Hi Folks
I wonder if you could advise on how best to judge /place road vehicles on a layout for photography and, well, just looking right...
So far, I've only got a double-decker bus and a Ford pick-up (both in red). I think they are 1/76 scale, or near-to.
An added complication is that the layout has a standard gauge section with a road alongside and a NG section which shares a station (but not a platform) with the 00 side.
Before buying any more vehicles, I'd just like to know how best to proceed. Both lines are a mix of passenger and goods traffic and are set in 'end-of-steam /beginning-of-diesel' era. 1950's (ish) ?
Thanks,
Dave
I always feel that placing vehicles as if they are driving down the road doesn't quite look right so I try and position mine as if they were genuinely stationary, such as parked up in a drive, at a level crossing waiting for a train, waiting outside a shop, parked whilst the owner takes a photo of the train (!), etc. You are lucky with your era in that road vehicles were still quite rare, so there wouldn't be many in the first place especially round a narrow gauge railway which tended to be in places where vehicles were even rarer. But I'd still suggest you look to place them in those sorts of situations.
Blair's point is like the advice often given about human figures running, for example. Figures rarely look convincing frozen in mid stride. Far better to have them in situations where they would naturally be relatively static - standing round talking, reading newspaper on platform etc.
Combine the two! Bus at bus stop with queue of passengers, pick-up off-loading, stuff piled up beside it, driver having a smoke and so on. Some modellers are masters of grouping figures to tell a story. Placing vehicles could do much the same.
Thanks both
A few other ideas I have is a 'pony and trap' for the NG side. An AA /RAC motorcycle and sidecar attending a broken down 'vintage /classic car' with the bonnet open. Steam Sentinel articulated wagon in the station forecourt area (I remember seeing these at Swansea High Street station) ?
Don't know quite how to source these - kits maybe ? I think I've seen an AA Patrolman in one of the magazines...
I think for the photography side lighting may be the key, but, open to all ideas.
Langley do horse drawn stuff and motorcycles including an AA patrol!
http://www.langley-models.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_OO_Horse_Drawn_Vehicles___Motorcycles__Incl_NEW_Items__21.html
Thanks Hobby - just the job. I think I'll replace the motorcycle windscreen with a 'Perspex' one.
Now to find a car that I can get with a bonnet that will open...I suspect Dinky /Corgi's will be too out-of-scale but Matchbox might have done something ? Airfix 1/72 maybe ?
Dave
Pocketbond Classix Triumph Herald in various configurations. Although discontinued, they are still fairly easy to find and Hattons often have a selection available "pre-loved"
Mick
Thanks Mick - I'll look out for one (hinged forward bonnet if I remember my friend's correctly).
Dave
Hi All
Thought I might try a few 'posed' shots just to try and get a feel for things :
1. From the standard gauge side - a bus at a country bus stop with a short queue of people.
2. From the NG side - a pick-up loading a pile of sand in the goods yard.
I'll take these with my mobile to start with, but, I don't know how to upload the results to the forum topic. Also re-sizing /max jpeg limits etc.
Any assistance gratefully received...
Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on February 12, 2020, 10:37
I'll take these with my mobile to start with, but, I don't know how to upload the results to the forum topic. Also re-sizing /max jpeg limits etc.
Any assistance gratefully received...
Dave
The forum does not host your pictures. You need to host them on a picture hosting site such as Imgur , imgBB, Flickr etc. and then post the link into the "add image" box that appears when you press the add image button.
OK - a couple of questions:
Can I 'host' them on my PC (eg "MS Paint" or, that dratted 'Cloud' thing) ?
Having found something suitable, where would I find the "add image" link /button ?
Surely, others must have done this - what is the procedure please....
Confused of Wiltshire.
Quote from: Dave Cooper on February 12, 2020, 16:20
Can I 'host' them on my PC (eg "MS Paint" or, that dratted 'Cloud' thing) ?
Having found something suitable, where would I find the "add image" link /button ?
