Weekend Modeling Photo Challenge "Bridges" Ends May 18th

Mark Watson May 17, 2009

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Choose your Favorite Photo.

Poll closed May 25, 2009.
  1. tracymckibben - Daredevil railfans

    2 vote(s)
    3.8%
  2. spidge - curved Trestle

    15 vote(s)
    28.3%
  3. Pachyderm217 - Kitbashed Truss

    13 vote(s)
    24.5%
  4. COverton - Pennsy T1 Duplex across the Seneca River

    10 vote(s)
    18.9%
  5. virgule - Baby Trestle

    4 vote(s)
    7.5%
  6. Socalz44 - Something old and not so old.

    19 vote(s)
    35.8%
  7. r_i_straw - Modified Kato Bridge

    12 vote(s)
    22.6%
  8. MCB - Overpass

    3 vote(s)
    5.7%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Congrats Socalz44, I yield the top step of the podium to you.
    I only kept up for a while as I had a good hold of your pony's tail, but I couldn't keep hold once on the final stretch.
    Nice bridge, scenery, and staging of the trains. I look forward to viewing during a tour one day.
    Are you a member of the Socal yahoo group?
     
  2. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    Great show everybody. They were all cool photos. Congrats Socalz44.
     
  3. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks guys. I don't what I'll do with another toaster! Spidge, I am the moderator at Z Central Station. I am a 'look in' member of YahooZocal. They are module/trainshow fellows and I like to build large layouts. Oh, and if you want to see the Southern Division in real life I live just down the road in Santee. Come quick. I will be dismantling it this late summer to make way for the Northern Division. Thanks again, Jim CCRR/Socalz44
     
  4. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Offical Results are in...

    WINNER!!!!!!!
    PLACE
    SHOW
     
  5. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    And a thank you to all you voters who cast votes in this contest. There were over 1200 views but only 50 or so votes. More votes for all of us would have been nice. And lastly, thanks to those who voted for me! Cheers, Jim CCRR/Socalz44
     
  6. Tracy McKibben

    Tracy McKibben TrainBoard Member

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    I wonder how many of those 1200 views were repeats? I know I checked the thread multiple times, to make sure I still had last place locked up.
     
  7. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    Congratulations to all who participated...it is quite a commitment to have to stage a photo shoot and then find one that can pass muster in front of a tough crowd. And all in one weekend. Socalz44's image is excellent and deserves the win, so my regards go out to him.

    About the views, they are a rather poor indicator of overall interest or participation in my view. Most of us will open the thread many times to see if new images are present or to reacquaint ourselves with what has been there for some time. Even so, that would account for perhaps 300 views...at most...if we were to link them to those who actively participated by posting images. All the rest would be from interested onlookers who should be encouraged for doing so. Maybe we could agree that the caliber of modelling and imagery is sufficiently robust that the heavy majority of onlookers would be satisfied, for the time being, with merely enjoying the view. In time, we'll see a few enter something themselves.

    I offer this: looking is just great in and of itself. I do it. I also decided that I should enter these informal contests (all that is at stake is bragging rights) at some point if only to goad myself to achieve greater skill and a greater appreciation for how hard it really is to produce something that is appealing. At first I was just plain awful. I got better. And better. I even began to get the general applause once or twice. It then builds on itself. You learn what to look for and what to correct. In that respect, it can't help but make you a better modeller and a better camera-person.

    Please, those of you who have placed a structure or two and some ground foam, plus a really fake tree...join us! Keep going with the process of developing competency and providing growth and enjoyment for yourself. It really helps to keep the hobby vital and alive for you.
     
  8. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    With all of the great entries it sure was hard to vote for a favorite. Congrats!

    Ben
     
  9. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well said Crandell. The goading and bragging rights were my main drive.:tb-wink:

    I do enjoy these and this is the best any of my entries have done so thanks to all who looked and especially voted.

    So, does anyone have any feedback on my curved ME viaduct? From modeling to photography, including where I staged the trains and such.
     
  10. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sure, John, and very briefly. The bridge is great...not sure I would do much more. Make sure the footings are level and well-weathered...hard to see in the photo if they are not already. The terrain could use some variety in scrub and vegetation, and maybe darken the rock outcrops (am I getting ahead of you because you have not undertaken these things yet?)

    But, photo-wise, with what you have accomplished and how you were constrained, you did a marvellous job on the image. It is very striking as bridge complexes go, but I would continue to tweak the weathering of any concrete. I could suggest some ideas, but don't want to monopolize or load you up. Maybe off-line?
     
  11. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you Crandell for taking some time to write that. I made a list and posted it next to the scene to add to my goals for the area.
     
