Thanks for commenting. You’re the only one who does on a regular basis and I appreciate your participation.

You’re right, there will be many dead branches and trees in a wild woodlot. We can do a better job of observing the prototype (i.e. the real world) for such details and they are simple to include in a model scene.

Such details tell a story about the scene being modeled. As you can see in the photos of my early post “A Walk On The Wild Side, the ground in a virgin forest (one that has never been logged) will be quite open and easy to navigate. In a second or third growth woods, the ground will be overgrown with smaller shrubs, brambles and other growth that gets established before the tree canopy blocks out the sunlight. Once understood, details like this tell a clear story, and add another layer of interest.

Regards,
Mike

One thing about stands of tree (“the woods”), no one remember some of the trees loose branches or the fact that they do in time fall over. In observing the “woods” around our house there are a fair amount of both branches and trees on the ground.

Matt

Regards,
mike Cougill

Eric Peterson

I agree. Open staging doesn’t have to be a visual roadblock to enjoying a layout. The concept of staging is so common now, everyone knows where the trains are actually going. This doesn’t take away from the usefulness of it at all.

You’re also right, for an exhibition type layout at a show, having the staging area screened or out of sight can enhance the experience of trains coming from and going to other points on the line for the visiting public. There aren’t any hard and fast rules anymore. I think that’s a good thing in general.

Mike

I like the staging cassette minus the 1/4″ piece of plywood. Your cassette is barely noticeable. If anything, it looks like the end of a girder bridge in the shadows.

You raise a good point about viewable staging. Most home layouts can do just fine with an open staging area. Your example of the Petersboro project is an excellent example of how the sector plate, while out in full view, is easily overlooked. The only time staging could be hidden is from the viewer of an exhibition layout, but not to the operator.

Matt

I’m aware of Gordon’s book but haven’t seen a copy for myself. It’s on my list of good things to have.

Regards,
Mike

Great post. For those interested, recommend obtaining Gordon Gravett’s book “Modelling Trees; Part One-Broadleaf Trees”. Excellent resource, and full of some great idea (don’t forget the birds and their nests in your trees!)

http://britishrailwaybooks.co.uk/books/ISBN/1905184883.php

Matt

Again, I acknowledge that everyone has their own set of ideas about what makes the hobby fun. However, it’s becoming harder to sustain and finance a large layout. Who hasn’t been affected by the economy since 2008? Who’s job is secure these days? How many people will move several times by choice or necessity? None of these factors bode well for building a monster size layout. A smaller layout can offer so much in terms of ongoing enjoyment. We just have to adjust our expectations for what can be included. Joe’s forthcoming editorial in issue #62 of OST covers this idea nicely.

I could not agree with you more about operations. As I have started working on the design of my On2 layout, the discovery of less is more when it comes to switching has hit my like the proverbial freight train. Having become a fan of the British style exhibition layout over the past several years, the layouts that a many of the modelers create in England, whether in 4mm or 7mm scale are unbelievable in the scale and depth of detail and interesting operations. I have seen several layout plans for something as simple as your plant along the NS that can keep the “operator” busy for some time and built within the “confines” of a very attractive scene overall.

Matt