Hi, I was recently in the same boat. We can't see the photo on your devices, and we can't store them here we so have to put them somewhere in between and one of the most popular options seems to be to use https://www.flickr.com/
- You create an account (free) and it shows you how to upload your photos onto your space on their site
- Once uploaded got the top menu and click on "You > Photostream>" then on the picture you want to share.
- In the bottom right hand corner you should see something like this so select the arrow pointing up and to the right
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49526396737_8dc4581a66_z.jpg) - This will take you to a box like this, select BBCode and copy the text in blue, but note it extends off the screen so make sure you get all of it
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49525687713_28eb003e96.jpg) - Go to your post and where you paste the text you just copied is where your picture will appear.
It sounds a bit of a faff, but once you have done it a few times the whole process will take less than a minute.
Stephen
You will find that the majority of us use either Imgur or Flickr. Hosting pictures on a forum takes up an awful lot of memory and costs so asking us to us a photos hosting site makes sense. One other advantage of it is that if you use other forums you can just use the hosting site links for them.
Thanks Hobby
I've had issues with "flckr" in the past with many broken /'time-expired'/ and otherwise corrupt links....perhaps, they've improved....
I find it strange that other model-related sites manage perfectly well with image hosting eg Model Boats, Model Flying etc. How do they manage ? Advertising revenue perhaps. I can see scope for Model Railways here as there must be literally hundreds (if not thousands) of suppliers out there with relevant offerings.
I'll give Imgur a go in the first instance and we'll see what transpires. Maybe "Image Hosting" should be a new topic ?
Dave
Sorry Stephen
Should have thanked you as well for the best set of instructions so far....
The words 'hoops' and 'jumping' spring to mind !
Regards,
Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on February 12, 2020, 19:50Advertising revenue perhaps.
I'll give Imgur a go
Personally anything that keeps advertising pop-ups at bay has my blessing, using a free photo hosting site is a small price to pay(!). Also I'd rather have my subs used in a more productive way than subsidise photo hosting when there's plenty of free alternatives...
I use Imgur (as i believe does Mick T) and find it easy to use.
Quote from: Hobby on February 13, 2020, 08:30
I use Imgur (as i believe does Mick T) and find it easy to use.
I do indeed! I migrated to Imgur after Photobucket pulled plugs and mucked everyone about - was that as long as a couple of years ago now? - No regrets. Imgur is very easy indeed to use in the area of uploading images to it, and also has a auto resizing facility if you want it, eg if you have a fairly high res digi photo and don't want to go to the trouble of re-sizing it in an editing software before uploading, you can simply select 800 x 600 for example, as the usual common photo size for online use and Imgur will resize your image in the uploading process without altering the original which you obviously keep safely at home!
To then post your photo on one of the forums, you simply click on the uploaded photo image, it will open with a menu bar alongside, select the BB code option and copy (one click of the mouse), go to the forum and right click your mouse to "paste" or press ctrl + v and that's all there is to it. Couldn't be easier, and (touch wood) none of the gripes that I often read about from others who use alternative hosting methods.
Mick
Thanks Mick. I'll especially look forward to 'auto re-sizing'. Something that has caused me a lot of wasted time in the past !
Dave
I use Flickr and that works well for me (up to now, anyway...) It sounds much like Imgur - presumably that is pronounced 'imager'? - and will similarly resize photos: just select the wanted size to post and copy the BB code given for that.
David.
Thanks David
Looks like I have 2 options now. Both require a 'BB Code' ? URL ???
Translation of this please....
Regards,
Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on February 15, 2020, 19:15
Thanks David
Looks like I have 2 options now. Both require a 'BB Code' ? URL ???
Translation of this please....
Regards,
Dave
A BB (bulletin board) code will be something like this:
[*img]http://nameofhost.com/picturename.jpg[/*img]. You need to remove the * character,s I had to add them to stop this post trying to find a none existent picture.
