the MRH Forum

ALPINE RAILROAD IN NJ-LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS Journals/Blogs
Reply
Active Member 31 posts antnya Active Member 31 posts
antnya

I am asking the MHR community for some help in solving a problem I created with my choice of layout scenery. My layout was originally conceptualized 25 yrs ago as a much smaller layout with no intention of adding a backdrop or anything like that. I started this current version with the old idea then expanded it because I had the room to do so. Although I do plan on adding a backdrop at some point, I didn't take this into consideration when I stuck with the basics of how I originally thought the scenery would look. 

Now that I have so much of the layout in place I am reluctant to do a major tear up and re-do of a good portion of it so I am looking to see what I could add or modify that would solve my problem. The two photos below show gaps in the mountains. The one on the left is where a small river will run under the bridges and the photo on the right shows a viaduct which will have a small stream running under it though most of it will be a dry creek bed (I may have a road run through there as well).

IMG_1218.jpg IMG_1219.jpg 

I am thinking of having a photo backdrop of Alpine mountains running on three sides of the layout though I may end up painting my own. I probably will have the backdrop hung fro the wall in back to help with depth perception between the mountains and the backdrop. It would also keep an aisle around the back and sides so I can still access the many tracks inside the mountains.

My problem is how to blend these two gaps with the background so they flow naturally. I am considering adding some small removable "mountain" pieces to close the gaps and make it look like the river and stream curve off either left or right beyond the edge of the layout. I have experimented with mirrors a little though having those bridges and viaducts makes it a challenge since I don't want them showing up in any reflections.

If I paint my own backdrop I could always paint a continuation of what is on the layout but I fear that my painting skills won't be up to snuff and I won't be totally satisfied.

I'm sure I'm not the only person to run into this dilemma and I appreciate any suggestions (and constructive criticisms) from the fine folks in this community of modelers.

Anthony
Reply 0
Oztrainz Moderator 3,456 posts
Oztrainz

Alpine Tarn/Hanging Valley

Hi Anthony,

for your river - 

Alpine areas had a lot of glaciation. Look for a "Tarn" (lake at the end of a glacier/snowline This was a lake in a depression at the end of a glacier. These could act as a feeder to your river. 

Sometimes these would enter the main valley (where the big glacier went past) at a higher level (hanging valley) and the outflow of the lake would appear as a waterfall. 

Like at  https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0b/dd/5f/4c/hanging-valley-waterfall.jpg or  https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylrtuRp0pJ4/VwNgzABRMxI/AAAAAAAACak/CKbZog5spvISvV6DygkspwYZkf3KE0b-A/s1600/yosemite_valley_text.jpg 

What this does, is that if you put a photo of a hanging valley on your backscene across your main valley, it allows you to drastically shorten the depth of what is being presented on the backscene. It also allows you to infer that the main valley continues around a bend and into the backscene.

There are a lot of suitable photos out there on the web that should allow you to successfully add the illusion of depth into your Alps. There are also a range of backscene vendors on MRH who may have something suitable already.  Good Luck  

Regards,

John Garaty

Unanderra in oz

Read my Blog
Reply 0
antnya Active Member 31 posts
antnya

Alpine Hanging Valley

Thanks for the tips John! I like te idea of the hanging valley. One of the valleys on my layout will have a small stream running through it, mainly to power the water wheel for the lumber mill I built. I realized I hadn't added a logical place for the water to come from so I added a culvert high up in the adjacent mountain to look like the water is perhaps glacial or melting snow runoff that the "people" had to divert away from a populated area. Having the culvert there allows you to see it and not really think about where it originates.

Perhaps I can somehow incorporate a piece of a hanging valley just beyond the other viaduct and with a strategically placed backdrop the combo will accomplish exactly what you suggested.

Anthony

 
Reply 0
Reply