Photo plank

[invercloy]

If you keep mentioning 100 pages it might, Alan  ;)

[invercloy]

I've now removed the backscene, this gives more flexibility for photos as I can now photograph from any side. I may buy a sheet of plain blue card to act as a backdrop, but I'd like to try using it outside with a natural backdrop as well.

Track is now fixed down, and after spraying it with Railmatch sleeper grime aerosol paint I had an idea... I then sprayed the paper mache with the aerosol, and whilst wet (well, damp) I sieved some plaster dust onto the surface. Then I gave another coat of sleeper grime. It's worked as a relatively effective texture for soil and was a quick and easy way of doing it. Admittedly it may be a bit pricey, but I have no need for the aerosol in the immediate future, and I find that the Railmatch ones prone to clogging if left for a prolonged period.



I've included one small section of wall. This is a small piece of plaster casting from those I've used on Isle Ornsay. They are from moulds by an American company named Bragdon Enterprise.



This has had several coatings applied to it from some Derwent pastel pencils. These are great and really useful for applying colour to scenic items. The photo above was taken after the first coating, the colours have become a little more intense since as the subsequent layers have been built up.



I had a spare bit of 'crazy' track, so this was glued in place with some cyano. After the railmatch sleeper grime had dried I dry brushed the sleepers with some with acrylic paint. Both these applications of paint have helped make them look less 'plasticy' and more like wood.

Since these photos were taken I've also used some chinchilla dust for ballast. This is quite pale straight from the packet, so it's been toned down with a small amount of black poster paint. It has had a liberal amount of 'wet water' applied to it to fix it in place.

More soon (potentially static grass tomorrow if everything dries out ok).

[MickT]

Looking good Tom, but I think you must have some sort of backscene at the back and sides - particularly as the view of a vehicle posed above the rock part will include a good portion of the right side as you look at it. A plain pale blue or grey card will be perfectly fine - Andrew Burnham uses a plain pale blue card around A3 size or perhaps a little larger to mask unwanted clutter and tummies behind the scene when he takes photos for RM.

Mick

[Graeme Dunbar]

 How about a separate backdrop or infinity backdrop that can be placed where needed, whatever the angle of view? It would increase the number of possible "scenes".

Light tents, canopies  or whatever they are called seem to be popular these days. There was one at the last MR exhibition I went to. It might even have been a "documentation day" for one of the scale/gauge societies. I'm not sure what the benefits are. Lack of hard shadows perhaps?

[invercloy]

I'm thinking along the lines of a separate moveable bit of pale blue card which I can put wherever required depending on the angle of the photo.

Light tents sound far too complicated for what I'm aiming for at the moment, but it would give full control over the lighting so I can see the appeal.

[MickT]

I'm thinking along the lines of a separate moveable bit of pale blue card which I can put wherever required depending on the angle of the photo.

That's the way to go I reckon! I suggest that something reasonably large eg A3 would be a good safeguard and will not confine all photo attempts to macro shots

[Hugh Norwood]

Can you "green screen" like they do in the cinema (it used to be "blue screen" in the early days of colour TV)
Then you can put the background in later...
:)

[Graeme Dunbar]

So long as the locomotive ain't the same green or you could get some interesting effects!

A  separate piece of card is a good idea. As well as being able to place in the appropriate place directly behind the subject it means you can put it a little way away so that it will be out of focus.

I would give the infinity backdrop a try. All you need is a largish sheet of thin blue card or stiff paper, something to hold the back up and (if the card is rolled to keep it clean) something to hold the front down and stop it curling. If there is a convenient wall to hand all it needs is some BluTak. When the card gets grubby just replace it. Carry the backdrop around in a mailing tube.

If you want to get all fancy with your own portable wall then clip the card to it with bulldog or drawing board/easel clips.

Edit: I've not tried it but pale blue cloth might do it too, but avoid creases.

[invercloy]

Green screen!?  :o

A bit of blue card will do for me.

I've now painted the fascia panels and will hopefully be adding some static grass to it this evening.

[invercloy]

Well, that didn't take long...



Pretty much done now, if I do more it'll distract from the stock being photographed so I'm tempted to leave it as is.

[Isle of Stoner]

Very nice. Just crying out for a stream... maybe a halt... a quarry... some cows... shagging couple in the bushes... bushes...?

Only joking, like you say simple is best so the rolling stock is the picture.

John W

[Hugh Norwood]

Very nice. Just crying out for a stream... maybe a halt... a quarry... some cows... shagging couple in the bushes... bushes...?

Yeah - it would be a bit bad if it won "Best Layout" wherever it appeared!!!  ;D

[petersmith1942]

much ado about not a lot; asume it will have a back board. Nothing more annoying in these pics than heads,arms,layouts,walls in the background
OK now back into the bushes
Peter Smith

[invercloy]

Thanks John, yes simple is best for this purpose :)

Peter, see previous comments re backscenes in this thread.