Finning Caterpillar Dealership

Here’s a shot of my Cat dealership. Still a few foreground details to add such as grade crossing lights, a switch stand, guardrails etc., as well as scenery in the background of the upper level.

Happy modelling!

Scott

Scott, Nice busy scene and I

Scott,

Nice busy scene and I can almost feel the breeze coming down from the mountains.

Switcher on siding.

Switcher on siding.

My early attempts

     at diorama photography. Ok, first off, sorry for the poor quality of these early shots as they were my beginnings in the hobby, circa late 1970's early 1980ish time frame. But first, I'll lead off with a present day photo of a K4s. No fancy equipment used, just my Samsung tablet and a run through a photo editor to give it life. Yeah, I think I've come a long way since the first attempts. Pictured below the K4s are photos that were taken with an old Argus 620 film, flip up viewfinder camera. In those day when you snapped a photo you had to wait about 2 weeks to get your photos developed and sent back to the drug store for pick up. You never knew how the view would end up until you actually saw the pictures. Most times the results were, eeck! But it was a learning experience. If I remember correctly these views were before my dad told me about using a pin hole apparatus inside the camera to help get better depth of field pictures. Seen here in these early views is a PRR T1, with spray painted cotton and wire stuck in the stacks to get the smoke effect and gently moved during exposure. Some cotton in the cylinders to represent steam as well. Next is a K4s over taking an E5s Atlantic. Smoke was recently edited in. Next is a PRR G5s on a commuter run. Looks dead without effects. Lastly, a crew greases up their Q2 for the upcoming run. Looking back now....I don't own any of these locomotives any longer. All were upgraded to something better. Ahhh, such is life.

Argus

I had a now deceased BIL that had an Argus from "way back when". He had to guess at the light and adjust his camera as best he could, using his eyes and brain only. (No automatic "anything", strictly manual) He used to be able to take fantastic pictures. So as far as I know, the Argus was a fantastic camera, capable of great pictures. The fact that you didn't, does not reflect or detract on you in any way. My BIL was a very astute person and I'm sure it took him many years to perfect his technique. And with what we have now today, sure makes photographing easy. Almost every cell phone can take a decent picture with just "point and shoot". And a better quality phone or simple camera in today's world, can take great pictures. And with software, easy to edit, crop, etc. And when I take pictures with my $450 DSLR, and compare with my new $50 cell phone, you can't hardly tell the difference.

190x on The Frisco’s Parsons Sub

Video tour filming

“Would you put together a video tour of your layout?”  “Sure”, I said. That was a year ago….

I have a new found respect for anyone shooting layout videos. Lighting (lots and lots of lighting!), color balance, composition, depth of field, getting the phone in the right place, filming in the wee hours of the mornings due to barking neighbor dogs, loud cars, loud planes, then when all these things line up, the engine suddenly can’t remember how to pickup electricity! ARGH!

I won’t even go into having to listen to your own recorded voice over and over… Anyway my thanks to Joe and all the brave souls who make videos available for all of us, you have my respect and gratitude.
 

Ross A

Englewood Logging Inspiration

In case anyone else feels like kitbashing one of those lovely Rapido SW1200’s