that its not part of the layout.
A visitor or a person looking at a photo might notice it, but who cares about those guys.
- Douglas
riogrande5761 Wayne, paint them sky blue and then it won't even be a barely notice.
Wayne, paint them sky blue and then it won't even be a barely notice.
That's a good idea, Jim, but I'm a bit concerned that I might not remember it's there, and walk right into it.
Your layout is certainly coming along very nicely. I hope that you'll continue sharing photos of your progress.
Wayne
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I have two visible support posts in my basement layout room, and another two hidden within a wall. I wasn't too concerned with one of the visible ones, as it's in an area where there's a staging yard (actually multiple staging yards), with no scenery or structures...
The other one is right out there in full view, but it's not really impinging on the scene...
I barely notice them any more.
I agree with Dave. Paint it black and ignore it. While folks are concentrating on running a train they probably won't even notice it. In photos you can always photoshop it out.
Ray
City scene with a giant sky scraper. Giant Sequoia tree.
I've seen the column support a dual helix that went up to a second level and down under for a staging yard. Tunnel portals going into a mountain.
Pete.
Pete
A curved mirror on it could make it disappear if you could find someone to make it. Best bet is to have some really big eye catching industry or scenery at the base so people are focused to look down
Pruitt You could take John Allen's lead and reproduce his Devil's Post Pile. Or make the scenery layout-to-ceiling around the post.
You could take John Allen's lead and reproduce his Devil's Post Pile.
Or make the scenery layout-to-ceiling around the post.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Drill a hole and make it a tunnel.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I gotta figure out a way to put some scenery or a cliff to hide this post. It's the only one:
The layout Im designing for my basement will have one of the support posts "in" it. The support is already encased in wood, about 7x7" or so, and will be toward the edge 1/3 of the shelf. Anyone have a creative way to integrate that post? I thought about building hills/landscape up around it which is fine but then will have the post coming out the top of the hill. I know, I should design around it but the way the room is set up, to get the most of it, this is the way it needs to be.