Black and White layout

[Anonymous]

Most of the pictures of railroading in the pre 50's era's are in black and white which gives it, in my opinion, the proper look and feel. Has anybody tried to model using black and white tones? I'm thinking it might be someting to try but not sure.

[Sperandeo]

Hi Dan,

This is something I've heard and read people thinking about, but haven't ever seen done - at least not on a whole model railroad layout. (A few years ago a hit Broadway show called "City of Angels" included black-and-white detective movie scenes onstage, in contrast to full-color scenes about the people who were making the movie. It was very effective.)

Speaking as someone who models a year from the "black-and-white era," 1947, one of the things I want my model railroad to do is to bring those old prototype photos to life. To me that means seeing what the railroad looked like back then in all its colorful glory. I'm not saying you have a bad idea, but I'd feel I was missing a great opportunity.

On the other hand, I might very well want to publish some black-and-white photos of my layout some day. Jack Ozanich and Gary Hoover have done that to very good effect.

So long,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
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[Anonymous]

A very interesting concept! I don't think I'd like to tackle it, but I'm certain that it would present lots of challenges. I especially like the idea of black & white images of layouts set in the "pre-colour" period.
I often jokingly refer to those days as "back when everything was greyscale". However, as a product of the 50's myself, I well remember lots of stuff and (as you all know) the world was not black & white nor greyscale. Most film was, but there you go. LOTS of colour!
Now you have me thinking though...ground cover in greyscale...that could be fun!
Just my 2 cents worth!
Bill Clark
Edson, Alberta

[CNJ831]

As one who does a fair amount of model railroad photography, I think attempting to render an entire layout in black and white would prove an exceedingly difficult task. Structures could not be a single monotone but rather a wide range of subtle variations on a grey scale. To look believable it would be necessary to work from B&W photos of similar buildings in each instance. Replicating trees, background scenery, etc. would be a nightmare as even slightest errors would likely stand out dramatically. This sort of concept is surely a project for a professional artist/photographer to tackle.

John

[Anonymous]

What a wild idea! I say go for it, but I also think John has some good points you might want to consider. Such a project may not be as easy as it first seems. At any rate, we'll be waiting to see lots of "color" photos of your work. Take care, Dan, and good luck!

[thirdrail1]

Dan, on giving it some thought, I do not think you would be satified with the result. While you see a black and white image on paper or a screen, it is a two dimensional image, and your mind subtly recognizes that it is only a partially correct image rather than an actual object. With a three dimensional model, you would be looking at an actual object rather than an image of the object, and I think your mind would find the information its is receiving from your eyes inherently "wrong", unless, of course, you are colorblind.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting concept. If you find color photos of the same era, they may show deeper colors than normal because of the film in use at that time. The standard color film has a slow speed, and was not as natural as todays films. See if you can locate some of the late John Allen`s photos. He took photos of his layout which was an earlier period, but quite realistic.

[Anonymous]

The trick, I think, would be not to be too rigid in a monochromatic world. Think of winter scenes where everything is white snow or black shadows, and the sky is gray. In the image, the only break is a red barn amid some gray barren trees. It's the predominance of white, black and gray that sets the scene, and a small dash of color that adds the impact.

The City of Angels "movie" sets Andy talked about was done with all the clothes and sets done in grays, but the actors would step out into a colorful world.

The old Mission Impossible series (TV, not the movie) usually began with a briefing where the set and the clothes were stark black and white, although it was shot in color. It helped separate that matter of fact set up with the scam the IMF pulled off in the rest of the show.

It may be reasonable to do one scene on a layout in predominatly black, white and gray tones, any colors greatly subdued, with lighting from a single spot to get the film noir shadows. The color scheme for rolling stock that regularly serviced the area could be done in grays. It may be too artsy for some tastes, but it could be fun to try it. You can always repaint the buildings and scenery if it doesn't work.

Tom Chmielewski
Associate Editor
Model Railroader

[tomikawaTT]

Granted that my photos from the period are mostly black and white, I actually saw my prototypes - area and railroads - in glorious living color.  As a result, I wouldn't even consider modeling in stark shades of grey.

OTOH, I can see possibilities in photographing the completed model scene in black and white.  If the model photos come out looking pretty much like the prototype photos from 44 years earlier, I'll be pretty confident I got it right.

Chuck (modeling colorful Central Japan in September, 1964)

[M636C]

I have seen a black and white display layout, based on a World War II theme.

It looked a little odd, but I didn't realise at first that it was intentionally Black and White, just that everything was in shades of grey, but since so much was military equipment and camouflaged that it all seemed quite normal, if a bit drab.

It was only later that someone pointed out that it was "Black and White" that I realised the theme was based on B&W wartime photographs.

M636C

[OzarkBelt]

I Think in a older MR (2004 maybe?) there was a feature on the back page about a guy who did this on a N-track module (i think)

Hope that helps

[reklein]

This reminds me of a Calvin and Hobbs strip I saw a few years back where Calvins Dad tries to convince him that everything was black and white until about 1942 when color was invented. On a more serious note you might try working up a color chart where everything is based on grey tones, but I think you would be happier with warm greys or sepia tone. For instance reds would be subdued to reddish brown. I'd definetly work up a color wheel with the mix combinations so you could maintain a consistency.