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or web address is just the http://nameofhost.com/picturename.jpg (http://nameofhost.com/picturename.jpg) that you place into the add picture box or between the BB code img prefix and suffix codes above.
Imgur gives you a list of options, you just click on the one you want (in my case the BB code), it copies it and you paste into your post... Simples...
Thanks both - I think the 'fog' is now beginning to clear...
Dave
Before staging any shots, have decided to finish a hill and build up one corner of the layout. This will allow some 'protection' to a girder bridge that I have only built one side of so far...(this corner seems to get a lot of bashing when moving the baseboard around).
I think this will provide better context for the few road vehicles and allow alternate positioning to be tried. Also, gives me a chance to learn the photo hosting side of things !
So, there will now be a short intermission...
Dave
The road on the standard gauge side is fine for a bus /AA repair man.
Up on the new hill /cutting (NG side) there is less room - single track country road petering down to a wide path....all embedded in the hillside.
I'm wondering about a tractor or Land Rover in 1/76 (or near). I think "Dinky" did an RAF one years ago but not sure about scale ?
Dave
Picked up a nice little "REME" Land Rover (Oxford Models) yesterday.
Will use this for the narrow hill-side track. Their catalogue lists several tractors, so, might try one of these later on.
Bearing in mind the title of the thread can i just suggest that you weather it a bit first? Most layouts seem to use those models (and Cararama ones) straight from the box, a layout with nicely weathered trains, buildings, etc., and then shiny new road vehicles with gloss tyres! (Guilty as well, I'm afraid!)
Good point Blair.
I was going to put some 'mud' on the tyres of the Land Rover (and the tractor). Maybe a bit of road splash as well behind the wheels and on the rear tailgate.
The REME insignia though is quite nice so, will probably leave that "as is". Any suggestions for paint type and shades of brown etc. I have quite a selection of paints - Humbrol, Revell, Acrylics, Oils, Gouache to work with ?
Application will have to be brush as the budget doesn't yet run to an airbrush set-up !
Dave
ps Land Rover is "Oxford Diecast" not as stated in previous post
The most noticeable thing I find about diecast cars on model railways is general glossiness of the paint rather than lack of specific weathering. The contrast with the generally more subdued "clean" finish let alone the weathered finish found on RTR railway models is stark.
There is the sort of glossiness of pristine glossy plastic models and the extra glossiness of whatever paint that diecast models are sprayed with and bold solid colours they often have. It is very shiny "enamelled" look. Possibly just a thinned "Dullcote" varnish wash would make make an improvement.
Hi Graeme
My weathering to date has been restricted to track, small buildings and certain scenic items. (Not been bold enough yet to tackle rolling stock /locos except a China Clay Ratio kit and a brake van...)
Yes, the Landie looks like it's just rolled off the production line in the 1950's ! The rear 'hard-top' cover is, however, a rather delicate shade of matt, light brown and probably just needs a little dirtying here and there.
Is the "Dullcote" varnish a brand /product name or, would I 'derive' it during the thinning process ?
regards,
Dave
I was perhaps a bit misleading. Dullcote is a brand name by Testors, and possibly hard to get. It is often used over decals.
The Vallejo matt acrylic varnish is water based and might be easier.
I've not tried either though as I use Games Workshop paints and varnishes, Tamiya and some Vallejo paints but not the varnish. I may even have been thinking of GW Ardcoat (which is gloss) when I was typing.
Thanks for that Graeme. I'll have a look around and see what's available...
Dave
Hi Guys - getting hopelessly lost with photography and imgur (should have held the phone landscape not portrait for a start !)
Something may appear below :
(https://i.imgur.com/1UG3ZWS.jpg?1)
The bus looks rather pathetic - but, it's a start !
Dave
'Landie' on the Hillside (needs some scenic development !).
(https://i.imgur.com/053Xdcn.jpg)
Can't seem to get Auto Resize to work though...
Pick-up in the SG goods yard collecting some sand.
