I have a quandry, looking at others layouts I am debating to add human figures to mine, sometimes they seem to add to the scene, others they sort of look out of place as they remain motionless as trains roar by, does anyone have comments on this earth-shaking question ? ? I would assume by getting some figures and properly adding them to a scene may convince me, would like to hear others take on layout figures.
I wonder about the same issue… first off all the pre-apinted figures appear too “bright colored” and “shiney” to look realistic. I wi***here was a good link on how to make the LPP’s look more true-to-life. I will certainly add the figures to my layout as I proceed, as the scenes do not look real without them… I would just like to see better results that what I am getting at present.
Bob
It depends on a lot of things. Obviously, you can’t have moving walking talking figures and animals, but without people, you have a ghost town. The trick is to have them doing something, interacting, not just standing there like a mannequin.
There are other obvious detractions like poor paint, large plastic bases, etc, But all in all, I think you need them.
True. I can’t stand factory paint. And now unpainted are harder and harder to come by. There are two theories (that I know of) of how to pull off effective paint. The first is to start by painting the entire figure black. Then as you add paint, the creases in the clothes, eyes, etc. remain darkler giving a shadowed effect. I have been using that one.
Ther is a website for this link, but I din’t know it off hand.
The second is to paint the figure in the skin tone you want, and build up colors from there starting with the darks and adding highlights. That one is in Kalmbach’s ABC’s of Model Railroading I am painting some figures tonight, I plan to try it.
Cletus Waldman’s (cwaldman to us on the forums) layout is the best use of figures that I’ve seen:
http://homepage.mac.com/cgwaldman/Personal5.html
He uses mostly Preiser figures, and hand-paint’s them. His folks just knock the socks off of anyone else’s, although to me Bob Grech gets the silver medal.
I really think figures are important, and they fill out a layout. One thing to avoid is the “overlay active” figures that are about to slam home a tennis serve or have just connected for that “long strike” just outside the left field foul pole. Instead, I look for interesting people sitting on benches or lounging on the stairs. Some of them will look better with a light India Ink wash, both to tone down the “x-treme” colors and to highlight the details.
I belong to a club with a large HO layout. When we have open houses, certain figures always draw attention. Also, animals attract attention as well. The occasional dog or cat in a scene, farm animals or a black bear walking through the woods are always favorites of people visiting with their kids.
I think Ian Rice mentioned this when building Roque Bluffs in MR a while back, he mentioned he prefered figures standing, sitting, basically not doing that looks like he’s frozen in time. Workers leaning on broom or handtruck, look like they’re taking a break. You get the impression they will be doing something soon. People window shopping, a person standing in a warehouse door, a guy leaning over the open hood of a car, you get the idea, they are there, but don’t look obvious as a person running down the street, but getting nowhere. Having people in motion for a photo op is something else, as photos freeze time,like someone running in for a touchdown on a SI cover.
Definaely give them an alcohol/india ink wa***o kill the shine.
I hand-paint the majority of my figures for two reasons. First, unpainted figures are a lot less expensive. Second, I can paint them in colors I see everyday; lots of blue jeans, dark suits and generally more muted colors than the typical pre-painted figures.
I start with a fle***one and then add the layers of clothing in the order in which they would be put on in real life. I always use flat paints and always finish with Testors’ Dull Cote. The India ink wash does work well in accentuating shadows and creases. I tired the black base method, but like mine better. Your results may vary.
Preiser offers quite a number of unpainted figure sets but for some reason most LHS don’t stock them to any degree. It’s well worth the special order to get them.
How you use figures is up to you. Just remember, most people who see your layout won’t see the individual figures long enough to be bothered by a static pose. We have figures on our layout that are running, riding horseback and doing all sorts of things. If that bothers you, then select figures that are standing or sitting. Even on a street scene, people can be talking, window shopping, etc. The big thing is to imply action of some sort. Have fun creating scenes with a few figures; that’s one of my favorite parts of the hobby because each scene tells a story that adds life to your model railroad.
Messy vs. Neat
People visiting in unkempt “Messy Family” front yard, plump girl sitting on “outdoor” sofa retired from inside; meanwhile Mrs. Neatnik glares at the Messy Family dog taking its pleasure and doing its business in her showcase front yard.
Johnston High School, home of the Lumberjacks
No little boy and girl figures, because I model vacation time and weekend on my railroad. School is out!
I think human figures add a lot to a layout. I’m currently painting my latest batch of 1950’s plasticville people. I paint them to look like family and friends, and the real people that are modeled get a kick out of seeing their figure on the layout. I personalize by matching hair color, facial hair to make it look close to real. I have a figure for each of the grandkids and when the kids come to play, they interact with “their” figure. One friend who needs to use the bathroom a lot, I painted and put in an outhouse. [:D]
Jim
Even here in wonderful West Barbecue (today is a relatively cool 105 degrees) there are lots of folks out and about. Right across the street, three members of the local low-rider club are standing around a poor, innocent pickup, discussing how they intend to distort it all out of recognizability. Lots of hand movement, no leg motion.
Mrs ??? is looking at her neighbor’s new baby (Ooh! He looks just like you!) Mr guynexdoor is spraying the flower bed - or would be if someone would turn on the hose. In the street, just off his driveway, his daughter is leaning on the driver’s door of a red convertible, talking to the young lady at the wheel and the three fellows with her.
That’s just on a residential street just short of the boondocks. On the Strip, wall-to-wall pedestrians and curb-to-curb vehicles.
Ghost towns don’t generate much traffic for prototype railroads. Model ghost towns wouldn’t seem to warrant rail service. Figures and vehicles make the difference.
Chuck (who is trying to figure out how to vary the body count on passenger platforms)