This is not 3D so please don't use that name. It is misleading. Since a large number of people have the red-blue glasses from various promotions like football Superbowl ads, it might be worthwhile to publish true 3D photos.

I like the idea of the panorama but the camera is too far from the subject. It would look better if the camera was:

1. Closer to the 90-degree corner of the layout and was level (not pointed down).

2. Showed only about 18" or 24" of the layout at a time so we could see the details and then pan to see more.

Still, this is a really good article with outstanding photos. Keep up the good work!

This is not 3D so please don't use that name. It is misleading. Since a large number of people have the red-blue glasses from various promotions like football Superbowl ads, it might be worthwhile to publish true 3D photos.

I don't think it's all that misleading.  This isn't a the best example because it's a smaller layout but some of the panorama's go nearly 360 degrees around a large room, if not a 3D panorama, then what should they call it.

As for 3D photos. PLEASE!  If I have to wear those stupid glasses that give me a headache every time just to be able to look at pictures...well, in a nutshell, please no!  Pretty much sick of the 3D hype in the movies already.  Please tell me MRH is not considering 3D anything, anytime soon!

One of the best articles on urban model railroading I have seen in years. Excellent photography!

Mike

Tight shots of individual scenes are standard (and necessary) fare, but the pan lets you see how the different scenes of the layout fit together, and how the whole thing looks within the larger confines of the room.

And the WN layout itself is exquisite !

Kevin-

Just got done watching the video.  Love the scene of the train leaving Union by the warehouse.  The picture on pg 52 in the front of the ready mix plant could be one of those "Yes...It's a Model" photos on the masthead of MRH.  The groundcover texture and color along with the weathering on the yellow caboose (awesome, by the way) make the scene very realistic.

If it'll help you out at home, I'd be willing to name a boat "Jodi" on my layout.  It's a logging layout, so it may be a stretch but I'm here for you, man!

I also spotted the aquarium store (Yes! Another reefkeeper!).

Nicely done!
Bill

Once again, thank you for all the positive feedback about the layout. I'm really humbled and taken aback a little bit when I see so many fine modelers offering kind words and encouragement to my work. Once again, most of the credit goes to Charlie Comstock,  Joe Brugger and the MRH staff for their talents in presenting the layout so well.

Steve My backdrops are a combination of photographs, photoshop and a large format printer. Perhaps I could put together something in the near future explaining how I did it. There are a few areas where I'm actually thinking of retouching them here and there as I'm not totally satisfied with them. So this may be an opportunity to squeeze a step-by-step out of it.

Artarms You touched on a point that carried some weight when I was exploring the trackplan of the current layout. That is the that if the opportunity should arise in the future, the present layout could be moved and tied into a larger layout. There are essentially three places where track could be extended, and the layout was built in 3 basic "domino" sections. Here's to dreaming!

Bill You're my hero! My wife got a kick out of that! I offered to name a whole station stop in her honor is she let me take over the rest of the room the layout is in...........yeah..........not happening.   And a little off topic, but yes I am a reefkeeper! We should talk tanks.

Enjoyed the article and the video, however, one comment would be to have shown more of the layout of the video and not repeated the same information already contained in the article. Was disappointed that the video didn't show more, especially operations around the paper mill, since I was familar with Kevin's website.

I think what others have said in regard to watching more of the trains in operation than the video interview that was verbatim in the mag is where improvement could lie.  I think most of us were left wanting more of the layout on video.  The size usage and the layout is inspiring for us without huge basements to fill.  I probably have more room than many, but to see what can be done and still be enjoyable in a small space is very encouraging.

 I think the MRH way of interviewing the railroader gives a lot more insight into his mind and the layout's reality. Keep up the good work!

Ditto on the video verbatim.  I watched the whole video then realized I could have just skipped ahead to the bit with trains running.  I'd suggest either write the article so as to explain the layout, features, etc. and leave the conversation in the video, or leave the interview out of the video, or put a different conversation in the video pertaining more to the specifics of the layout (e.g. "I used XY manufacturer of streetlight...you can see it here..." with a closeup of the streetlight operating).  Captioning the train motion is a very good thing as far as locating what's happening where, even on a smaller layout.  Thanks for including that.

