I’m always amazed when I see the pros model an ant hill in Z gauge, but nothing I’ve tried looks realistic enough. Any ideas?
Could it be you are living in a different time continuoum than the rest of us mortals? On my caledar, it says today is December 30th, not April 1st.
Well let’s get our vocabularly correct first of all, sir - it’s z scale.
The problem with modeling an ant hill in Z scale is the same as modeling an ant hill in any small scale: it is very difficult to correctly capture the facial expression of the ants. Too many modelers have their ants grinning broadly. Those of us who are actual prototype modelers understand that ants tend to have a much more neutral facial expression, a very flat affect. Only the very youngest ants tend to smile.
What you need to do is more research. I suggest going to an ant hill with a very powerful magnifying glass. Details will be seen better on a hot sunny day. Focus that magnifying glass on a particular ant and try to see and capture as many attributes of its facial expression as you can, before it explodes that is. Prototype research has its costs …
In parts of Africa, ant hills grow to heights of 6 or more feet. Some Z scalers model African trains just for this enhanced ability to model the ant hills.
Good luck.
Dave Nelson
I was just going to say that. [(-D] You took the words right outa my keyboard.
But please, OP, share with us the photos of “pro modelers” ant hills. I’d love to see what they have done.
I can always use some inspiration.
Mike.
If you are modeling FL be sure to also include ant lion cones. Folks from the southern coastal areas will understand exactly what that is…
I am currently sitting in my wife’s office, she is a Veterinary Surgeon, on the desk is a book on microsurgery. One of the chapters in it is devoted to doing circumcisions on Z scale ants. In the photo below you can see the procedure being performed. The surgeon knew it would be a challenging chop by the fact the ant had very small hands.
Just when you’ve thought you’ve heard everything, some one wants to model an ant hill in z scale. I’m pretty sure that isn’t on my bucket list.
Thanks all for the thougthful replies and encouragement. In creating realistic Z-sacle ant hills, I now realize that the only thing holding me back has been my own fear of success. I can now head into 2020 with confidence and renewed purpose.
Well your question has certainly generated some very helpful suggestions, but it seems to me that you’re trying to make a molehill out of a mountain, so-to-speak.
I included a couple of anthills on my layout…
…but also had trouble getting them to-scale.
However, when word got out, ants began to invade my layout room, and very few of them seemed to be smiling. In the end, I resorted to chemicals…
…to control them and eventually wiped them out, as the derailments they were causing severely taxed my repair skills.
Wayne
I share the OP’s frustrations, and I abhor the ridicule showered down on him by insensitive forum members who settle for RTR ant hills on their layouts.
My problem is accentuated by the tiny scale on my layout. I model in ZZZ scale (pronounced Trip Uhl Zee), and my biggest problem is dusting off the ants to keep them clean.
As you can see from the photos, I have devoted an entire peninsula to a series of ant hills with a 4-track mainline running around the peripherary of the peninsula. For some, it may all be hard to see, given the tiny scale. So, I have included a close up photo where the ant hills are clearly visible.
Rich
Take a single tuft of Woodland Scenics “Earth” colored coarse ground foam. Use a brand new #11 Xacto blade to carve it to the correct cone shape, and place it on your layout with a tiny dab of white glue.
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Prototypical placement of ant piles should be right next to the driver’s door of any parked car.
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-Kevin
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Rich! That is incredible! The way you have captured the exact likeness, I thought they were real! I started slapping my ankles and legs just looking at this. [:O]
You should submit an article to MRR.
Mike.
Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your kind words. I have to confess that it was not easy to capture the look and feel of a prototypical ant hill, but I believe that the final result of my efforts is obvious and hopefully will be an inspiration to others. It can be done, even in ZZZ scale.
As far as an article in MR mag is concerned, I have already submitted an article, but it was rejected out of hand for a most curious reason. The editor was convinced that it was simply a photo of the prototype and not a modeled ant hill. I tried to assure him otherwise, but he wasn’t having any of it. I knew that my work was realistic, but I never thought that I would be accused of submitting photos of the real thing.
Rich
Tell me more about this Treble Z scale. This is a new one to me, but the possibilities sound amazing. I don’t have room to model a whole lot in the huge scales like HO, but with ZZZ I might be able to model nearly the entire Reading system in the same space.
Another great possibility is an Inception-style model, that is, an HO model of my house, with the full layout modeled inside of it. Or more fitting to my modeled era, I could include of model of my parents’ house with the layout they used to have. Instead of just a flat drawing visible through the windows, an actual working and moving train would be awesome.
–Randy
Not much to tell Randy. It is ideal for small spaces or to pack a whole heck of a lot in a larger space. Here is a scale comparison.
Rich
I read that ZZZ-scale live steam is quite challenging…
Micro-Trains has a four runner set of Treble Z hoppers due out in Fall 2020. But, you have to pre-order before Dec 15, 2019. Hurry before it’s too late!
Robert
I would never doubt your diligence and skill in having replicated a scale ant hill, Rich. But what sort of ant made the prototype hill that you’ve modelled?
[:)]
I think all of you guys have started the New Years Eve partying a little early!!!
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Dave