  12. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Spidge, Ok, here is my take. First your photo was great. I wish I had that point of view on one of my layouts. Outstanding. If the photo was all that, what could make it better? I showed your photo to my wife and she said, "Where are the plants?" Probably enough said from a non modeler. To me it looks like this part of the layout is not finished. This is somewhere in California I presume. Or a scene of our area at least. Our SoCal area is difficult to model for a good reason; not enough vegetation to the average person driving through. Maybe you weren't finished with this scene. If you were then the fact that you don't have enough plants and scrub trees probably did you in. I've had 3 of my layouts published in world wide magazines. Big spreads. Folks ask how do you do it? I answer, "The key is to never stop planting". Your terrain has only the hint of vegetation. Just enough to convince someone (like my wife) that this is not how nature looks, even in our neck of the weeds. I'm posting a hawk's view of another part of my layout. Notice how much vegetation there is...how much there HAS to be to make it look as real as possible.
    [​IMG]
    Notice that there are actual 'grassy' areas. Bushes of all types and sizes everywhere. Fallen branches, twigs and rocks of all sizes.Hard to tell here, but there are eight different colors of sand on this layout and in this scene. I wonder how much of these shades of sand affected the voters. Your terrain is basically one or two shades at the most. Check out my photos under http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/ppuser/6936/cat/500. If you haven't yet you may be amazed. Take a close look at all the vegetation in each of them. I think I would have liked to have seen some cast rock outcroppings. The fact that you scribed plastered area with a knife may have left some voters wanting. I do it quite a bit, but there is not substitute for the 'real deal'. Also these castings could have been made a shade darker than the rest of the hills. This adds depth and makes folks concentrate. Also, and best of all rock outcrops allow for talus slopes. Always a fan favorite. I am always available for questions if you ask them. Final words:: Keep planting. When you feel you've finished you are probably only a third of the way there. Cheers, Jim CCRR/Socalz44
     
  13. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Jim. My three girls said the same thing about the lack of plants and veriety. I am not finished with the scene by no means and am looking for the Cajon look. There are three different soil colors used but I clearly over did the yellow and burnt grass. I am looking for an alternative to litchen to represnt the shrubery but I may just have to pick from a big pile of it carefully for the front section and leave the less detailed in the back. Thank you for taking some time and giving the feedback.
    Crandell made some good suggestions to and I am adding to the list of to-dos beside the scene.
    So far,
    More plants and verieties.
    More veriety in soil.
    Weather the concrete and lighten up.
    Less grass.
    More rock faces with less knife lines.
    Add more detail to the bridge.
    Weather the bridge.

    Considering the complexity of some of the other projects I have this may not be so involved. I will post some results in the next few weeks. Thanks for the motivation guys.
     
  14. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    John, That explains it. I look forward to the same photo when you feel you are finished. Also, my words in my post to you were of course, addressed to all who may choose to read it. Complete the scene, keep planting. Cheers, Jim CCRR
     
  15. pachyderm217

    pachyderm217 TrainBoard Member

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    John,

    I have always enjoyed your curved bridge scene. Good work on this most recent shot.

    Planting hundreds of trees seems daunting, but the results can be pretty motivating. (Sometimes I wonder if I've modeled a forest and decorated it with a railroad.) The illusion of distance and scene separation took a big leap upward each time I added a batch of trees.

    For an alternative to lichen trees, consider the trees shown in my Making Trees tutorial. Each photo has comments to explain the steps.

    Jim, nice work as usual. I really appreciate good models of through truss bridges.

    It's a real privilege to be on the same page with modelers like you folks.
     
  16. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am attempting to model a desert valley so there are not that many trees. More sagebrush, tumbleweeds, and the occasional Yucca. There are many different soil and rock colors in the Cajon area so I think that is where I will start. Of coarse I will have to include some of the light Mormon Rock colors, but that section will be away from the bridge area. This bridge area will be darker with some greys and browns plus a man made rocky sided sand fillid riverbed. Then there blue cut that actually looks blue. That should be fun and I am currently looking for the best spot for it on the layout.
     
  17. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    I should have planned my scenery more carefully.

    Live and learn.
     
  18. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Making a little progress.
    Added more detail to the bridge like guardrails and running boards. (dificult to see I know)
    Lightened the cement abutments and weathered.
    Weathered the bridge a little.
    Cleaned off some of the plaster drips and splashes from the bridge.
    Painted the rail and ties.
    Added more plants and a variety of soils. Not completely happy with the soil colors yet.

    Hope it has improved in your opinions.
     

    Attached Files:

  19. Tracy McKibben

    Tracy McKibben TrainBoard Member

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    I think it looks great!
     
  20. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Awesome!! Gotta' love a big trestle!!:teeth:
     

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