I'm looking for a good existing image, or a 'how to create' a good image of a string of coal cars fading off into the background. I'm locating my coal mine loading tipple very close to the backdrop, and I would wish for that backdrop to convey an image of 3 tracks of coal cars waiting to be loaded under the tipple, then exiting out into the layout space. I would like it to be a string of cars rather than dead end tracks. I'm sure that there have been a number of other modelers that have sought the same, but I have yet to find such an image??
Most of the photos I reviewed show LOADED coal cars. I found this one of unloaded cars. I would want unloaded cars lined up to get loaded under the tipple. It would be nice to fine such a photo with art least 2 tracks full of unloaded cars.
I have made background images for my N layout, using photos of MY OWN MODEL CARS printed slightly less than full size, since they are off in the distance, a little further back than the modeled cars or scenery. I shot these cars flat-on, 3 at a time, curt and pasted together in Photoshop to fill one printed out page. Then added them to my background. Hi-angle view, printed boxcars & reefers behind low-relief "train catching wall" of building flats at back edge. Closer to normal viewing angle This view on my "old" layout has printed images of model cars in an "end-on" view between two buildings.
Thanks for your input Kenneth. I found myself a bit surprised that I had not provided more info, nor photos, in my original posting. My Walthers 'New River Mine', with a little modification to its base, is going to sit in this back corner It will be built onto a 'removable foamcore base' that will allow access to those tracks below. The 3 tippel tracks will appear to come out from that wall, then under the tipple, then out into the layout room and down that ramp on the left hand side of the layout. I'm debating whether those 3 tracks will appear as straight ones, or curve off at an angle? I'm am also debating how close to the back wall the tipple will be? I'm thinking it could be very close thus masking the need to 'detail' the cars directly behind the tipple? The base of the New River Mine's (non-tipple portion) will need to be shaved off about 3/4" in order to allow it to sit on that 'stepped foamcore base'. (crumpled paper mountain ridge, just roughed in) Maybe those 3 tipple tracks that appear on the backdrop could be curved off slightly?
