Someone asked me to look up an old image today. This is one of my five-minute backdrops on my old Albuquerque layout that I painted with spray can paint, with a brush for randomizing the edges. I liked five minute backdrops because I never got attached to them and could repaint them all the time without feeling too invested in them. I do wish I could have saved this one, but it was painted directly on the wall. I really had no idea of the effects I was creating until I photographed it. It was on the top level (3rd level) and I didn't pay enough attention there. It's a little greener here than the original. Two structures, a few yarrow trees, some ground foam, and here is a scene! The buildings are matte board with printed acetate windows.
Nice I get the impression of an early morning fog slowly lifting out of the valley. And that is a nice set of diesels on that train.
Pete, your photo looks great. The background is nicely painted. Do you have any other photos of your layout? Joe
The ERA Baldwins were growley beasts and getting them tightly coupled was a PITA. I replaced all the couplers. Notice the bigger gap between the middle B units in the center. I just gave up on getting that coupling shorter. The trucks at the rear of the AB units were just off by a bit, IIRC. They did have realistic top speeds but very high starting voltages with DCC, which made them sluggish until underway. I usually used an ABBA consist of Kato F7s for photos.
Hundreds. It was published in N Scale Magazine and might still be here in a Railimages album. TB had some transition problems with software a decade back and I lost interest in keeping things up to date because I was going through some life changes and getting interested in ships. I'm not sure I can find the albums here any longer or even if they are here.
The fog lifting was the impression I was striving for. I was amazed I actually achieved it--sort of. I actually got it on another section of the layout, but don't know if I photographed it in a way to show it. The fog effect only works when shot more or less straight on, as in the storm effect. Ahh, I can't find the file!
Ok, here it is--http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/11_v_penntwineast.18157/ Sorry I don't know how to edit posts any longer.
This is what I consider to be a perfect backdrop. It is subtle enough as to not distract form the main focus, which is of course the trains....yet, it is detailed enough to be convincing and also so the brain fill-in what is missing. Nothing is standing out as being unrealistic, which the brain can pick up on right away. Very well done!
Pete, It's been a while since I have seen photos of that layout. IIRC, I brought a passenger train in 2003/4 when I visited. I can no longer find the photos of that run. How much of that layout survived the move to OH/AL?
