I'm imaging the possibilities...
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Since there is no intermodal yard in Minturn. I removed the concrete styrene from the 2 tracks. And ballasted those 2 tracks that will now be yard tracks that will hold the D&RGW power for helper service to add to trains before heading up the Tennesee Pass.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Motley My rail yard will now be located in Minturn, CO near the Tennessee pass. At the Minturn yard there's a 5-6 tracks there, complete with loco maintenance facilities.
My rail yard will now be located in Minturn, CO near the Tennessee pass. At the Minturn yard there's a 5-6 tracks there, complete with loco maintenance facilities.
Min-Urn?!! [Note correct pronunciation]
Cool! I love the smell of diesel in the morning.
OK new backdrop is up now! I'm really happy with it. Much better transitions scenes now.
This is the old backdrop. This was 24" x 6 ft.
And here's the new backdrop. This one is 24" x 9 ft.
Along the Moffat route there are several small rail yards. Aspen Branch, Leadville Branch, Minturn,
Hah!
You're gonna have to rig up some rollers, that way you can crank to the scene du jour.
That is going to make matching nearby scenery tricky.
Or maybe Michael is the lead customer for the first widescreen LCD display backdrop?
Comes pre-loaded with a collection of 999 of the world's greatest railway views(Note for American Customers: 50% are of Chinese railways). Has automatic mood sensor so it shifts the scene to a more soothing color immediately after a derailment. Comes in three models: the Shortline (12 foot wide); The UP Think's It's Bigger than It Really Is (23 feet wide); and the Grande (100 feet wide, with custom extensions up to the distance to Mexico City and San Francisco available by Special Order).
I just got another new backdrop delivered today. This one will replace the downtown yard scene, along the left wall, covering the window.
I'm working on it right now, stay tuned everybody.
OK, I see it now. Like a cottonwood? Makes sense down by the river. Maybe that's it...It shouldn't be a single tree on top the small hill by itself, but a small copse of them leading from it down to a little closer by the river? Then all the visual cues will be right for cottonwoods.
But that's a nice tree and it probably wasn't cheap. And it does start to hide the seam, which i hadn't noticed until I looked a little closer. I know all about trees and money, though. Right now I'm making bumpy chenille trees and moving my bigger store-bought trees forward -- while spending minimal $$
Mike I was trying to match the tree in the backdrop foreground you see there. I might at a later time, add some more pine trees in this area.
The grass color looks good, a brighter, closer version of the sagey-looking backdrop.
On the other hand, what are the plans for that tree? Seems like it should be evergreen, not deciduous, but I'm a little uncertain of the prototype landscape so maybe it fits better than it seems to me?
I finally finished the rock faced hills. I think I was able to match the backdrop grass colors, with some sage blue grass I found at my LHS.
JW,
The green bridge is the Micro Engineering 160' combination thru & deck girder. Its a nice little kit and easy to build too.
I think I'm still having nightmares from that Central Valley truss bridge.
Derek, Jim, Doughless, Chad and Rich, all many thanks for the positive comments.
moving along nicely Michael, Cant believe how much you've got done , and what a difference ....the green bridge well be copied, sorry...JW
riogrande5761 Nice looking backdrops! Tempting! Do they have any desert or canyon scenes?
Nice looking backdrops! Tempting!
Do they have any desert or canyon scenes?
These are just a few, but there is a great selection.
http://backdropwarehouse.com/images03/HL-SKL-213M.jpg
http://backdropwarehouse.com/images03/HL-SK-220E.jpg
Joe C
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I think Michael's progress and modeling work is fantastic.
I also think jalajoie's comments are valid.
The shadow just shows the difference between photographing a real layout, like Michael's, and a diorama, which is built specifically to be photographed from a specific angle; or photographing a layout scene that has the lighting set up perfectly for a specific picture.
Other modelers understand lighting much better than I
And if the issue bothers Michael enough, I'm sure he'll figure out lighting to perfection when he takes his pictures.
- Douglas
And, while we're at it Michael, what's with the cork on the ground???
You wouldn't see that on a real railroad.
Yes, tear out that layout and start over.
And don't come back until you get it right.
Rich
Alton Junction
I'm with Rich and Chad, I think it's great.
Michael I've been watching your progress over the years and you have come a very long long way. Keep posting pics of the updates as I think they are fantastic.
Keep up the great work, Derek
My about the shadow on the back drop, all structures,will cast a shadow,depending upon,what position the sun is. A tree in a forest,will cast a shadow,on other tree's in the forest.. Boy!, It, sure is Hot out here!, would you stand in front of the tree,in the sun? or behind the tree,in the shade,created by the tree's shadow? Now if Michael,stood in front of the light source, the shadow cast,would cover the bridge and maybe look like '' Godzilla '', JUST kidding Michael.
Cheers,
Frank
Maybe I'll just tear down my layout because of backdrop shadows, and go build it outside and use real scenery and not have to use backdrops?
Yes, I agree...I'll be watching the train & probably not be viewing it from that angle anyway..Besides backdrops always run that challenge unless you have a warehouse & have the backrops 2 or more feet from the nearest track or structure.I like what Michael is doing, it is a nice job, Great Work Michael!!!!
jalajoie Yes of course the sun will cast a shadow, but I doubt it will show on a distant mountain. The shadow will be on nearby structures or on the ground. The only shadow I ever saw on a mountain are from clouds. Your background give a good impression of distance, that shadow breaks the effect, to me anyway. I was under the impression it was only from a camera angle and not from the normal lighting of your layout.
Yes of course the sun will cast a shadow, but I doubt it will show on a distant mountain. The shadow will be on nearby structures or on the ground. The only shadow I ever saw on a mountain are from clouds.
Your background give a good impression of distance, that shadow breaks the effect, to me anyway. I was under the impression it was only from a camera angle and not from the normal lighting of your layout.
Picky, picky, picky.
I think that the whole purpose of the photo was for Michael to update us on his progress, not to win a photo contest for realism.
Oh I thought you were talking about the shadow underneath the bridge. You're talking about the shadow on the backdrop. Nothing I can really do about that because of my layout lighting. I think it shows up on the photo more than it does in person, I can barely see that. And it doesn't bother me either.
Every layout I see has shadows, its just something we all have to deal with when using indoor lighting.
Jack W.
Shadows.
Just like on the prototype.
jalajoie I presume it is due to the camera lighting and that under normal lighting this shadow of the bridge will disappear.
I presume it is due to the camera lighting and that under normal lighting this shadow of the bridge will disappear.
I'm not sure I follow you. Are you saying that the sun outside doesn't make shadows?
Hi!
That is some really nice work, and a terrific progression of photos! That is MR mag material to me!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Michael,
That is looking,really good. The last pic. says to me,that it belongs there. Almost,maybe is,perfect match,for that back drop.