Oregon Joint Line N Scale

[Philip H]

I'd love to run it at least once . . . .

[coldriver]

Awesome video!!

I just wish I was closer, so I could frequent the layout ALOT  more often. I agree with Doug,, a great model railroad!!

wyatt

thanks Wyatt, does it look like you'll be able to make it up for the Ft Worth Layout Operations Day on Oct03?

For that matter anyone else lurking from the DFW area (or elsewhere if you want to travel) I am organizing a one day layout operations event for Oct03 - if you're interested in participating send me a PM. 

[coldriver]

Not much to report lately in terms of visible projects and such as my focus has been on (sigh) layout maintenance and reliability. 

Here's a video of our October 24 op session where I attempted to simulate a service meltdown (on purpose!).  The more I work with the cartab system the more satisfied I am that I'll be able to easily create almost any operating scenario that I faced as a prototype yardmaster. 

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[wazzou]

Really cool Dean and well explained too.

[superchief]

great video Dean, would love to learn more about your car tab system, perhaps another video??????? it was great having you work Winslow yard this weekend, hope to get to your layout soon. Gordon

[coldriver]

I was able to make a trip out to Oregon Joint Line territory in August to take some photo backdrops.  Here's my first attempt. 


IMG_1331 by Dean Ferris, on Flickr

IMG_1339 by Dean Ferris, on Flickr

[svedblen]

Gosh! 

[coldriver]

Here's a quick YouTube video of how the backdrop came together. 

[Scottl]

Very effective.  I think this can work with careful color matching and I think you were able to do that.

[svedblen]

Nice video and a beautiful result.
I'm a big fan of photo backdrops. In my opion a photo backdrop beats a painted backdrop every time 
Not meaning there are not a lot of good painted backdrops also. As yours @Scottl for instance.

[C855B]

Very effective. It certainly raises the bar on how intense the effort needs to be for the foreground - any slapdash approach to 3D scenery will look that much worse... which is definitely NOT the case here. Outstanding execution overall. The thought put into creating two horizons is what makes it work, for sure.

My artist spouse agrees, "It's great!", she says. She further commented you might add a little gray (or reduce color saturation) and a slight blur to represent haze if you wanted to convey more depth. I don't know if I completely agree with her on that. I grew up in the desert... what haze? Sandstorms?

[basementcalling]

That passes the test in all respects.

It's impossible to tell where the 3D scenery stops and the background starts.

The perspective is correct from those views

The colors match.

Amazing job.

[coldriver]

Thanks for the kind words - I actually increased the color saturation a bit to better match the foreground elements in the backdrop to my actual scenery, but I see your wife's point on using muted distant elements to convey additional scene depth.  If I were to do it over again I'd start with the photo backdrop and build the scenery to match.  There was definitely some haze in the air the day I took the panorama as it was in the middle of forest fire season.  In fact I got very lucky that the majority of the smoke from a major fire that popped up the day before blew slightly to the north of my target area or it would've been a wasted day...   

Very effective. It certainly raises the bar on how intense the effort needs to be for the foreground - any slapdash approach to 3D scenery will look that much worse... which is definitely NOT the case here. Outstanding execution overall. The thought put into creating two horizons is what makes it work, for sure.

My artist spouse agrees, "It's great!", she says. She further commented you might add a little gray (or reduce color saturation) and a slight blur to represent haze if you wanted to convey more depth. I don't know if I completely agree with her on that. I grew up in the desert... what haze? Sandstorms?

[Cajonpassfan]

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[Santa Fe Guy]

I agree those backdrops have come out a treat. I too would like to see just a hint of haze to add distance.
Very nicely done.
Rod.