Outstanding

Great Photo Backdrop

In general, I'm not a big fan of photo backdrops because I think they sometimes distract -- focusing the viewer's attention there instead of on the trains and modeled scenes.  BUT, for a very narrow scene like yours, a photo backdrop can really add needed depth to the scene, and yours is extremely well done.  I look forward to seeing more of your layout.

Sandy

http://www.sandysacerr.com

Looks terrific

Very, very well done James.  That really looks great.  And not to be contentious with Art, but I applaud your faithfulness to the prototype.  Less is more.

So what project is next up for you?

Awesome

The chain link fence looks like wire soldered together, with some bridal veil netting.  If so that's pretty simple to make but quite effective. 

What did you use for the shrubs along the parking area?

Can the bar be set any higher?

I am speachless; other than my subject line! 

Great looking scene

Great looking scene, James. The little details such as the yellow bollards and the street lights on the poles really add to the realism of the overall scene. Nice work!

Tom Patterson 

Answers

Thank you all for the kind comments. Let me answer your questions...

@arthurhouston: Reames Foods has not now nor ever had rail service. If I were to add a track I would no longer be modeling the Grimes Line, but instead a poor interpretation of a railroad. Adding tracks just to add tracks is a recipe for disaster.

@seustis13: This is my first time using photo backdrops and I'm more than pleased with the results. There's no way a scene like this one would have worked without them. I disagree with your comment about photo backdrops distracting the viewer from the train. That hasn't been my experience. The human eye is drawn to movement, so it will naturally follow the train. Give it a try, I think you'll find the same results.

@IAISfan: A long overdue and much needed upgrade of my car fleet. Too many boxcars to restencil!

@wp8thsub: The fence is steel wire (piano wire) soldered together using copious amounts of flux. But it's actually fiberglass window screen material for the netting. I've found it to work better than tulle since it's stiffer. To attach it to the wire frame I used spray adhesive to prevent gumming up the fence. The shrubs are from JTT Scenery. They are a vivid green out of the box but a little dusting helps tone them down. I like the color since the actual ones on the line are darker and more uniform, which makes sense since they are manicured and landscaped additions.

James

Hello Pele and Lance

Amazing model railroad, minimal, but yet massive, compressed but reality. LDE DEFINED!

Rolling stock upgrades

I bet that'll go fast James.  How many cars are you doing?

Color match right on

The matching of the colors in the pic matches the scenery in the foreground dead on, I think thats what makes your scenes look so good.

Simple details and a job well done.

Simple yet Stunning!

Really nice looking scenes James. Everything just top notch. Tell me about your line poles. Scratch built?

Next Projects

Should be about 10, if I did my math right. They all need new wheels, couplers and other details along with restencling and weathering. Not my favorite thing to do.

The poles are thin bamboo skewers roughed up and stained with Burnt Sienna. Cross arms are Rix Products with transformers from Atlas. The lights are from JTT Scenic Products.

James

Billboard Update

Well.. maybe one more.

Replaced the billboard from Iowa State University to Blank Park Zoo. While the ISU billboard worked, both personally and as an era-appropriate one, it just didn't scream Des Moines. Blank Park Zoo definitely does.

James

Wonderful detail!

Great job and the backdrop really helps give it a sense of depth and place!  The billboard change makes sense too, but it was nice seeing the ISU one!   Go Cyclones!

Jim