OdieThey might not resemble the forest near you, but they sure do resemble the mountainous areas near me.
In your pic, they work rather well, regardless of the actual canopy itself. It's the same as to have a simple backdrop as not to detract from the impressive forground scene.
Yes i can find many spots here in New England that will have that same look, but mostly is a distant view of the tree covered hills. This is why many times I will air brush a light grey/ blue"fogging" to the painted backdrop the same distance perspective can be shown on the distant puffballs muting the brighter greens.
Another note: the coloring, shades of the greens will differ in varying types of lighting. I had sceniced one entire area of the layout under fluorecent lighting, once the hallogen track light were installed, the greens were so far off. I had to doctor up all the ground cover to gain the same look.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
Odie,I'm use to looking at the foot hills of the Appalachians in Southern Ohio and Northern Ky as well as the foot hills East of Mansfield and if I were to model a forest I would model those woods.
It may cost a small fortune but,I would use Woodland Scenics tree kits with lots of old growth trees since that's what I'm use to seeing...For the background forest I would try to blend in photos of the hills in Southern Ohio.
Has anybody tried that?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
bogp40
Thank you for posting these photos. This is EXACTLY the look I'm after as I begin to forest my hills. Excellent job!
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
BRAKIE You seem to be mighty upset and making a big to do out of nothing... Did you write that article? -------------------------------- Again,nothing you say will convince me balls or lumps of green cotton looks like a forest.
You seem to be mighty upset and making a big to do out of nothing...
Did you write that article?
--------------------------------
Again,nothing you say will convince me balls or lumps of green cotton looks like a forest.
Not upset, simply tired of reading critisism of the good work of others! Anyone can be a critic, it takes no skill what so ever!
It's also easy enough to find out who wrote the article and no, it was not me. However, I have written a few articles which have been published.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
NP2626 Not upset, simply tired of reading critisism of the good work of others! Anyone can be a critic, it takes no skill what so ever!
That is true enough but,not everybody will agree and I just happen not to agree with cotton balls painted green with green ground foam sprinkle on passing as trees but,if a modeler is happy with such "trees" then so be it.
What would have impress me more instead of MR rehashing a 20 year old method would be a article on blending modeled trees and photos of tree covered rolling hills together after all we are in the computer age.
I'm highly impress with roads that continue for "miles" into the distance by blending in a photo of a road to a model road or a photo of a cornfield blended in with a modeled cornfield on the backdrop..One thing that wowed me was a ISL that had industrial photos blended in with the modeled structures.The layout was only 16" wide but,thanks to the photos it looked miles wide.
I fully believe the same can be done by blending tree filled hillside photos with model trees to make realistic looking forest that extends for "miles"..
BRAKIE...blending modeled trees and photos of tree covered rolling hills together after all we are in the computer age. ...roads that continue for "miles" into the distance ...
How about this then:
No computer involved though. Note that I haven't painted or ballasted the track here. There was an article on blending roads into backdrops by Tom Johnson, I think in the October, 2010 issue of MR.
Rob Spangler
Rob,First that looks good..I like the way the road goes uphill and then curves down hill out of sight-its going some where.
Now with a long photo of the rolling hills of (say) Southern Oh with 3-5 rows of modeled trees in the foreground would capture the overall feeling of Southern Ohio..
Tom's good a excellent modeler that has inspired me in several ways.
See this topic on RR-L...
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33352
An interesting side note on the trees article in this issue is that Brooks Stover, the author of this article, is also an author of book on modeling trees, advertized in this very issue of Model Railroader! Obviously the staff at Model Railroader feels Mr. Stover is expert enough on the subject to warrant Kalmbach's publishing his book!
I cannot imagine being an editor with Model Railroader, having to come up with articles that appeal to those just getting into the hobby and others that have built several layouts over decades. It seems to me you could never find that perfect balance... but they try.
Gotta give them credit for that.
Personally I think that, all things considered, they do an excellent job.
Jarrell
NP2626 An interesting side note on the trees article in this issue is that Brooks Stover, the author of this article, is also an author of book on modeling trees, advertized in this very issue of Model Railroader! Obviously the staff at Model Railroader feels Mr. Stover is expert enough on the subject to warrant Kalmbach's publishing his book!
