Gerald Grudgings
Thanks to you John, your comments are very pertinent. Noted especially layout height, I use 48″ datum, find it is right. I do not try to run after dark scenes so coach lighting is of no personal interest. My line under construction is set in West Gloucestershire in the 1920s which at that time was not really a holiday destination. Noted though about holiday dressing; I now live in a modest seaside town, everyone seems to wear the same clothes all the time now, had forgotten the era of the pretty girls’ dresses of the ’50s/’60s, although am old enough.
It is all too tempting to over-clutter the scene. When I visited Germany with work, used to try to go to a show or two there – there were “exciting things happening” everywhere you looked. One or two, perhaps, but only. Am hoping to revisit Jack Dugdale’s Ortogo layout ideas, especially stray cattle roaming the line, but probably not more than 2-3 items, and low-key. A working hoist of sacks; possibly the old sea-salt sitting on the quay, worse for drink, who leans to one side from time to time to break wind.
Your paragraph about the eye being drawn to human figures is a revelation, certainly had not thought of it. Like the coupling problem, it is probably not a solvable issue. Should coaches stabled in sidings be full of passengers? How long before we have opening carriage doors? Moving passengers? We have to draw the line somewhere or no modelling will ever get done.
I AM concerned that with the exception of a small minority of very able young modellers, that the generation X & Z as they are known, by and large have little practical skills nor wishes to learn them. Where we live it is very much a “can-do” scene, if we can do it, we do, if not, we wait forever of pay quite ridiculous rates; when not working at a local preserved railway I spend most of my time doing repairs at home.
Good article, thanks again.