Realistic models layouts

We all seen enough images in their various formats to have an opinion…There is Alan McClelland’s, MR shows us each month and in the annuals (GMR’s), and there are many sites on the web.

Curiously, and I am not sure why, no one ever talks about the job they do on the T.V show Tomas the Tank …I watch as a parent of young enthusiasts and can not get over the realism

What are some of your fav’s? URL’s would help…

I’m not sure I’ve seen more than a couple of seconds of it. I just assumed it was computer animation.

You asking for what model layouts you think look the most realistic to you?

I’m a big fan of Charlie Comstock’s work on his Bear Creek & South Jackson Railroad. His scenery is outstanding, as you can see:

Here’s the link to his site:
http://www.bcsj.org/rr/bcsj/bearcreek/index.html

Charlie’s won grand prize and honorable mention in the MR photo contest, and on top of that he’s local to me and a good friend … how lucky can a guy get?
[:D]

There was an item in MR several years ago on the makings of the Thomas the Tank Engine TV series. If I remember correctly, the models are in a large scale, don’t recall if it was a standard gauge or something they just made up. They were big either way. The eyes on the engines were moved by radio control, and they had a series of different faces they could put on the front of the locos for different expressions.

Bob Boudreau

Yup, Bob, that’s pretty much what I recall from the MR article as well. However, I seem to think there was mention that models of differing sizes were used depending on the particular shot. Certainly some of the close-ups employed Large Scale or even bigger models (those with the animated eyes, especially) but some of the sweeping country scenes I believe were done in OO. Whatever scale(s) are used in creating the show, the scenery work is top notch…except perhaps for the ballast, which looks a lot like kitty litter to me!

CNJ831