Today my buddy Jack, my director of scenic design, was here and we/he worked on extending the mountain along the wall. It will eventually blend into a photographic backdrop. There is more to add but it was a productive day. My grandson was here to help and learn; as was I.
Jay
This is also posted under “what did you do today “ but I’ll include it here togo along with the outstanding information and photos that have been shared.
My buddy Jack was here, my director of scenic design, to work on extending the mountain from the corner onto the back wall. We used a piece of foam board and he went crazy from there. With more to do, it was a milestone day.
Jay
Very nice Jay.
Thanks Joe, it’s all Jack’s doing. I was just a holder.
About 5 years ago, I decided I needed a second Arrival & Departure track which ran around the stub sidings in the yard, but I had two other objectives.
First I didn't really want to see the entire A/D track especially running behind the yard tracks, and I also needed access back there in the corner.
So I decided to scratch build and kit bash some large industries and an Ice and Cold storage warehouse to provide icing service. The buildings are large enough that you can't see the hole behind them, and I can get back there if I need to without the need for a lift out. Finally I added some shallow relief buildings attached to the back drop so I can still get back there and stand between the back drop and Atlantic Ice building.
The track leaves the yard after the last ladder switch, goes under Atlantic Ice & Cold Storage and exits to the far right through the arch under the 4 story factory.
There's enough going on now in this corner, that it doesn't scream "I am an unrealistic corner"...
@Tranquil Hollow RR- Your buddy is very talented Jay. Layering the foamboard was a great idea.
@chris a- One of my favorite scenes on your layout Chris.
Bob
Thank you gentlemen. Jack has the vision and he is determined to make it look as realistic as possible. I just inquire as to what supplies I need to pick up.
I get only weekly digests on this forum, so I'm a bit late coming to this party. Early on this thread, StudeDude suggested curved backdrops to avoid the harsh corner angles. Here's what I did to create that, following the advice in Dave Frary's "How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery", 3rd ed. Wet the back of a Masonite board and bend, which will allow up to 24" radius curves. Photos show the construction stage and end products, after scenery.
These first two show construction stages.
The next photos show completed rounded corners (general area, then close up), which look more natural. Jay (Tranquil Hollow RR) indicated he wants to create a Christmas scene. Christmas items are added to the winter area during that holiday period. I have limited space (9X14) and lots of classic Lionel accessories, so had to build a 3rd level in the corner for the rocket launcher. Bedsides the rockets, I launch Fisher Price figures at the request of grandkids. With the height of the launching pad, I add some weights to all items for launching to avoid hitting the ceiling.
The last 2 corner photos show various scenes for the area: lumber and seacoast. The seacoast is actually a lift up section to allow access to the interior of the layout. I had the panel for the backdrop customized to show the road going into the distance. Also took time to paint the rocks to blend with the backdrop, which resulted in a nice transition.
Hope this helps with some ideas for rounded corners.
Michael
Here’s my favorite corner on the layout:
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:WOW that’s a big corner to take care of Richie. I like your fascia too.
Thanks - it's come a long way since initially built. I had a corner next to a paneled drain pipe that I needed to fill, so I decided on the mountain with a wooden fence at the base. I used WS shaper sheets and tried to curve the sides around to make it look more realistic. Buzz Lightyear oversees everything now.
That looks great Bob. The billboard is unique and I had forgotten about Dentyne. I remember attempting to convince my parents that I didn’t have to brush if I chewed Dentyne. Didn’t work.
@Michael Pags posted:I get only weekly digests on this forum, so I'm a bit late coming to this party. Early on this thread, StudeDude suggested curved backdrops to avoid the harsh corner angles. Here's what I did to create that, following the advice in Dave Frary's "How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery", 3rd ed. Wet the back of a Masonite board and bend, which will allow up to 24" radius curves. Photos show the construction stage and end products, after scenery.
These first two show construction stages.
The next photos show completed rounded corners (general area, then close up), which look more natural. Jay (Tranquil Hollow RR) indicated he wants to create a Christmas scene. Christmas items are added to the winter area during that holiday period. I have limited space (9X14) and lots of classic Lionel accessories, so had to build a 3rd level in the corner for the rocket launcher. Bedsides the rockets, I launch Fisher Price figures at the request of grandkids. With the height of the launching pad, I add some weights to all items for launching to avoid hitting the ceiling.
The last 2 corner photos show various scenes for the area: lumber and seacoast. The seacoast is actually a lift up section to allow access to the interior of the layout. I had the panel for the backdrop customized to show the road going into the distance. Also took time to paint the rocks to blend with the backdrop, which resulted in a nice transition.