Looking at the video and pictures, I had to wonder if I've seen those backdrop buildings before when I've driven into Tacoma.  You've captured the industrial Puget Sound/PNW look really well.  Thanks for sharing!

Galen

Great modelling, no doubt about that, but where were the trains, Oh no, did I miss them. Sorry do not mean to be sarcastic, an Australian trend I admit. Still I love the modellers talent, obviously retired like me.

Kevin,

You've done an excellent job of building an interesting layout in a limited space.  It looks like it is very intereting to operate.  I really enjoyed reading the article and watching the video. 

I'd like to hear about how you did your backdrop photos.  I'm working on an N-scale layout that will require a number of feet of urban backdrop behind a large yard and industrial area so I'm looking for ways to fill this area with urban/industrial building pictures. 

Thanks for sharing your excellent work with us.

I would like to suggest, as some others have, that in articles such as this one, that the written article not be a transcript of the video interview.

Bob

So many comments about the video being an interview. There is a real easy fix that is actually easier than the method you are currently using.

Tape the complete interview switching back and forth between two camera angles - the reporter from over the personality's shoulder when the reporter speaks, the personality from over the reporter's shoulder when the personality speaks. In many of my corporate videos the two people aren't even actually facing each other or even present at the same time. I just shoot each person's part with a good background behind them and put them together in the NLE. After the interview concludes shoot a ton of railroad video that supports the content. Multiple angles of the same shot add interest and allow the editor more options.

During edit start with the people speaking and after a few seconds cut to railroad video that supports the dialog. When the subject changes or after 15-20 seconds of RR video come back to the reporter and personality for a few seconds and then back to railroad video. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Not only does it make for a more interesting composition but it also gives the editor a ton of freedom to find the good people shots (smiling, animated, etc.) that can then be the cut points for railroad footage.

Easy and it works. Been doing it for years.

PS two more cheap tricks
1. lavalier mic on the personality works much better - constant audio level, less visually distracting, less pops.
2. start some RR shots with a fast pan to point - determine where the camera needs to be to capture the shot but start 45 degrees off. Do a fast pan to the area of interest. Add zoom during the pan if you really want to look pro. Don't overshoot the pan and come back. Retake the shot if that happens.

Very nicely detailed.  Close-up photos bear this out.

Very nice ground-level switching video sequence.

I really enjoy seeing layout tours, with good photos and detailed track plans, in the model "press." This is a very good example of what I like. Kevin's layout, while relatively small, has all the essentials for an interesting and functional switching pike. The plan is good and the execution is superior. I got several good ideas for the new urban switching area on my club's N scale layout. Well done, Kevin and MRH staff!

 It's nice to see great layouts in a small bedroom scale. I enjoy the large layouts too, but I think this speaks more to those of us with limited space.

I think it would be better to put the reader feedback bug at the end of the article so we don't have to scroll back to comment.

This issue is the first where I am viewing the embedded verison as I have acuiqred a super-laptop with lots of horsepower.  The experience is awesome with the 3D views and embedded videos. I really can't suggest any improvement ot this article.   I like the interview format with Kevin sharing what he thinsk is improtant about his ecxperience in buildign this very nice railway system.   Whiel I have seen it in printed magazines before, I really like the track diagram with the camera locations marekd on it.

Russ in St. Catharines, Canada

President, Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers - http://www.ghls.ca

Director, TRHA - http://www.trha.ca

Kev certainly proves that you can build a great, dense, believable small layout in a spare room. It looks like he's kitbashed the daylights out of Walthers' kits and made the parts and pieces his very own. The weathering certainly helps and it's done just right. He's a man after my own heart, most especially because of that well-executed marine scene. I still think there are too many too small kits on the market that have the enterior volume of a boxcar; Kev built big businesses in a small space.  That's the ticket.  And hat's off to Joe: great photos man.

Bernie Halloran

New York Kittatinny & Western

 I really enjoyed reading, listening and watching this excellent layout! It is nice to see a small room sized switching layout, and with water and ships! It certainly looks realistic! However, as of yet I haven't discovered how the 'water' was created!

The photography is superb, well done! And it was neat seeing the live shots as well as the interview. 

I was a bit distracted by the hand-held mike.

Very inspiring, now back to building my N-Scale waterfront layout!

Ian in Toronto, Ontario, Canada