The Beginnings of a Desktop Layout

[Sir Madog]

Although my much expected package, containing two more Tomytec buildings, road vehicles and figures, did not arrive by yesterday, i was able to do some work on the station module. The right side now start to look "right".









I hope that my package will arrive next week, so I can add the finishing touches to the module and start on my next module, which will have a Shinto temple on it.

[KenS]

Looks good.  Can you post a photo with a slight down-angle from above?  I don't think we're really seeing most of the scenery in these side-on views.

Also, have you considered adding wires with EZ-Line or something?  I've seen it used by Japanese modelers to simulate the dense overhead wiring typical of city streets, and I'm going to try using it for both that and catenary on my layout.  You've done such a beautiful job with the transfomers and insulators that it just cries out for wire.

[Sir Madog]

I will do that in the next days.

I was already pondering to string some "wire", but I have to find out where I can buy the E-Z line stuff here in Germany.

[Sir Madog]

I have been working on the city scene on my station module. Here is a quick shot of it:



Still needs a lot of details, like power poles and power lines, a fence (in the background) and some more, of which I cannot think of right now.
Coming along nicel, though.

[The_Ghan]

A little black cat, perhaps, peering aroundt the corner of the blue building towards the two people up the street.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[Sir Madog]

A little black cat, perhaps, peering around the corner of the blue building towards the two people up the street.

Cheers

The_Ghan

How tiny would that creature be? I already have issues with my eyesight and trembling fingers.

We all like pictures, so here are some more:

[The_Ghan]

yeah yeah ... I'm teasing you!

How about a bunch of school kids following a teacher holding a flag?

I didn't see one bicycle in those pics ... this must be the only Japanese town without one.

The girl in the white mini-skirt (she didn't go unnoticed) needs some luggage ... she's off to Uni for the semester ... or leaving her boyfriend ... or something like that!

A lot of these little towns have a small fire station with a fire truck about the size of a Toyota Landcruiser.

I love the brown stucco building ... it reminds me of "home".

Cheers

The_Ghan

[Sir Madog]

Those Tomytec figures are quite nice, considering they cost only a fraction of what Preiser is asking for their little people. Have not seen a cat yet...

[keitaro]

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/A2140/page/4

Not sure if tomytec have cats but scenics do a tad pricey but ..... i bought one set of deer for my forest not yet on but they look all right.

[cteno4]

A little black cat, perhaps, peering around the corner of the blue building towards the two people up the street.

Cheers

The_Ghan

How tiny would that creature be? I already have issues with my eyesight and trembling fingers.

they are pretty small, but you can get 1/144 castings even pre painted. they are made for 1/12 scale dollhouses in 1/12 scale dollhouses... some other furniture and animal castings that could be useful in some unique scenes here and there!

http://www.virtualdollhouse.net/VDSTORE/Metal2.htm

its looking nice sir madog!

cheers

jeff

[The_Ghan]

... they are made for 1/12 scale dollhouses in 1/12 scale dollhouses...

Now that is just weird!!!!  But it begs the question, do they have a 1/12 scale dollhouse for the 1/12 scale dollhouse in the 1/12 scale dollhouse?

Cheers

The_Ghan

[keitaro]

surely they do 

[cteno4]

... they are made for 1/12 scale dollhouses in 1/12 scale dollhouses...

Now that is just weird!!!!  But it begs the question, do they have a 1/12 scale dollhouse for the 1/12 scale dollhouse in the 1/12 scale dollhouse?

Cheers

The_Ghan

your are looking at something about 3-4mm size. pretty easy just a box with a pointy end...

jeff

[Sir Madog]

Not much progress in recent weeks, as I am battling a nasty and serious illness. I have adapted my plan slightly, just to incorporate an engine house which I will use as a shed for my EMUs. The plan for extending the line on the right side give me some headache - this is the place where my prize houses will go. Need more thinking on that.

Well, here is the updated plan:

[brill27mcb]

How long is your desk???   

Rich K.

[Sir Madog]

Rich - somewhere along the way of construction, the layout was changed from a desktop layout to a shelf layout.

[Hobby Dreamer]

Thanks for sharing your progress and hope you feel better..

This is another good example of a layout in N that could pass for HO!

Cheers
Rick

[Spaceman Spiff]

Now I am looking for some inspiration for my fifth module, joining this one to the right. I´d like to include a temple or a shrine, but don´t want to have another tunnel. Any thoughts?

Use these: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10126412 (Sankei Shrines)

Since your modules are very shallow I would encourage you to use this too: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10123336 (I don't remember if you are using Uni- or Finetrack but you can find this for both). By using this wooden foot path in accordance with the Shrines (and maybe if you can model a Tori) you'll be giving the illusion that the train is cutting through a temple area. Which at the end could also give a first hint of a "urban" area. Your next module could then be the first stages for a station.

You could also have some stairs (leading to a temple with maybe the shrine somewhere along them) and a retaining wall on a one side of the track. The other side could feature a Tori, a second shrine and maybe a hint of asphalt.

For the retaining wall and the wooden crossing give a look to this video. It'll give you ideas.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/F8tGshiFl3I" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/F8tGshiFl3I</a>

Thanks for the youtube link. That's mine kind of railroad. I could sit in front of that train all day,

Spiff

[Spaceman Spiff]

Great work  Sir Madog 


Spiff

[Sir Madog]

Not an update, just a little note that I am still around. I am in the doldrums, at least with regard to working on my layout. It´s basically a lack of attitude, which will hopefully change soon.

Before I can start work on the next module, I´ll have to put up the shelf. For whatever reason, I don´t feel like doing it. My desk is now filled with the modules I have built so far - there is only room for my little notebook left.

Hope to be able to post some new pictures soon.

[disturbman]

Naja, there is no rush. Take care of yourself first. :) Anyhow, I'm sure that, once you put those shelves up, you'll feel better ant more eager to keep building those modules. :)

Mach's gut! :)

[DanMacK]

Ulrich,

Love the layout!  Absolutely beautiful work.  It's inspired me to start one similar in T Gauge :)  Hope you find more ambition soon and get it up on the wall.  Can't wait to see more.

[seabilliau]

These shots are very inspiring.  They are changing my entire thinking of what I want to do.  Thanks for inspiring me.

[Sir Madog]

I am still in the doldrums as to continuing to work on my mini-modules. I am currently making plans for a "real" layout, with the option to attach the modules I have built so far.

[cteno4]

Sounds like a good plan, sometimes it good to put something aside for a while and work on something that excites you more, then when you come back to the thing set aside its either really exciting or you have come to a firm decision its an alley you dont want to put more effort into. while its nasty to make those decisions, sometimes its the best to let you move on in general.

very good thought to be able to attach your modules to them! fun little point to point option or something fun to enlarge the layout if you decide to eventually take it to a show or event! you might find taking some of this stuff to a club meeting or small event or train show a way to get yourself energized some and maybe even find or create a few new japanese modelers locally to hang out with some. again having some one else local you can get together with once and a while really helps keep the doldrums at bay! are there any japanese events in your area at all? might see if there is Buddhist temple as they sometimes have little events that might like this at it.

your stuff is really stunning and the simplicity of the modules construction and scenes really make a compelling piece that i think everyone would enjoy. the new 4 seasons layout would also be a big crowd pleaser and fit in the back of someone's van! with the 4 sections i can just see the little crowd around it rotating around the layout with quarterly pauses for oohs and ahhs as each new scene comes into view. thats something many layout dont have.

cheers

jeff

jeff

[Densha]

Is the crossing on this picture from Tomytec?

If so, how did you get it fitting with the Kato Unitrack?

[Sir Madog]

Yes, it is!

It needed some adjustments to fit to Unitrack. The ballast shoulder has a different angle than Tomix track.

[Densha]

Fast reply!
I also have a Tomytec station and it the crossing doesn't fit either because of the ballast. What did you 'adjust' then?

[Sir Madog]

Sorry - I took a nap. I am an old man, who enjoys taking a midday nap on weekends :)

I too k a jeweler´s file and filed it a bit until it fitted.

[Densha]

No problem.
I guess a normal modellers vile would also work, won't it?

[Sir Madog]

A friend of mine showed up with a bundle of racks and shelves, and after a couple of hours work and many four letter words, the shelf is now up and the layout found its righteous home! Best part of it is, that I found a way to add a few more feet to the layout, allowing me to build up to 8 more modules - without getting a divorce!

Here are a few quick shots I took a few moments ago:

[cteno4]

Madog,

very nice! looks like you can have a few more shelves as well! maybe a different scene on each shelf?!

cheers

jeff

[Sir Madog]

Just one more picture:

[KenS]

That looks great. And the layout looks really beautiful.

But now that it has a home, you need a backdrop. 

[Densha]

That looks great. And the layout looks really beautiful.

But now that it has a home, you need a backdrop. 

Agreed.

[Sir Madog]

KenS - you are right, it needs a backdrop, if only to "distract" the view from those ugly metal racks. But which one? Most of those photographic backdrops are, say, a little to apparent, putting to much emphasize on them. That would leave me with painting one myself, and I doubt I´d do a good job with that.

[KenS]

That's a good point.  A backdrop should never draw the eye, just fill in the parts you aren't looking directly at.

All you need are trees.  If you can find some pre-printed ones showing distant wooded hills, and cut them off so they stick up perhaps 8cm above the highest point on the layout, they might be subtle enough not to draw the eye.  You could make your own from photos, but that requires some photo-editing software (to fade the photos and stitch them together, as well as enlarging them) and gets expenseive in printing costs, so it's probably not an acceptable solution.

[Densha]

I don't know if this would help you:
http://shiagenin.michikusa.jp/haikeigazou.html

[Mr Frosty]

That is looking excellent.

[Sir Madog]

It´s been a frustrating and unrewarding week, in terms of job search. I have given up looking for a job in Germany and will concentrate on Canada and "Down-under", incl. New Zealand.

Nevertheless, I found some time to work on the layout. I built a console to hold my Kato power pack. It is not really designed as a hand-held throttle, so the console comes in quite handy.



Needs a dab of paint, but that will come later.

[KenS]

Sorry to hear about the job search.  I hope you turn something good up.

Hobbies are a good way to relax and get your mind off of problems for a time. I think it's important not to set them aside entirely to do more urgent things. And on that subject: Nice console.  How did you attach it to the underside of the shelf?

[Sir Madog]

Just with 4 screws, right through the board.

[mwsteele]

Looking good madog!

Just an unrelated side note, Canada has a lot of opportunities opening up recently. I know it's a smaller area, but take a look at Nova Scotia, they just got a big investment from the government in the tune of 25 billion dollars, lots of jobs opening up in all sectors.

[Sir Madog]

Nova Scotia would be my favorite - I have a friend living there! My wife is still a little insecure, leaving everything behind is a big step once you have surpassed that magical "50" mark.

Built another module this morning. It is not scenicked yet - I need to think about what I´ll be doing with it. I want it to be a "transition" module between the mountains and a more urban setting.

[Sir Madog]

Just a few more pics I took today!









I need a backdrop!

[mwsteele]

Looks amazing. I love the clump foliage. What is that red train that you have on the tracks?

[Sir Madog]

Looks amazing. I love the clump foliage. What is that red train that you have on the tracks?

It´s a Eizan Dentetsu KK class 900 EMU nicknamed Kirara. Eizan Dentetsu connects the outskirts of Kyoto with Kurama.

[Densha]

Is it true?

[Sir Madog]

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eizan_Electric_Railway

[Densha]

Huh? Did you actually click on the link? (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38509-japanese-prototype-n-scale-desktop-layout/page__st__175)