Small moments...

Amazing work! Thanks for sharing. I was instantly drawn back to a simpler time and place. Only thing missing is the clean fresh air and the sounds of nature!

Thanks, Strogeys! I much appreciate it.

I think we all have those many small moments, forever fixed in our memories, which, somehow, meant something to us. Places. People. Events. Lots of little corners of our life's story which, somehow, manage to find their way onto our layouts. I suppose we are trying to preserve them.

Frank

beautiful scenes as always, frank. telling stories, creating a narrative for the viewer and capturing moments that resonate always seem to me to be the essence of model railroad scenery. and you do it SO well! btw, what is that tree armature material you used in the foreground of the first photo? looks like sage from here and it looks great. thanks.

jerrman

Yes, Jerrman, it is natural sagebrush, which I utilized from Jim Elster's Scenic Express "SuperSage" kits. 

Thanks very much for your very kind words. I was hopng I might hear from you.

Here are other examples of my use of it.

Frank

yes, I'm usually lurking, learning and looking around, only commenting on something special which peaks my interest visually (which of course, to my eye your work never fails to do). really like those two additional scenes as well. thanks for the heads-up on the sagebrush. 

jerrman

Nice Kodak moments, Frank.

As always, great modeling Frank. Love the rusty mobile home. Can I please have your permission to copy it? Thanks.

Jack

Wow, this is cool, hearing from Vulcan and Jack C. Smith about the same modeling. You add to the fun, gentlemen. Thank you very much.

Frank

Jack, Copy it? Sure! In fact, here are a couple aspects of another such project jus' as further example in that regard...

Frank...beautiful as always!  Could you please tell me more about the chainlink fence?  Did you scratch build it or...????

Alan

Very nice Frank, hope to see you at York at the end of the week. Stay well and be safe on your travels.

Dave

Thank you Frank! My humble efforts won't match up to you, the master, but I'll have fun trying. I hope you have a very successful York, as in "bring nothing home". I can't make this one but perhaps I will be there in October to chat a bit.

Jack

Frank, York highlights for me are Miller Signs, Arttista booth, the modular layout, and looking at the beautiful stuff in your booth.

A couple favorite enginehouse shots from various carpet central/Christmas layouts I've had in the past couple years.

And there's always got to be a hobo camp

Frank...excellent job...and very inspiring as well. I'm hoping to perfect my "tree-work" to your level in the coming years.

-Len

Thank you, Vulcan (I'm enjoying watching the progress of that basement project,) Alan (leavingtracks, I got the chainlink fencing used in the trailer vignette from Alan Graziano,) Dave (it was very nice speaking w/ you again at York, as always,) Jack, Joe, & Len, for your very kind comments. It's so nice to hear your perspectives.

Jake, those are charming scenes, and I esp.enjoyed that "higher-end" hobo camp w/its own outhouse!

Here are a few shots of a "sandlot" ball game I enjoyed crafting (though I made the lot a tad too rocky, I think.) I hope you like the view (anyway.)

Frank

I like it, Frank.

Until the basement gets down to where I can get into the meat of it, here's a few small moments from the upper levels.

 Closing Time.

The boy's room.

The girl's room.

Watching Lucy.

Aawwwlawdee, jus' when I was feelin' pretty goodabout showing a little scene that I get a kick out of crafting, you share these jewels!!!  You make my little thread suggested here come to real life!!!! You add real joy with such perfection, Vulcan! My mouth hangs open. And you're so cool, calm, and collected about it all, almost doing an , "Oh, by the way, did I ever show you guys.." You are too cool, really, Master Vulcan.

Let me make a fuss over a few examples of your stunning artistry:

"Closing Time" : 2-toned poolstix; brackets holding the brassrail onto the bar front; a paper napkin on the bar; a variation in barstools!

"The Boy's Room": hinges on the toy-chest (hinges !!!!!!no less!!!!!); pull-cord on the locomotive; printing on (what I perceive to be) a Tinker Toy cannister!!!!

"The Girl's Room": printing on the 45 record label; reasonably well-worn door frame and door; personal items on the furniture.

"Watching 'Lucy' " : crank handle on the Victrola; rabbit ears; pole lamp.

And above all that, those rooms have a plapable charm and comforting feeling to them which is very, very welcoming. You tell very convincing stories, indeed.

Um, um,um, where does it stop! Your mastery is sublime, for sure, sir. I stand in awe and bow, once again, in your direction.

Frank

Thanks, Frank.

You're much too modest about your own work.

Those are Lincoln Logs, btw.

WOW Moonson, just incredible scenery.

beautifully done.

THANKS,ALEX

MOONSON WHERE DID YOU BUY THE CHAIN LINK FENCE OR

IS IT A KIT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS

Ginny always runs unopposed !

Alan Graziano hand-crafted it for me.

Thank you very much for the "Wow"and the really nice compliments, Alex.

Frank

What a great thread!   Thanks for starting it Moonson. I agree with Vulc: Your work is exquisite and holds its own with anybody's. And, the composition of those photos is just beautiful. You have a fine eye!

Holeymoley! Thank you for the rave review, Pete/Avanti.

My hope is that we can have a good time, here, seeing and sharing what each of us has been doing with little bits of real estate on our layouts (though I have to admit, I do like showing you what stuff I've come up with, too.) So, I'm hoping we will be seeing lots more of the mini-scenes that are out there in the countless miniature worlds we have created from our memories, imaginations, and serendipity. Sharing friendships, events, and the many victories we each have while crafting our layouts appear to have become significant factors in our enjoyment of this hobby of ours.

Frank

Oh, and we like to run trains, too.

Moooooooooooooonson !!

Master of the scene !

Scrappy

I was hoping for the same thing.

Oh very well...

My layout is still in the "broad strokes" stage, so I really don't have any detailed scenes that I am proud of. But, not being one to hesitate to make a fool of myself, here are a couple of "rough sketches":

Here's one with an old-school Lionel hi-rail look:

Here, the mechanic took a moment off to snap a shot of the J going by:

That's what I'm talking about, Pete! Thanks.

Some plasticville.

David,

That is one of the best scenes I have ever had the pleasure to examine.

What a fabulous dirt road and those plastic hobo houses . . . wow !!!

I love it !!

Scrappy

I agree w/ you, Scrappy, it is beautiful. For some reason, it appeared on my PC screen full-screen-sized and really looked fabulous. Everything about it is cool - the realistic amt. of foliage; the dirt road worn more along the center than on the sides; the grates for grilling food; the tone and colors of the woods; even a washtub!!!!! And that scene certainly demonstrates - IMHO - how adaptable Plasticville can be. Inspirational. The place depicted is somehow lush yet dry. Cool. Very cool.

Frank

An old one from when Lionel moved production to China....

Peter

Thanks guys!

Just finished putting this in a vacant space. It is a old CHOOCH kit.  

Dave, that does make Plasticville look respectable. That pathway is well done.

Peter, I think I ate there once.

Nice use of space, Gary. I like those "small" scenes.

To help keep the ball rolling. Here's a "quiet' moment. Reading the morning news.

Last day of summer vacation:

Jim

Great work "guys", what a fun thread!

Outstanding use of that space, Garyg. You sure are giving the eye plenty to see; completely believable. Also, that's the first I've seen an oil tank sheltered like that (not beng from a rural area) so it was a pleasure to learn that idea. I'll be using it.

Frank

These are old pictures but the Funeral Home on my layout is one of my favorite models.