I am building an N scale layout and there is a 16'' X16'' chimney in the middle of part of it. See pic. I am planning a town somewhere on that part but not sure where. I have thought about a mountain around it or maybe some backdrop buildings. What are some of your suggestions? Thanks. Mike
If I remember correctly, John Allen had a similar problem on his G&D railroad. I believe it was a support column rather than a chimney. He disquised it with a rocky spire which he name Eagle's Nest. I'm relating all this from memory so I'm sure if I got any of this wrong, someone will correct me. This might not be the best solution for you if you are planning a town there. John Allen's post was in a mountainous region while your peninsula looks pretty flat. I think a string of low relief buildings around the perimeter of the chimney are your best option. Another option might be to build a multi story factory or warehouse around it. If you were modeling in HO, I might suggest a single skyscaper to disquise it but looking at it, in N scale it would probably have too big a footprint to make for a believeable skyscraper.
Absolutely, the chimney MUST go!!! One cannot have a chimney wrecking one's layout!
No, seriously. I would build a mountain around it similar to what you built on the right side of the picture and leave it at that.
Paint some clouds on it like you have in the other areas.
If you want to city-scape that area, tall buildings should do it.
You can disguise it some, but cannot hide the fact that it is there.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
galaxy Absolutely, the chimney MUST go!!! One cannot have a chimney wrecking one's layout!
I agree with the mountain idea, you seem to have a enough space to make a nice low rise hill with housing, or mountain with trees and paint sky on the rest.
Eric
Hi Mike: My suggestion would be to build a two sided back drop, enclosing the chimney, glue city back drop prints or photos, then back ground buildings, and finally, some full size town buildings.
A couple of really nice building flats, with a lot of detail, would draw the viewer's eye away from the chimney and into the scene. First, though, I would build up the layout around the chimney so that it rises 3-6 inches above the layout base. Then, the buildings will be well above the trains, and the chimney will be pushed even higher. Plan something interesting in front of the flats, too, perhaps more buildings, but other low scenery hiding the building flats' bases would work, too.
Go for a craftsman kit, if you can find one that fits your layout. You've got the skills to build one well.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Many a town in rough country climbs up the slope of the hill away from the railroad, wich probably followed the stream and isn't too far above water level. You seem to have space enough for a nice forced-perspective scene, possibly extending the chimney edges into a semicircular view block on the near side.
This month's MR has some good ideas about extreme low-profile hills. Then small-scale building flats, then larger, working up to full scale inside the railroad's property line. Once the area is detailed out, no one will have any idea that there's a big square 'something' on the other side of the sky.
I expect to do something similar, not to work around a chimney but to hide a 16 foot long roll-up garage door.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
What about extending it on either side , thinned down version of course, making a visual break thru that section of the layout. Maybe put a tunnel where the track goes thru the scene . Let one side be flush with a face of the chimney and the other side that the chimney protrudes thru build a mountain .
One possibility would be to have a mountain scene on one face with a tunnel portal and a track running into the tunnel. Just make sure visitors don't try to run their train into the tunnel.