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
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 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
Nice looking backdrops! Tempting!
Do they have any desert or canyon scenes?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 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
moving along nicely Michael, Cant believe how much you've got done , and what a difference ....the green bridge well be copied, sorry...JW
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.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
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.
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?
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
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.
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 $$
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.
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).
Along the Moffat route there are several small rail yards. Aspen Branch, Leadville Branch, Minturn,
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.
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.
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.
Min-Urn?!! [Note correct pronunciation]
Cool! I love the smell of diesel in the morning.
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.
I'm imaging the possibilities...