Every Spring, I look at my layout and target some project. This year, among other things, I’m aiming at increasing the population. To date, I have a mix of brands (Preiser-Model-Arista-Woodland etc.) mainly because when I see something I like, I buy it. The mix, however, on close inspection, “ain’t doing it” if you know what I mean.
I’d be interested in knowing your preferences and suggestions (keeping in mind that I haven’t, as yet, hit the Lottery) As always, many thanks.
I don’t think that mixing brands on a layout is bad - but for the best impact, it is like running traditional 6464-size boxcars on a train with scale-size cars. It just requires some staging of the scenes. Putting Arttista figures next to Marx/K-Line figures, next to Preiser figures, next to Homies, next to Warhammer 40,000 figures; next to Model Power figures can be jarring. In part because the scales and level of details vary, but also the painting styles (manufactured or “u-paint-it”) and realistic versus hokey shapes do as well.
I thing figures are like trees, it takes a bucket load of them to make things look real - and it costs a bit of money. You might want to consider segregating certain brands to specific areas - maybe the less realistic Marx figures to “the woods” or far backgrounds, Arttista-type closer to the front or making up the townspeople in key scenes, and so on.
BK stole my thunder. Yep, forced perspective even works with the population on a layout. Big figures in foreground, lilliputians in the back. I hate that LEMAX makes their townsfolk so big, but for the price and some of the scenes, I can’t resist.
WOODLAND SCENICS prices (on something so mass produced) are ridiculous…R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S. [:(!] And I 've got a few.
I do a lot of parade scenes, so I have sets from Britains, Frontline Figures, ERTL. Sometimes these manufacturers put out figures that can be used other than military scenes. Check out www.hobbybunker.com
…and don’t forget to check them scatter boxes underneath the tables at trainshows.
Everybody has different tastes, and no single viewpoint is right or wrong, but in my own opinion, I’m getting to the point where I get the idea that “less is more” and quality wins out over quantity.
There are so many interesting figures to be had, and I think part of what creates impact is being able to focus on small individual scenes and groupings. One or two or three figures in a scene gets you to focus on those people. Having too many makes it so you don’t know where to look and you miss out on the impact of the scene.
Plus the vast difference in style among manufacturers. I have a bunch of model power people, but the arttista and presier figures just look so much better to me. If you mix them, the difference becomes more obvious.
For these reasons, I’m narrowing down the number of people I use and sticking to the ones that are most realistic, these being Presier and Arttista.
I have mostly plasticville people, 5 from artista, and 20 or so from AF originals I think they are authicast by Erie or something like that. At last count I have about 223 people and 93 animals. Mixing looks OK to me, but I don’t care for the slouchy homy look of some figures. The metal figures from the 50’s are gaining in my fondness, but it is hard to beat plasticville for an increase in population.
Jim
I totally agree with frank53 … as soon as I sold all my HO and went O scale … realism took over . Engines … buildings/scratch built now … and especially people . My favorite is my conductor with a lit lantern in his hand I picked up about a year ago … if the people and buildings look extremely toyish … then well go figger . Less more realistic is my way . unless you’re downtown New York … no area has hundreds of people out and about … money better spent on other highly detailed items .
Thanks guys for your quick replies AND pictures. Good points to ponder.
And if you’re just looking for a bunch of figures to put in your background scenes, there’s a guy on the bay from Hong Kong who sells 50 people for like $5.00. Garishly painted, but you can’t beat the price, even if you need to re-paint some of them.
dadurling: Thanks for your “lead”.
Like Bob said a lot of people like a lot of trees adds a lot to a layout. As I said I’ve got over 200 folks on the layout and they are arrangedin different settings, here are a few examples:
Jim
Love this photo:
Is the flamingo striking too?
I’m just getting down to the detail work in this area:
I’ve got five people and one dog working here. Maybe a few more to come, but not too many more.
Frank just an idea but if you have a guy with one or both arms in the air have him on the right truck or in front of it like hes guiding the crane down to pick up the left truck.
Looks great all.
Good idea - the guy on the far right might work:
Frank - The level of craftsmanship on your layout is outstanding! [bow] Very detail orientated. I look at your shots and you can spend quite some time seeing the hidden or subtle details.[tup]
Oh, the flamingo is for a friend of mine.[swg]
Jim
Thank you Jim.