Hope this helps with some ideas for rounded corners.
Michael
Michael, thank you very much for sharing these photos. I have the same situation with a corner and the windows. We’re still trying to figure that out. This is a great insight.
Jay
Glad to help, Jay. FYI, another outstanding resource for building a layout is the text, Building a Layout, by Jim Barrett (rest in peace). It's a compendium of his Barrett in the Backshop articles in O Gauge Railroading magazine. I found them to be invaluable.
Enjoy the ride!
Michael
If your backdrop is printed or painted on poster-weight paper, you don't even need to attach it to the walls. Just hang it like a curtain from furring strips suspended with fish line. Corners are very easy. You may need to staple additional strips to the bottom to add a bit of weight to prevent curling at the bottom edge.
I posted my corners on the postwar/modern layout earlier. Here a corner shot on the Tinplate layout. Not much scenery in this corner.
I struggled with this corner...and in the tradition of Skip's love of NY City and his wonderful layouts depicting it, I came up with this design. My goal here was to create the illusion of depth using backgrounds behind the city buildings. The scene is partly done, still considerable work on the lower level not shown in the photos. Skip's love of the hobby and urban layouts resonated with me...I had always wanted to build such a layout.
@darlander posted:I used building flats on two corner sections on both sides of a window and in a rather obscured corner, a mirrored tunnel portal to extend the length of a yard track. This corner is somewhat hidden by Mt. Iron.
Cheers, Dave
Darlander, that looks good and flats are still under consideration. How do you get back to your corners?
Jay
@Paul Kallus posted:I struggled with this corner...and in the tradition of Skip's love of NY City and his wonderful layouts depicting it, I came up with this design. My goal here was to create the illusion of depth using backgrounds behind the city buildings. The scene is partly done, still considerable work on the lower level not shown in the photos. Skip's love of the hobby and urban layouts resonated with me...I had always wanted to build such a layout.
WOW Paul, you obviously nailed it.
@pennsyfan posted:I posted my corners on the postwar/modern layout earlier. Here a corner shot on the Tinplate layout. Not much scenery in this corner.
Unique use of space Bob, love it.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:Darlander, that looks good and flats are still under consideration. How do you get back to your corners?
Jay
The mainline is a peninsula attached to the far wall under the mountain. The industrial yard and four track yard is accessed by an aisle that runs from the room entrance past the window and down to the far corner. Everything is within an easy reach.
Cheers, Dave
My tunnel is one corner. My RH is another. Camp Swab protects the control area while my police station and train station covers another corner. The boys now protect the brewery and inside corner coming from the back side of the RH.
All my corners are open and curved because I have a walk around U. I moved the track away from the end of one leg to allow for a road.
@John H posted:All my corners are open and curved
Yes. Having curved or irregular corners helps a lot. Right angles don't occur much in nature.
Yours are great!
On the opposite diagonal corner of the basement is my rendition of the town of Strasburg, where life takes a slower turn as compared to the urban city. Here I tried offsetting structures at various angles to give the impression of greater depth. I am re-building the rear part of this town in attempt to cover the corner better, and this is the before photo.
That’s a good idea with offsetting the structures Paul. Also establishing the slower turn theme helps to develop the overall atmosphere. What is the height of your corner and how do you get back there?
Jay
Rrgeorge, very nicely done and the overall layout look great.
@superorob posted:My friend Steve P. SIRT incorporated a nice idea by filling up a corner.
He has is new switching layout on YouTube – EL2558
Thanks, regards Rob W.
I miss Steve's posts here on the forum and articles in the mag.
@coach joe posted:I miss Steve's posts here on the forum and articles in the mag.
Yeah, me too. The era when he was an active contributor was IMO the Golden Age of Scenery and Structures. He was near the center of a vibrant and imaginative group of scratch builders. I am grateful to have been around for part of it. It was always exciting to see what he was up to.
There is still lots of amazing work today, but somehow the emphasis has shifted in ways that are hard to articulate. Maybe it has to do with a shift away from the use of traditional materials and techniques, which I guess is inevitable.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:That’s a good idea with offsetting the structures Paul. Also establishing the slower turn theme helps to develop the overall atmosphere. What is the height of your corner and how do you get back there?
Jay
Jay, the corner is approximately 40" from the layout edge and I can reach standing on a step stool. I should be finished with the alteration in a week or so, and will post the "after" photo.
Thanks Paul and I look forward to seeing the results.
When Woodland Scenics came out with the Cabin I thought this was the perfect place for it. Not only that but it reminded me of the cabin my brother owned in upstate New York. So in memory of my brother this will always be Brother Roy’s corner. 
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