I know mirrors in a den or living room make the room look bigger…would this work for a train layout?
Mirrors can be useful in ‘expanding’ a model railroad, as long as you can avoid reflecting those grossly oversize humongugiants roaming the operating aisles…
One use is to ‘extend’ yards. The mirror is frequently located under some kind of overpass, sited to minimize the arc of visibility, and makes the tracks look longer. John Allen used one, with a ‘burned’ building (Teaby Fire Extinguisher Co, IIRC) against it and a haze of smoke on the mirror proper.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Willy, mirrors have been used in the hobby to extend/expand modeled scenes convincingly for decades. However, considerable care must be used when employing them.
Generally speaking, mirrors usually need to be set at close to right angles to the viewer, else his reflection is likely to be visible. The potential reflection of any passing train can also be a problem. Then, too, excessively large mirrors should be avoided as it is both difficult to hide their edges and they tend to end up reflecting things you really didn’t anticipate would appear in the reflection. Remain aware that you have to be careful about any signs on the layout’s buildings, billboads, etc., as they will appear reversed in the mirror’s image and look particularly odd and very apparent. Thus, pains must be taken to avoid that happening.
Finally, if you want the transition from the layout to its reflected image to appear natural, common mirrors simply won’t fill the bill because their reflection comes from the coating on their back surface, resulting in at least a 1/8-inch apparent gap (often more) all around the edges where the layout meets the mirror. It’s a dead give away and never looks very acceptable. Regardless of whatever might get posted here about using regular mirrors, only what is called a first surface mirror works properly and convincingly in this situation. Unfortunately, most examples are quite expensives and their surfaces easily damaged, so considerable care must be used in conjunction with them.
CNJ831.
Yes, but only small ones, and they must be positioned so that viewers cant see themselves.
If the layout room has a dark wall it could be that a large mirror would increase the feeling of spaciousness in the layout room itself. More psychological than anything else.
Another potential use of mirrors would be the inner surface of valences to amplify the lighting. Not unlike how candle holders were in front of mirrors in colonial times.
It might also be that a mirror could direct light to a portion of a layout where it is impractical to have a light fixture.
Dave Nelson
Here is an example of the use of a small mirror. The tree branches hide the edges of a small mirror used to extend the mainline into the wall. You see 4 flat cars, rather than only the two real ones.
Here you can see the camera in the mirror to reveal the illusion.
John Allen used lots of small and large mirror tricks on his famous layout. Perhaps someone can find some examples and post them?
Thanks,
Marty
One, where di you get the G&D coach in the second pic?
Many eons ago (like 20+ years) one of the magazines had an article on using a mirror to lengthen the track in a mine. There was a small section of mining track (18"?) that went into the mine and then a few inches back curved to one side. Where it curved … and reflected only mine walls and cave … a mirror was placed. I built it and it worked perfectly. Was pretty cool.