Yeah,Kinda like a infomercial or prelude for his book.This isn't the first infomerical or prelude article I've seen MR do for a adveriser or "expert" modeler that wrote a book...It won't be the last either.
As many already knows the term "Expert" fails to impress me since "expert" is toss about like a Frisbee and means just as little..
After reading this post, I did a Google search for Mr. Stover and came across a wonderful web site featuring his layout. You'd really be missing out if you don't visit his site, liked below.
http://www.buffalocreekandgauley.com/MODELRAILROAD/ModelRailroads.html
A very nice layout, faithfully modeling the BC&G which, but for a simple historic footnote, no one outside of the area would have ever heard of, PLUS he's doing it in an almost forgotten minority scale - you don't just walk into the LHS and buy BC&G locos and rolling stock, in any scale, let alone S.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Indeed his BC&G is one of my favorite layouts and I also like his MR article on operating his BC&G (2009?).
BRAKIE Yeah,Kinda like a infomercial or prelude for his book.This isn't the first infomerical or prelude article I've seen MR do for a adveriser or "expert" modeler that wrote a book...It won't be the last either. As many already knows the term "Expert" fails to impress me since "expert" is toss about like a Frisbee and means just as little..
Mr Stover's article, as a kick-off for Kalmbach's book written by Mr. Stover seems like good business sense to me and I can't imagine them not taking advantage of this type of successful idea in the future.
As far as the misuse of the word "Expert" is concerned, I think it is probably bestowed upon those who rightfully deserve it! Then again, people do tend to pay to much homage to people who are "Experts" in a hobby, something that I and I think most others are doing for fun.
Iwould like to know why that Soo Line F unit was not being by a alien gray ?
Dave
NP2626As far as the misuse of the word "Expert" is concerned, I think it is probably bestowed upon those who rightfully deserve it! Then again, people do tend to pay to much homage to people who are "Experts" in a hobby
I agree with your assessment.
Here's the rub that's been bugging me for years..
Who are the "experts" that bestows the title of 'expert" and how did these "experts" become "expert" enough to grant "expert" status on others?
Many ways to determine if some one is an expert.
Although not train related I always remembered this.
When I was in business and a product problem came up with one of our customers we would call for a factory rep to visit the customer. He would basically tell the customer the same thing we did but the customer was satisfied with the reps answer.
I asked him why this was and he said, because I'm from out of town and carrying a brief case.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
superbe Many ways to determine if some one is an expert. Although not train related I always remembered this. When I was in business and a product problem came up with one of our customers we would call for a factory rep to visit the customer. He would basically tell the customer the same thing we did but the customer was satisfied with the reps answer. I asked him why this was and he said, because I'm from out of town and carrying a brief case. Bob
Yes amazing how the label of "expert" can instill that kind of confidence. The term "professional" is another that has bugged me for years in my trade. Anyone "paid" for their services is a "professional", but this doesn't mean that you are any good at what you are being paid for. I have spent a good part of my "professional" life righting the mess of other so called "professionals"
First let's get over the idea that every issue is going to be of appeal to every model railroader around the world. Just doesn't work that way.
Second, there is no way that MR can produce a mag every month that totally captures my interest. If it di the entire issue would feature ATSF diesels, ATSF cars, ATSF track plans, ATSF structures, ATSF operation, which would make ATSF modelers like me happy but no one else. And I suspect I would get bored eventually if every issue is ATSF. I subscribe to the ATSF Modelers Warbonnet which takes care of my ATSF fix.
Get serious, how many railroads are there today? How many were there 20 years ago? I would bet you can find at least one person that models each and every road, plus freelancers. There is more to the hobby than just what is at the end of your/my nose. ATSF is my passion, in 1989-1990 makes it better. But I also model the Frisco and Rock Island lines that came into my major town(Enid Okla) and interchanged with ATSF, so I want to include that. And there were a lot of private owner grain car companies that sent grain to the elevators at Enid and surrounding locations, and not all were on the Santa Fe, so again, Frisco and Rock Island or BN and UP depending on your era.