(https://i.imgur.com/5DoonfM.jpg?1)
Not sure about scale. Think it needs a rear window and better glass ?
I think a plan is starting to form for the current crop of vehicles :
Bus - remove the 'painted-on' driver /passengers (this will make it look less 'toy-like'). Re-tint the glazing /paint in lights.
Red Pick-up - lose the side windows and replace with clear, partially open ones. Maybe fit a rear window (if it's not too much work !).
Landrover - dirty it up a bit and "dull-cote" bodywork.
New acquisitions : AA /RAC motorcycle and sidecar, tractor (may depend on up-coming scenic work), car with opening bonnet (very tempted by Oxford Diecast Jaguar 'D' type to go into a railway arch garage though).
Today the bus had it's first make-over. The front view of the driver is now opaque. Side views of driver /passengers have been 'knocked back' a little with some cyano' on the glazing. Head lights and indicators painted in. Not quite there yet but coming along.
Pick-up truck now has a cleaner windscreen, a painted on rear window, plus tail lights and indicators. Head lights and side windows to finish (these will be semi wound-down as in hot weather).
Dave
Using diecast vehicles has a drawback in that without some surgery, the front wheels are always straight, even when parked. With kit built vehicles it is easier to pose the wheels to a more natural attitude. Just slightly turned out makes a big difference, remembering that each wheel, is offset, not parallel. You may think this is too much detail, but it does cover the original post of "looking right".
Oxford Diecast do a nice range of 1940/50s cars, at reasonable prices. Pocketbond Classix, EFE, Corgi 00 and a few others can be found on the web or at exhibitions. Though the latter isn't available to us just now, due to Covid19 restrictions. Good luck with your project anyway.
Happy modelling, stay safe and well.
Tod
Thanks for the tips Ted. I'll try and get some steering lock (and, maybe a bit of "Ackermann") onto the Landie's front wheels. Latest shot of the L-R on the hill-side /cliff with some scenic assistance:
(https://i.imgur.com/zvsl4v6l.jpg)
Quote from: Dave Cooper on March 07, 2020, 16:52
Hi Guys - getting hopelessly lost with photography and imgur (should have held the phone landscape not portrait for a start !)
Something may appear below :
(https://i.imgur.com/1UG3ZWS.jpg?1)
The bus looks rather pathetic - but, it's a start !
Dave
I don't think the bus looks all that pathetic, I think it's the wheel hubs that let it down, they're too silver and toy-like.
But I have found that photographs have a nasty habit of showing up all sorts of errors that just aren't noticed on the layout when viewed from a normal distance.
Thanks Peter.
I hadn't noticed but, when I next get it out I'll have a look. Perhaps a bit of 'mid-to-dark' grey instead on the hubs ?
Regards,
Dave
Once you point it out, it does look a bit "Hot Wheels"-like. :)
Yes, perhaps a grey or a colour that might be described as "what was once red".
Haven't had the layout out for a while (tends to be more of a winter time thing for me).
Thoughts on the bus wheels - quite simple really : Lose the 'spoked' look by adding discs over them, then match-paint in red as near as possible.
Discs will probably be card, 1/64 ply or similar....and, perhaps, dished.
I'll try out a few ideas then post some results.
Dave
A pimped out bus. Why not?
Robin.
The bus looks way too small to me.
I think the London buses are 14 foot high and 8 foot wide so in 4mm scale that should be 56mm tall and 32mm wide.
You could well be right Brian.
I'll have to get my measuring stick out...
Dave
Quote from: B.Meldon on August 12, 2020, 16:36
The bus looks way too small to me.
I think the London buses are 14 foot high and 8 foot wide so in 4mm scale that should be 56mm tall and 32mm wide.
Maybe its a minibus😎
I'll see if I can organise a shot with the Landrover, Bus and Pick-up truck together as a size comparison.
It may be possible (using distance perspective), to make them 'look right' by placing the larger vehicles further away - we'll see...
