Skyscrapers, Mountains, View Dividers, Length / Depth / Height The 'Grey and Grandure' will be in the living room and as such aesthetics will be an abiding goal. I hope I can do this while using selective compression. Overall I'd like to see a general discussion on this topic and how it might be applied to an N Scale layout. Over simplified the 'Golden Ratio' is 1:1.6 or basically a triangle with a base of 1' 71/8" would be about 1' tall. My hope is to apply this ratio to areas a large as a 8' wide passenger terminal and city down to a single building. I see arched bridges, over cantions and barns surrounded by fields. Yes, I could be making a mountain out of a mole hill but as long as the ratio is right, works for me. Math, Science, Art and Philosophy are welcome along with humor and respectful disagreement.
I know it as the Golden Rectangle, associating it with building architecture and structural shapes. How again will you apply it to areas on your layout?
@Hardcoaler and everyone, Good question. At the moment I am thinking in terms of scenes starting at the upper left hand c corner, aka East Branch where I intend to have a 4 track passenger terminal and 'hyper-modern city. I was just measuring the space. That area is 10' long and 30"s deep with an East facing window behind 8' of it. Factors Shinkansen 8 car train set is about 56"s 3 X 1.6 = 58" Apex of the triangle would be 3' Table height is 4' Ceiling height 8' View of the scene begins at about 19',. (as you come through the door to the living room), with a straight walk across the room. If planned out, sound would be eminating from that area as well. I am imagining Two areas with the highest building reaching 1' Bracketing area with a 3' building. or A 3'2" wide area with a 2' building in the center Adjoining an area with a 3 foot building The city would be 'shiny / glittery' for lack of a better word. To 'complete' the scene and 'end' the visual I would put a transition area of drab older buildings or possibly darker terrain such as a mountain. Something intended to stop the eye until a train leaves the station. The layout is about 40' long depending on how you measure it. I intend at least 4 more carefully planned visuals not including the area behind the TV. There will be farms, bridges, towns, olde towns, and mountains along with freight switching along the forward foot of the layout. The canyons will line up with the south facing windows and will have markers of some sort to catch the Solstice and Equinox. Does this answer your question?
Regarding Formatting I use: Bullets, Bold Italics More for my own benefit than anything else. If you like feel free to do the same in my threads even if it is grammatically wrong. Thanks!
I produce all sorts of detailed drawings for elements of my small layout such as circuits, track and benchwork, and as dimensions evolve, I get a general idea of where buildings and scenery will be placed, but my ability to visualize the final appearance in detail is limited because there are just too many variables at play. I find it hard to finalize building placement until I run some trains and can assure myself that nice views won't be blocked, that I can easily reach into industries to uncouple cars and fragile items like truss bridges aren't in harm's way. I envy your ability to plan and stage results in your head. It should save you build time and look great in the end.
At the moment I'm just generalizing. I'll make paper and cardboard mock-ups placeholders before committing to something. Still, visualizing is something the male side of the family has always been good at. It does not hurt to have had a mother who was an accomplished artist. The greatest lesson from her was about positive and negative spaces and balance. All of that before we knew I had significant visual limitations. I am 65yo now. I have memories of drawing imaginary city blocks in 3D and perspective around the age of 10. This city will be a culmination of those. Still I don't know what I don't know and as such I am reaching out to the community. Besides, I would hope others would learn from this.
Oooops, Correction: Golden Triangle: Height = 1.6 X Base Golden Gnomon : Base = 1.6 X Height What I described in my city concept was the ''Golden Gnomon'. What I am thinking now is One 2' base and a 3.2' tower Two 1.25' bases and a 2' tower One 1' base and a 1.6' tower Further reading for some: There are also the Golden Rectangle and every school kids favorite: Golden Rhombus Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_triangle_(mathematics)
I assume they are related to golden ratio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio. Can you incorporate the golden ratio into the design of the benchwork somehow, like the uprights system? There are plenty of public buildings that in corporate it, you could model one of them. Plus anything like city blocks could be golden ratio, tank farm layout, corn field etc.
Yes, the 'Golden Ratio' and its permutations. An interesting idea. I will look into that though structural integrity and speed of construction are of greater priority, (in this area). My main assistance on the bench work is my future brother-in-law and um, er, 'Art' is not his forte. He is however very reliable. He shows up Works Gets it done Follows directions even if they make no sense to him No messing around Construction starts in a week or so. I have two more 'honey do' projects.
This whole discussion is making my fillings hurt. By doing this, we have taken the art out of modeling and replaced it with engineering just like that in the 737Max. Hope the results aren't the same.
@bill pearce unto each thine own. Sorry about the fillings. Maybe see a dentist for some bridge work.
Hmm, just a thought, I wonder what happens to your jaw when you realize that I consider my layout to be a kinetic sculpture. ☻
