Fort Hanover: A Commissioned Postage Stamp Micro-Layout

[DKS]

So, a Postage Stamp Trains collector with whom I've become friends asked me if I could whip up something for him on which to exercise some of his PST collection. Well, sure! Mini- and micro-layouts are my specialty, as now are retro layouts. The plan I developed for him features many of the American style kits Aurora offered back in the day, which as it happens is something I'd wanted to build for myself for quite a long time. Consequently, I've invested quite a bit of extra enthusiasm in the project, and the future owner will be getting much more value for the dollar than he'd ever expect. Start to finish, the layout took about two months of spare time, and was finished on 28 June.

It's not an example of "fine modeling" by any means; it's deliberately "hokey" to serve the wants and needs of the buyer, who is not a modeler. Thus it's loaded with cute little vignettes and other borderline silly stuff. Much more detail can be found here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/mark.htm

[MK]

Far from hokey! 

[Dave V]

I love it!  Retro design with modern scenery techniques...and DKS-level attention to detail.

[Blazeman]

Expertly applied paint on stock buildings, realistic scenery, good scene composition considering space and structure limitations, and loads of details.  Nice lipstick job on this one.

[Hawghead]

Is your site down?  All the pictures show broken links and the url is dead.

Scott

[DKS]

Is your site down?  All the pictures show broken links and the url is dead.

Nope. Everything is working fine. Sounds like an ISP anomaly on your end.

[LIRR]

I started with postage stamp trains when I was 11

[Hawghead]

Still getting broken picture links and a dead url.  Tried both firefox and chrome browsers.  Everything else on TRW is working fine.

Scott

[Dave V]

Still getting broken picture links and a dead url.  Tried both firefox and chrome browsers.  Everything else on TRW is working fine.

Scott

Dunno what to tell you.  I'm in Chrome and I can see DKS' stuff just fine.

[peteski]

I love it!  Retro design with modern scenery techniques...and DKS-level attention to detail.

My sentiment exactly!
Great little layout, and even thought DKS tried for toyish, it looks quite realistic.  No nuclear green sawdust or lichen anywhere. 

[Hawghead]

I think it looks like the idyllic wasp neighborhood somewhere in Connecticut.  The ground cover and the trees and water look great.  I would say that the only thing distinguishing this from a "real" layout is the lack of weathering.  Great job, I'm sure the customer will be very happy.  (Yeah, today the pictures just showed up.  Things that make ya go hummmm...)

Scott

[wm3798]

That's probably all I should have done...  Alas, even simplicity can be overthought...
Very nice work.  The owner will enjoy the heck out of it, I'm sure.

But one has to wonder... no bus route?

Lee

[DKS]

The buyer has collected his prize, and is thrilled beyond words. He asked that I sign it on the fascia. He'll be displaying it in the center of his office on a table purchased just for it, so it'll be seen by a fair number of people. And he said he considers it a one-of-a-kind collectible that is now his favorite item.



When I told him the sign in front of the church is legible, he nearly had a coronary.

But one has to wonder... no bus route?

I'd originally asked if he wanted a bus route, and he declined. I think he preferred to KISS.

I would say that the only thing distinguishing this from a "real" layout is the lack of weathering.

This was a deliberate choice, since he's a collector and enjoys things in pristine condition. Not the sort to "get" weathering.

(Yeah, today the pictures just showed up.  Things that make ya go hummmm...)

Good to know!

Thanks, all, for the kind words. It's nice to know even a deliberately simple, retro layout is appreciated.

 

[CRL]

That’s an unflattering photo angle for the dude’s feet... looks like Mr Potatohead.

[DKS]

That’s an unflattering photo angle for the dude’s feet... looks like Mr Potatohead.

OK, fine. Everyone else is looking at the layout, and you're looking at my client's feet.

So, is this better?



 

I guess it doesn't matter that he's a real-life film producer... (yes, really!)...