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Crazy idea: Layout Concentrate
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<p>Hi all,</p> <p>I've been away from this forum for a while quietly working on my own projects plus a career as a photographer, but modeling has always been lurking at the back of my mind. I'm currently tearing down my last failed project and have been scheming about my next layout.</p> <p>I have an odd idea that has been fascinating me for a while now, and I want to get some other opinions on it before I either check myself in or go build this thing.</p> <p>It all started with <a href="http://www.carendt.com/microplans/">micro layouts</a>. These tiny layouts, of varying size, are common in Europe and many exist on this side of the Atlantic but don't get their fair share of attention. A few characteristics:</p> <ul> <li>There is only one scene.</li> <li>They operate in some way, even if simple. Trains move. On larger layouts, switching is possible (see Timesaver).</li> <li>Each scene is viewed from one, maybe two vantage points, freeing the builder to employ theatre-style perception tricks (flats, forced perspective, visual composition, mirrors) with an audacity that would be impossible on a traditional layout.</li> </ul> <p>I really liked this simplicity. That's when I got the idea.</p> <p>What if one were to design a layout where instead of a long open scenes blending seamlessly together, it were composed of short dioramas separated by full backdrops? Take a layout and remove all the empty space between scenes (or LDEs if you like) and squish those scenes together, separated by a thin backdrop. You can even compress the scenes since buildings can be built as flats on the side backdrops, not just the back backdrop, allowing you to shorten long buildings. If you need more car space, simply make the adjacent scene shallower and run a tail track behind its backdrop.</p> <p>I call this Layout Concentrate. It would let you squeeze more layout into a given space without compromising each scene. Would it be too concentrated and busy, or could you use lighting to focus the viewer on the scene they're in? What if each scene had its own lighting and only the focus was illuminated?</p> <p>Thoughts?</p>
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