lvanhen wrote:Blue Flamer, What about the Green Hornet, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Amos and Andy? You're right, the imagination needed for radio is a help in seeing a room or a 4x8 as a rr empire!!
Those also, plus Bobby Benson and the B bar B Riders, a western themed adventure program for kids with a young boy as the central figure. That was from the late 40's and/or early 50's and may have been a Canadian program, but I am not sure. And, don't forget The Jack Benny Show.
Many were the nights that I fell asleep with my head on the kitchen table while trying to stay awake to hear the end of the baseball game. That was the old Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League. Dad would inevitably come and wake me up and tell me to get to bed.<>
Ahhhh. Them were the good old days.
Blue Flamer.
Grampys Trains wrote:Hi Jeff: Thanks for your reply. I know what you mean about sports. Hockey is the only sport I am still interested in. Now, you've really got me interested in this process. The only thing I need is the mirror. I think I'll Google and try to find one. My camera is the FZ7, which does have manual focus. So, it looks like the camera is good to go.
DJ (and others), I was mistaken when I stated where I bought the mirrors.. Not Edmund Scientific but American Science and Surplus . #4112, is about the size I used for the Photo.
lvanhen wrote: jeffrey-wimberly wrote: jecorbett wrote: lvanhen wrote: MisterBeasley wrote: stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..." Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra? Don't forget brother George - boy am I showing my age!!!Did you mean Boy George? If so, you are really showing your age.I remember Boy George, and yes, I have quite a bit of gray hair.You guys are all wet!!! Librace's brother George used to play the violin on the old B&W TV show in the '50's!! You're all youngsters!!
jeffrey-wimberly wrote: jecorbett wrote: lvanhen wrote: MisterBeasley wrote: stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..." Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra? Don't forget brother George - boy am I showing my age!!!Did you mean Boy George? If so, you are really showing your age.I remember Boy George, and yes, I have quite a bit of gray hair.
jecorbett wrote: lvanhen wrote: MisterBeasley wrote: stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..." Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra? Don't forget brother George - boy am I showing my age!!!Did you mean Boy George? If so, you are really showing your age.
lvanhen wrote: MisterBeasley wrote: stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..." Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra? Don't forget brother George - boy am I showing my age!!!
MisterBeasley wrote: stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..." Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra?
stebbycentral wrote: 'Cause in truth he looks more like Liberachi to me..."
Anybody know where I can get a 1:87 candalabra?
Don't forget brother George - boy am I showing my age!!!
Did you mean Boy George? If so, you are really showing your age.
You guys are all wet!!! Librace's brother George used to play the violin on the old B&W TV show in the '50's!! You're all youngsters!!
Ha! I've got you beat. I remember watching the old Lone Ranger, The Shadow and Inner Sanctum shows on TV BEFORE TV had pictures. It was called RADIO. To get the best picture, you had to use something called, "Your Imagination". That's what we Model Railroaders use to our advantage when building our layouts. (just keeping it on topic).
Grampys Trains wrote:Hi Jeff: Thank you so much. That is too cool! I was wondering how you reversed the image, because of the mirror. Is that the same type mirror that's recommended for scenery use, ie, no line between the mirror and what's in front of it? My Panasonic Lumix only goes down to f8, do you think that would work? Last question, I noticed you used Photoshop to reverse the photo, would a free program(Picasa) be able to do the same thing? Thanks, again for sharing your knowledge. BTW, since you're from Michigan, would you happen to be a Wings, fan?
Get the sporty stuff out of the way first. I'm only a Wings fan during the final period of game 7 of the stanley cup race. If they make it that far, I'm with them. Otherwise, don't particularly care. Same with Football (never need to worry about becoming a Lions fan then, do I?), Baseball, Basketball.. Too many of them have gone out on strike because their wallets weren't fat enough. Kind of spoiled my interest in any of it years ago.
The mirror is just that type. I've tried this with rear surfaced mirrors (the kind typically bought anywhere) and there's always a ghost image. With FS mirrors on scenery, there's only a very fine dividing line, if any, visable. With RS mirrors, there'll always be a gap between the real and the reflection, that is the thickness of the glass.
I imagine Picasa could flip the image. The software that came with your Lumix may even be able to do it. If not, there are other Freebies out there that can. I think FASSTONE, IRFANVIEW, GIMP, etc will. PS CS3 Extended is kind of overkill for this sort of thing. Of course, processing for the budget minded, Photoshop Elements will do a lot of the same stuff as Photoshop, for about 1/8 the price. I like the layering and other capabilities of the full product however.
The F22 setting on the lens was to get maximum depth of other shots and I simply forgot to change it. Your Lumix, especially if you have one of them with Manual focus would probably work fine for this (I had an FZ20, still have an FZ1). Getting an autofocus to work might be a little tricky but it probably could be done. I think Digicams may even have a slight advantage here in that the minimum focus distance is very short. I know my FZ20 could go to about 3 inches (full wide angle) before having to switch to macro modes. Digicams also have a nearly infinate depth of field due to the small size of the sensor.
Be fun to try even if it doesn't work out. From what I've seen of your layout, you have a LOT of nice scenes to experiement with.
Grampys Trains wrote:Hi Jeff: I'm intriqued by your photo of your Pennsy F unit. Would you please go into a little more detail on how you used a mirror to get that shot? I'm still learning about all the things you can do with a digital camera. Looks like I have a long way to go. I think that is an amazing photo!
DJ, (I intend to put this in one of my clinics but for now.... )
Here's a color one..
One thing that always kind of bugs me about MRR photos is that we can see the tops of the trains and buildings as if we are always at some elevated vantage point. Like this one for instance
It's a fair snapshot of a building with a couple box cars in front of it but unless I'm standing on a bridge, hill, or building taller than the second floor of the one in the photograph, an Impossible shot. Even if we set our cameras On the bench to get a straight on shot, the lens is still too high for anything short of O scale.
My pictures are taken with a Pentax K10d DSLR and the lens used for this particular photo is a Pentax 43mm f1.9 Limited. The camera brand really doesn't matter here I just think it's worth noting for a couple of reasons. The center of the lens, which would presumably be eye level, is 1 1/2" from the camera bottom. That's nearly 11 feet in HO scale. Unless I"m using a shift lens (too expensive for the little use it would get), that would be true regardless of the lens used. Different cameras may be more or less to the center of the lens.
The Mirror, is a Front Surfaced mirror. Meaning the coating is on the front of the glass rather than the back. Mine, which were purchased for another purpose, came from Edmumd Scientific several years ago. The idea of the article that I eluded to was to build a fixture to point the camera straight down at the mirror which would be placed at a 45 degree angle from the track (or ground) to make it seem as though the photographer were standing dead center between the rails. I don't think 45 degrees is a hard fast number, the idea is to get a reflection into the camera that lowers the viewing perspective. (forgive the crudeness of this, I'm still trying to get use to my graphics tablet)
The front surface of the mirror has to be as close as possible to the ground (or rails) for this to really work. Cameras have an interesting property that helps us here. All they do is collect light. Doesn't matter where the light is coming from or what it hits. Doesn't matter how inexpensive or big and fancy your camera is, at the end of the day, All it does, is collect and record light. I mentioned earlier the lens I used. That's important because it has a minimum focus distance of 1.5 feet (roughly). That 1.5 feet can be a straight line, OR, a reflected line. The closer you can get the axis of the lens to the bottom of that 45 degree angle (in the drawing above) the lower your perspective will be. If you notice, in the loco photo, we are just barely looking down on the top of the coupler. We are looking down at the track, and the PRR emblem is obviously above our eye level.
That isn't quite the way I did this photo however.. This isn't the shot I used for the final photo but it gives an idea of the basic setup. Not quite 45 degrees and the camera isn't quite centered between the rails, though with a little more fiddling, I could have accomplished it.
For the actual photo, the mirror was cleaned to spotless, all the room lights were turned off, and the final exposure was 30 seconds at f22.Tripod is a must use. Some lighting setup would have saved me from having to use such a long exposure but this was a quick and dirty experiment.
Now we have the basic photo, some post processing is in order (here's where digital really shines for this though all of it is possible with Film).
A screen shot of the first processing step:
This photo was taken around 2am with all the lights turned out. Even at 30 seconds, still pretty dark. I'm showing the crop square made to get what I wanted out of the picture. After which, levels were adjusted to get it viewable.
Now, it Is a mirror image so everything is backwards. A vertical flip fixes that..
There are probably a 1000 ways of accomlishing something similar with digital post processing but sometimes, it's simpler to start out with the proper perspective in the shot.
Lots of fun this week @ the Platte Valley & Western... We had our monthly open house on Friday but this past Tuesday, lots of work got done...
First - More work on Ft. Steele -
Second - First Train at the new Granite Depot
Finally - Eagle is starting to take shape.
A more complete tour & progress reports can be found at the club's website - http://www.pvwrr.org
Chris
This will add significantly to the flexibility and capacity of the layout. In addition to the longer siding supporting longer thru freights, the crossover will allow two shorter trains to be staged, as well as helping the Ohiopyle local crew to make run around moves while switching the industrial tracks.
West end switch. Under the temporary track plan, this is the end of the Connellsville sub. With the longer siding, I'll be able to stage trains to "enter" the layout from this point. The switch to the left will serve an industry.
I still have to finish ballasting and cleaning up from the track gang...
Next project will be to fill the hole in the scenery so I can put in the new industry track.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Thanks Crandell, Tom and Garry,
The Wabash is a Broadway Limited and runs really well. It has a nice heft to it and the sound is good. I actually prefer my older P2K CB&Q E unit, no sound but it runs really smoothly, just a bit better than the BLI.
The Pioneer Z is a great little train. I did have some derailing issues with it and found an issue with one truck. Once taken care of it has been a great performer. I always wanted a Z and could never bring myself to pay for a brass one so was very happy when Con-Cor came out with it.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Garry--
Thanks for the photos--that's a really SWEET kit-bash and I really like that train! Oboy, it's been suggested by a couple of buddies that I take one of the BLI dome-observations and kitbash it into the dome-observation-midtrain car that Rio Grande did with their ex-Chessie dome on the ROYAL GORGE, but I'm just too scared to do it, right now. However, your beautiful job on that Burlington obs might just be the impetus I need for that future project. I'm going to copy those photos, if you don't mind.
Speaking of the Con-Cor PIONEER ZEPHYR, I've got one, and it's a little beauty. I like it so much I even got the 4th car to make a Good Thing Better, LOL! Yah, it's on a 'continual' West Coast tour over my Rio Grande. I think it's going to become the "Yuba River Prospector" between Oakland and Carson City, if I can ever get the courage to replace the "Burlington" decals.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
~ M
twhite wrote: Simon--That tower is SWEEET!! Nice work on the weathering, and I really like that Wabash diesel of yours. Garry: Love to see a close-up photo of that kitbashed observation car. I really like Burlington passenger trains. Grampys: Your modeling is an absolute INSPIRATION! I drool every time you post. Tom
Simon--
That tower is SWEEET!! Nice work on the weathering, and I really like that Wabash diesel of yours.
Garry:
Love to see a close-up photo of that kitbashed observation car. I really like Burlington passenger trains.
Grampys:
Your modeling is an absolute INSPIRATION! I drool every time you post.
I'll certainly ditto (w/ 2 t's) the remarks by Tom on Grampy's layout and Simon's interlocking tower. Yes, Simon, I noticed 9900, the Pioneer Zephyr in the photo. I did not get the PZ, how do you like yours?
Tom, you asked to see my "Silver Fountain" here are the pictures. I modified the Walthers Budd Obseveration with revised windows, doors, roof fetails, and interior. It is lighted with 3V LED's and has a battery holder for 2 AAA batteries with a toggle on/off switch under the floor. It has blinds on the windows.
selector wrote: Looks great, Simon. Nice touch. Makes a good addition to your layout. I sense that you enjoyed yourself on this one.What's next?-Crandell
Looks great, Simon. Nice touch. Makes a good addition to your layout. I sense that you enjoyed yourself on this one.
What's next?
-Crandell
I did have fun with this kit, thanks Crandell.
THe next kit on the docket is this one. http://www.foslimited.com/RADIO%20REPAIR.htm
My Grandfather ran an electrical/radio shop back in the UK from the mid 20's. I am going to build this one in his honor. I asked my Dad back in England if he had any photos of the store so that I could get signage right. The result of all his enquiries is that last week I received a packet from a distant cousin filled with my family tree, several photos and lots of documents pertaining to the radio business. It is funny how our hobby can influence what happens in life!
SpaceMouse wrote: simon1966 wrote: If you can get that train to turn that corner, then I am impressed.
simon1966 wrote:
If you can get that train to turn that corner, then I am impressed.
Yep, Space that Wabash E8 really struggles, unfortunately I missed your planning guide and messed up on the radius
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I tidied up my weathering, wired and sceneicked the tower and now it is in place on the layout.
This is a laser kit from BEST Scale trains http://www.besttrains.com/ it lends itself to interior modelling so I put one together for it. All the exterior castings come with the kit, including the figures. I made the coal bunker from some scrap.
Here's the westbound Kansas City Zephyr crossing the Mrs. Hippy River. By the 1960's, the KCS was a short but still very nice looking train. Consist of the model: E8 Proto 2000. Baggage mail Kit built from NKP Car Company kit; Dome coach is BLI CZ model; and Diner/Parlor/Observation is "silver Fountain" kitbashed from Walthers Budd observation.
To everyone, what a super WPF we are having. It is so nice to see all the nice work and imagery. Seems a lot of us have done great things and have developed over the past several months.
Tom, Ken, and Garry thank you for your kind words about the tower. It was a fairly easy kit all told. I had to make several modifications to it to make it fit the space available on the layout and look right. I plan to add a few more details (like an sand pipe on the inner track) and some more weathering, but for all practical pouposes it is finished.
I won't take up the bandwidth to mention all of you that have posted incredible photos this weekend, but just want to say you are all inspiring!
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Great job on the Jib Crane Karl
You really got the weathering perfect !
Here's an old time shorty box car i picked up on ebay this week.
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
Great work by all.
My latest little project.
Karl.A
I guess you have me by a few years. I only have vague memories of some of the 1950s variety shows. The ones my folks watched regularly were Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, Dinah Shore, Steve Allen, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. We had one TV and two stations in Omaha back then so I was stuck watching what they wanted to see. I didn't even know who Liberace was until the 1960s and didn't know until now he had a brother George. But since I model the 1950s, this is useful information. Maybe I can make them the headliners and some show when I get around to building my big city.