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How does one hide 90 degree turns when attempting to model a line that has no curves! Dream and design
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Prolific poster 2,863 posts kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,863 posts
kleaverjr

OK, first "modeling" issue I need to tackle for the "Erie Avenue Project Layout" is how do I disguise the 90 degree turns that will be required to fit this approximately 1.5 mile long STRAIGHT part of the Conrail Branchline that I would like to model.  There are no tall buildings to hide behind, and because the right of way is right next to the road there are no trees in between the road (Eire Avenue) and the track right of way.  The ballast of the railroad roadbed, and the shoulder of the road almost touch each other! 

It bothers me that there has to be these turns, but I don't want a crew lounge that is 120 feet long.  I'm still not sure if I want the crew lounge 25x40.  I might have cut small sections of the line out where there are no industries, but I also wanted to model the other side of Erie Avenue, and I distinctly remember certain iconic businesses on that street (Like Pizza Junction, when it was in business, the BEST Pizza on the planet!), so i'm it will be hard to decide what not to model. 

So any ideas that might obscure the fact the track is turning would be helpful.  Keeping in mind this project RR is being done in S Scale. 

Thanks.

Ken L

PS If anyone has a quick tutorial on how to go to say Google Earth to take a snapshot of the road I want to model as it looks today, to give an idea of what it looks like, even though most of the industries that were once served on that line are now gone. I would appreciate it as well thanks KDL
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,956 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Print Screen button

Dear Ken, Re Google streetview pics, I'd reccomend locating the "prnt scn" (print Screen) button on most 101/104 key PC keyboards, and have MSPaint open on the Taskbar in parallel as you "wander along the road" - Find a view you want - Make sure the Chrome browser is at max screen size (fills as much of the screen as possible) - Press+Hold the ALT key, and Press the "Prnt Scn" button (ALT = capture only the window in-focus, ie the Chrome window) - Bring MSPAINT to the front - File> New pic (makes a fresh file for the screenshot capture to land in) - File> Paste (Screenshot should appear in Paint) - File> Save As to save the image Rinse and repeat... Happy modelling, Aim to Improve, Prof Klyzlr
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Cadmaster Frequent poster 867 posts
Cadmaster

I prefer to use the snipping

I prefer to use the snipping program that is loaded into computers today. much easier than print screen. 

Neil.

Diamond River Valley Railway Company

http://www.dixierail.com
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Patrick Stanley Frequent poster 593 posts
Patrick Stanley

Unless you want to changes scales to Zn3

There is  not much else to do but make the 90 degree turn. In the long run you won't care or at least notice it as the modeling experience is more important than the curve.

Espee over Donner
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AzBaja Prolific poster 2,049 posts
AzBaja

The problems of having a huge

The problems of having a huge space.  Have you though about building a small inglenook instead?   

I have you thought about building on slight convex curve.  It will give you the optical effect of distance and standing directly in front of it the curve will be so slight it might not be noticed.  You are working with 120'

AzBaja
---------------------------------------------------------------
I enjoy the smell of melting plastic in the morning.  The Fake Model Railroader, subpar at best.
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anteaum2666 MRH Author 2,827 posts
anteaum2666

Scenic dead areas

One idea,  just go ahead and put the 90 degree turns in but make them scenic "dead" areas.  Quiet zones between areas of scenic details actually make a layout look larger and easier to view.  Pick the items you plan to model in detail (Layout Design Elements, or LDEs) and put them along the straight sections.  At the curves, just have the track and street and grass or whatever.  No detail.  That will draw your viewers into the scenic sections and they'll pretty much ignore the curves.

Michael - Superintendent and Chief Engineer
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Rick Sutton Prolific poster 4,359 posts
Rick Sutton

Boy! Did I ever get it wrong

When I read the OP I was imagining 90 degree intersections............crossings or something of that ilk. My conclusion was to either model them and deal with the trains not being able to run down certain tracks or as a long shot see if you can bend the rules of physics. I think I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue!
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James Six Prolific poster 1,936 posts
James Six

Michael has a good solution

Michael's suggestion of placing the corners in scenic dead areas is a good one. You hide them the same way that folks hide the spiral ladder tracks in a multi-deck layout. I have been to layouts that enclose the curves in hidden areas by walling then in with aisle access doors. It worked for me and for the layout owners. It may well work for you.

On my layout I simple pretend that the not prototypical curves are not there.  

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kleaverjr Prolific poster 2,863 posts
kleaverjr

Well Jim...

...I have you to blame I, I, I mean thank for this project :-P    Though I am not abandoning Macro Modeling, by doing this Project Layout it will satisfy the "Micro Modeling Bug" I have seem to have come down with.  Must have caught it from you! Hehehehehehehe.  It's contagious! :-D

Ken L.
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