Question about staging a static scene

Bah!  I spend weeks working on interiors that nobody ever sees. 

Just add little switcher and move the cars once in a while.

I don't get it, why would you permanently position a car in one spot? The only time I'd think of that is if you're modeling, say, an abandoned car on a disused siding...

I second Pete's idea. Gives the space multiple looks.

Andy

I would open the doors, offset the car in front of the building and add ramps for loading.

Avanti posted:

Bah!  I spend weeks working on interiors that nobody ever sees. 

Just add little switcher and move the cars once in a while.

Detailing interiors gets expensive and takes a lot of thought and time. I'm just starting this one.  If I do an interior I try to put a naked/semi-naked person in the windows..makes people look in  

Lee

Dummy siding..not even powered...wanted a small industrial area and chose to go this way with it..There's a Plymouth switcher at the end without a motor in it

joe

And, I'll 'third' Pete's sentiments (photo #3), but with a caveat...  

If this is to be a permanent position/scene, then it would be a great opportunity for an unpowered (a.k.a., dummy) switcher with a brakeman on the ground motioning to the engineer, another dude hanging onto the platform railing, an engineer leaning out of the window watching the brakeman, etc., etc..    It would convey 'motion' to the whole scene...the boxcar being slowly moved to the dock.

And, re the idea of permanent positioning of cars on sidings.....I support...I'm an advocate.  And that's especially regarding operating cars....milk cars, cattle cars, horse cars, log dumpers, coal dumpers, box heavers, refrigerator cars being 'iced', etc., etc..  Why not?  Some of them....that ol' rascal the 3656 cattle car/pen, f.i.!...are so fussy and cantankerous that, once you find their 'sweet spot' of position and voltage(s), it's useful to one's temperament to LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!  Of course, that's just IMHO, you realize.

And I'd go even one step further...  As demonstrated on several well-known layouts (e.g., Roadside America), there's nothing wrong with 'dummy' sidings....modeling track 'switches' that really aren't functional switches at all....they just appear to merge with the mainline...no points, no frogs, no guardrails.   And, parking permanent cars on these at industries and to create other vignettes....it all adds to the busy-ness of the railroad scene.

Sure, there's no switching 'fun' to this sort of Trompe L'Oeil, but there's also minimal expense (functioning, reliable track switches are not cheap!), no maintenance, no plethora of uncoupling tracks, fewer switch-related derailments, a good use for less-than-serviceable rolling stock, etc., etc., blah, blah.

All in all.....It's a good thing.

IMHO.

KD

Park yer flatcars there instead.

Put the boxcar on the right side of store front. The observer's eye typically "follows" from left to right (we read from L to R. That takes advantage of the store front and the box car in the scene; where the eye is lead across the scene.

Professional artist and photographers take advantage to this natural phenomena (visualizing from left to right). 

Thanks KD. When the whole area is done there will be 5 buildings having plenty of imaginary activity. Number 3 works for me

Doberman, I'm attempting to create a similar scene.  For now I have the box car with both doors open and I added a lumber load.  I've been trying to find a nice size UPS truck to back up to the loading dock on the left side of the building.  The truck I tried is 1:55 and seems a bit too small (not in the picture).  I really, really like Ace's suggestion of a flat car so it appears I'm now searching for two items. 

dobermann posted:

Detailing interiors gets expensive

 

Oh, I don't know. Each of these cost me maybe a buck apiece: