Being an arm chair model railroader since the very first time I saw an issue about Mr Armstrong's layout, way back when, I became totally involved reading Model Railroader every since. Also, let it be known, I am an avid computer Geek so to speak. While browsing through various old issues of Model Railroader, I came across the 2009 issue of Great Model Railroads. Special issue by Model Railroader Tips and Ideas to use on your layout. The article on page 64 written by Paul J. Dolkos, >>Celebrating John Armstrong caught my eyes. The very first picture in particular. The little green restaurant is what I notice. I had seen this some place before I thought. Then it occurred to me where I last saw it. It was on my Macintosh computer, in all of the glory it deserves. If you own a Mac, and OS X10.6, do this. Open System preferences, next open Desktop and screen saver/ then under the word Apple, move your courser down to ART. Click on the green picture, second one in. Enjoy the work of Mr. Armstrong. If you have an old issue of Great Model Railroads. Special issue by Model Railroader Tips and Ideas to use on your layout. you can compare the seine as Mr. Armstrong actually modeled it including the interior of the restaraunt.
ELB
Of course, the. "scene" John Armstrong modeled in his coffee shop was Edward Hopper's famous 1942 painting, "Nighthawks." John explained how he did it in "Modeling a mood" in the January 1989 "Model Railroader," page 130. In building his 3D model, John discovered some of the perspective tricks Hopper used and explained the compromises he had to make to capture the scene in his model.
So long,
Andy
Andy, Thanks for the info about Mr. Armstrong's scene. Unfortunately, I gave all of my Model Railroader mag. collection away when we moved fro Northern Illinois to Dallas TX. in 1999. I'm sure the next owner of my collection is still enjoying all of it .