It's not too difficult to get true scale road vehicle models these days, one of the basics when hunting is to avoid the really cheap stuff unless you know what scale it is, especially those at toyfairs/swapmeets, especially eBay, and exhibitions. Cararama are well known for being overscale for 4mm, though nice models, they are actually 1:72 and WILL look wrong alongside 1:76 models, a classic Mini being the same size as a Land Rover, for instance! Stick to the well known manufacturers if you are not sure, Oxford Diecast being the best known. Getting an underscale one isn't too much of an issue as you can use it as "background" but an overscale one is impossible to hide and looks wrong against true scale models.
One of those things that is easy enough to get right with some care, but can ruin a good model if done wrong.
Here's a classic example, someone on eBay saying theyare 1:76 despite one photo showing the 1:72 on the packaging!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/264767045244?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=264767045244&targetid=909953938039&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006838&poi=&campaignid=10204071303&mkgroupid=104953043274&rlsatarget=aud-629407026665:pla-909953938039&abcId=1145987&merchantid=6995734&gclid=CjwKCAjwydP5BRBREiwA-qrCGq9Fq91cNfl2b0i6xpYWUpys9VQZkKP7bHIeFyV9eROQh960-DtpNxoCRcgQAvD_BwE
Thanks for the tip Blair.
The REME Landrover is Oxford Diecast and is 1/76, so I'll use that as the main reference. As you say, at around £5 each they're not going to break the bank...
The bus does look undersize and the pick-up oversize (unless it's a USA model and they are somewhat larger than they're UK equivalents when full-size). I think I may swap these two out if I can't get a suitable placement for them on the diorama - 2 for 1 anyone ?
Regards,
Dave
(https://i.imgur.com/MFbW0ROm.jpg)
Size comparison of the 3 main vehicles:
Bus - Corgi Juniors, Daimler Fleetline - 70mm long x 20mm wide x 35mm high.
Pick-up - Matchbox, Holden - 70mm long x 28mm wide x 20mm high.
Landrover is Oxford Diecast 1/76.
I would be happy to swap the bus and pick-up for one 1/76 vehicle (not fussy what it is)...
If you are looking towards replacing the bus, perhaps a single decker might suit the location? Even a "Mountain Goat" type bus? It depends on the layout's backstory. On the other hand perhaps the location does represent somewhere wild and rocky close to a more urban setting and a double decker fits the bill. It need not be a like for like swap unless that is the effect you are going for.
Quote from: Dave Cooper on August 14, 2020, 12:57
.. and the pick-up oversize (unless it's a USA model and they are somewhat larger than they're UK equivalents when full-size).
You mentioned Holden, in which case it's a long way from home. Perhaps owned by an ex-pat Ozzie called Bruce? ;D The size could be about right.
"This here's the wattle, the symbol of our Land.
You can stick it in a bottle, you can hold it in your hand." ;)
According to a search the Holden Ute (to give it it's true name) is 1899mm wide so that would make it 1:68 scale (roughly!).
I think I can live with the Holden in the goods yard and the 'Landie' on the hill-side (see page 3 photos)....at least, for the time being. But the bus ?!
Maybe an open top or, a single decker (as suggested). Will have to think on it a bit more.
Dave,
Forget about swapmeets and exhibitions etc as they don't exist at present, but you can still find things if you have access to charity shops and there are still some possible finds at market stalls.
Get yourself a pre-loved playworn EFE/Corgi/Oxford 1:76 bus from a rummage box for a couple of pounds maximum and repaint it. Probably sensible to donate your bus to the same charity shop as I don't think anyone here will be interested in it due to it being possibly only relevant to 3mm scale and it isn't really a scale model of anything anyway. This will save yourself a lot of trouble trying to figure out what to do with 3 toy vehicles that are not compatible with each other!
Mick
Not a bad idea at all Mick.
We're about to make several donations to local charity shops anyway - I'll have a rummage while I'm there and see what's about...
Dave