Now try to publish a monthly magazine that caters to all those railroad modelers, plus scenery, trees, structures, etc. Every magazine struggles to provide the best all round content, and it won't always meet your interest, doesn' mine either, but I still subscribe. Magazine wise I get my real fix from Santa Fe modelers, but I still like MR for ideas outside the circle.
Be happy you have what you get now, could be no magazines coming in the future.
superbe Many ways to determine if some one is an expert.
The jest of my question is who appointed the "experts" that bestows the mantle of "expert" on others?
I worked 9 1/2 years as a brakeman and never thought myself as a "expert" or a professional switchman even though I knew my job well.
I think "expert" is a title that is used way to freely just in order to impress the masses..
rrinker Interesting how people form different parts of the country view things like puffball trees. In a couple of weeks, we should have some good fall color, and I cna take a ride up to the mountains, and until I actually get in the hills, ie, the whole while I am approaching the mountain, it loks EXACTLY like a bunch of multi-colored lichen spread across the hillside. There's not an individual trunk to be seen, just occasional breaks for pwoer lines, and stands of evergreens in amongst the deciduous trees. I fins the puffball style exactly replciates what I see with my own eyes in the Applachian around my area. Making hundres if not thousands of trees with individual trunks and branches borders on the impossible, and I don't see it yielding much better results once planted all together surrounded by others. Along the edges, and along any breaks in the forest cover - absolutely. Even driving right through the forest, you cna only see so far into it before the trunks all blur together. --Randy Exactly Randy, i model Pennsylvania in the fall, and puff balls work great. I mix my colors on each ball and add a small amount of green and a bit of fall rust to soften the look. Most of my puff balls are viewed from 4-6 feet away and as you say it looks like I'm in Pa in the fall. Great way to cover larger mountainous areas. I've found that the mixing of colors and adding rust was the key for me. I have seen pictures, like in the Nov. MR, where the balls look a little stark, but that is a subjective opinion, I am completely happy with my results.
Interesting how people form different parts of the country view things like puffball trees. In a couple of weeks, we should have some good fall color, and I cna take a ride up to the mountains, and until I actually get in the hills, ie, the whole while I am approaching the mountain, it loks EXACTLY like a bunch of multi-colored lichen spread across the hillside. There's not an individual trunk to be seen, just occasional breaks for pwoer lines, and stands of evergreens in amongst the deciduous trees. I fins the puffball style exactly replciates what I see with my own eyes in the Applachian around my area. Making hundres if not thousands of trees with individual trunks and branches borders on the impossible, and I don't see it yielding much better results once planted all together surrounded by others. Along the edges, and along any breaks in the forest cover - absolutely. Even driving right through the forest, you cna only see so far into it before the trunks all blur together.
Exactly Randy, i model Pennsylvania in the fall, and puff balls work great. I mix my colors on each ball and add a small amount of green and a bit of fall rust to soften the look. Most of my puff balls are viewed from 4-6 feet away and as you say it looks like I'm in Pa in the fall. Great way to cover larger mountainous areas. I've found that the mixing of colors and adding rust was the key for me. I have seen pictures, like in the Nov. MR, where the balls look a little stark, but that is a subjective opinion, I am completely happy with my results.
BRAKIEWho are the "experts" that bestows the title of 'expert" and how did these "experts" become "expert" enough to grant "expert" status on others?
When talented modelers such as Brooks Stover show their work, as in the November MR, we can all make our own judgement.
Then there are the people on Internet forums who proclaim themselves "expert" again and again, even going so far as to critique and criticize those who are actually willing to publish their modeling.
Yet these self-proclaimed forum "experts", despite hundreds (even thousands) of posts criticizing others' work as flawed, never show any of their own modeling.
Strange, no?
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
You are correct, I had some of that information wrong. However, I don't know how that necessarily must preclude a discussion on what constitutes an expert and how experts come into being.
There is a lot of venom in your response above what did I do to anger you so? Or, is it just the exultation that comes to those who can prove a very small point?
Oh, that's right, it's just your opinion. Well opinions are like..... What?
