I’m sure most of you have noticed that many layouts share blue skies and white clouds in common. Seldom will you see many variations on this theme. Well, I seem to recall some pretty inclement weather occuring over the years, not to mention “city haze” during the coal burning days which could turn a glorious sunlit day into an aura of drab, gray, dismal industrial overcast. You guesed it; I “went for it.” A rather ominous looking gray sky with heavy grayish white storm clouds gathered promises eminent snow or rain in abundance.
Train stations by the mid-forties were located in areas of town that had seen better days. Frankly, most larger city depots were smack in the slums. Old red brick (turn of the century) structures (3 to 5 stories) with their ornate concrete facades were the rule. These buildings by the 1950’s were either in a sad state of repair or abandoned entirely. Yet, there was a mystic patina of dereliction that, even now, holds our interest in a curious way.
I won’t take-up any more space, more than suggesting that modelers consider an “atmosphere” less toward the travelogue brochures and more toward the Steinbeck sort of earthiness seen more often than not. By the way, structures in a city scape seem to take on a whole new dimension when cloaked in subdued phases of light. I didn’t believe it, until I saw it. Happy rails.
A few months back Model Railroader Magazine did several articles on back drops and they described techniques to create “atmosphere” . Tony Koester also wrote a very good aritcle on the subject complete with tips on how to paint atmosphere.
My LHS has a really good backdrop with a great thunderstorm. It was put on the backdrop to disguise an area of shadow cast by an aircon vent. Looks really effective.
timthechef, now you know the awful truth. I’m not a curent MR subscriber. But, I guess 15 years of subscriptions, 20 years ago will entitle me to a New Topic now and then. Happy rails pal.
I am very big on atmosphere in layout design–I’m a fan of heavy weathering and signs of decay, and try to reflect those choices in my layout’s construction. My layout has a very particular atmosphere–the incinerator-like heat of the Sacramento Valley in deep summer, during the postwar era when downtown was slowly transitioning from the center of town to the abandoned “bad area” being vacated in favor of the suburbs, before the era of urban renewal. My backdrop will be solid blue, as the Sacramento summer is normally utterly free of clouds, with 100+ degree days supplied by my bank of 20 watt halogens, backed up by fluorescents, and a rope light in the back to limit shadows and warm up the halogens’ glow a bit more.
Like many, my layout is always sunny. I’d like to someday integrate times of day into a layout, but until then I have doctored these shots with some “atmosphere”.
MAbruce- that is amazing ! I love it ! I will do no blue sky with white clouds when I get to that project. Thanks for the visualization, as I scrolled from the top, I was hoping to see something
Ted i think you hit the nail on the head.Some greys need to sneak into most backdrops. It’s too bad that you can’t sneak a digital backdrop in permanently to mimic times of year storms etc. Other than in the still pictures Bruce posted. Hmmm maybe one of our members here is a software designer what do you think gentlemen. Rob
Hey, with all those lamps, you’re going to be simulating the heat of summer as well, too! (I’m well-familiar with it, having spent nine years in Davis and the East Bay).
But what about the possibility of smoke from burning off the rice fields?! [:D] I remember some pretty-grey clouds in early September from that.
bpickering: Actually they don’t throw off too much heat–the halogens are pretty small, and I only have one every three feet–the fluorescents don’t kick off much heat, neither does the rope light. I’ll have no problem simulating summer heat–my layout is located in a non-insulated garage.
I remember the burning of the rice fields, although I don’t think they do it anymore. I suppose it would be appropriate, but I figure a bright blue summer sky is best for the look I’m going for.
I have plans to do a mini layout based on a Humboldt County logging railroad–that will feature an overcast gray sky. Clear skies on the Northcoast are as rare as rain in Sacramento in deep summer…
Ah, for me it would be a likely choice, since it brings back memory of driving up I5 towards Mt. Shasta to spend a weekend, just having taken my written exams, and not caring too much if I passed or not (I did). Only bad part was that my passenger didn’t like the smoke, so we had to close the sunroof. [:(]
Humm, maybe a string of large LCD or plasma panels as backdrops? The scenes, weather, and time of day could be changed. Expensive now, but maybe down the road a viable solution?
Yes Mabruce, at the rate of “tech.” these days, such an innovation is quite possible. I dare say, it might very well be upon us now for all I know. The added dimension of bringing backdrops to life along with the modeler’s choice of “surround sound” special effects excerpts would be a big “plus,” would it not? I have a particular “cut” of various railroad sounds beginning with: departure- -road “clutter” at speed- -arrival at destination; all correographed (sp.?) with the train action on the layout. It didn’t take long to “put it together” (sound-on-sound) however, taping “live’” from my train travels was another matter. Visitors seem to like the effect and though it may “smack” of Hollywood…what the heck! Happy rails, Ted
Instead of high tech, how about low tech. The backdrop is a long scroll (maybe made of .020 styrene) with different or gradually changing scenes, such as day to night or storm to clear skies. The scroll glides thru top and bottom guides which run around the layout. Just wind the scroll forward and back to change scenes. Old Hollywood tricks worked for a reason. It could also be several loops that change together.
Super idea and within most budgets. Sometimes the most obvious and practical solutions are the most elusive. Not too sure how the scrolls needed could be made “seamless.” Any thoughts or suggestions? Good show mrunion!