NP2626 You are correct, I had some of that information wrong. However, I don't know how that necessarily must preclude a discussion on what constitutes an expert and how experts come into being. There is a lot of venom in your response above what did I do to anger you so? Or, is it just the exultation that comes to those who can prove a very small point?
Absolutely no venom from my part, intended or otherwise. If you choose to imagine some, that's up to you. Nor was there any exultation. I mearly asked if your statement was correct. It was entirely possible that there was another ad which I missed since I often make errors.
However if I am not in error, then this is not a small point nor did you have "some" of the information wrong. If I'm incorrect, I try to gracefully acknowledge the correction. You can do as you choose.
cuyama BRAKIEWho are the "experts" that bestows the title of 'expert" and how did these "experts" become "expert" enough to grant "expert" status on others? When talented modelers such as Brooks Stover show their work, as in the November MR, we can all make our own judgement. Then there are the people on Internet forums who proclaim themselves "expert" again and again, even going so far as to critique and criticize those who are actually willing to publish their modeling. Yet these self-proclaimed forum "experts", despite hundreds (even thousands) of posts criticizing others' work as flawed, never show any of their own modeling. Strange, no?
That's why I take a lot of salt when these self appointed 'experts" makes a reply and to be honest that's why I seldom post pictures of my left hand modeling.
As for me I just don't like green cotton balls with green ground foam sprinkled on no more then I liked the "lollipop" trees of the 50/60s made from lichen..BTW..I didn't like the puffy ball trees when they first made their appearance in the '80s.
Surely in 2012 there is a better way to make a forest?
The area that I model only has a few trees around...being mostly prairie.....
But I wonder...
...if one notices in photo below....there are some emergents in amongst the trees here...anyone model these in their layout forest scenes?
For those not conversant in forestese...emergents are the really tall trees that stick out above the main tree canopy...
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
maxman NP2626 You are correct, I had some of that information wrong. However, I don't know how that necessarily must preclude a discussion on what constitutes an expert and how experts come into being. There is a lot of venom in your response above what did I do to anger you so? Or, is it just the exultation that comes to those who can prove a very small point? Absolutely no venom from my part, intended or otherwise. If you choose to imagine some, that's up to you. Nor was there any exultation. I mearly asked if your statement was correct. It was entirely possible that there was another ad which I missed since I often make errors. However if I am not in error, then this is not a small point nor did you have "some" of the information wrong. If I'm incorrect, I try to gracefully acknowledge the correction. You can do as you choose.
I'm not stupid, nor do I have mental health issues! I know what I see and am much more perseptive than the average person!
I was quick to acknowldge that I was wrong, what was the first thing I said in my original response to you?
Mr Stover did write an article on making trees, it was what triggered this discussion. Whether he is an expert, I don't care! He doesn't use the word to describe himself, nor has anyone else, excepting I loosly used the word in my incorrect assumption that he had authored what I thought was a book on the subject.
All of this is moot to this point. My opinion, from the beginning, has been :I don't understand the critisim he has received for the article he wrote on making trees for his layout! Yes, you certainly have the right to use what he said; or, disregard. However, I find it offensive to the maximum to discredit and critisize others for their hard work and effort! Like I said before it takes nothing and no effort to be a critic and if your not going to prove that you are the expert on the subject, than you should SHUT UP!
NP2626 Like I said before it takes nothing and no effort to be a critic and if your not going to prove that you are the expert on the subject, than you should SHUT UP!
That will never happen on a forum because a forum is a place for discussions pro or con on a given topic and I will mention one should put on his/her thick skin during these discussions.I learn that lesson fast after joining this and other forums.
You should have been around in the old days during the DCC vs. DC topics or ready to run versus kits heated debates.Then there was the very heated discussion over John Allen's G&D.
Thankfully the moderators cleaned up Dodge City and discussions is more civilized now.
I've been around here a lot longer than it would appear. Probably from around 99 to 2005 with another name.
Simply put, I don't have thick skin. Don't want it and will not allow that as an excuse to be critical of others hard work and effort! Like I told you, I feel we all have a responsibility to be respectful of others and if Forums are supposed to be a place where common courteousness is put on the siding so we can all sling hash at each other, then Forums are stupid and a stupendous waste of time!