Then do most folks NOT scenic their Standard Gauge, just place track and buildings, etc.?

When I see standard gauge layouts, they are usually set up as "displays" so to speak, with the thought of showing the beautiful trains and accessories in their own right.  Some may have a nicely painted base.  Others have trees and inhabitants.  But they all seem to be a caricature of the real world.  Not a bad thing in my mind, rather like visiting OZ.  

I'm sure someone here will find pictures of fantastically landscaped standard gauge layouts to post, as I know there must be some out there.  I'd like to see them posted.   

To put tinplate STDG into some "scenery" perspective, you need to realize that tinplate STDG originated many decades before the scenery techniques we are familiar with today were invented and applied. And, the majority of tinplate STDG trains were setup up temporarily on the floor, which is not a great venue for constructing scenery. Most prewar tinplate oriented scenery items were scenic plots or separate trees/shrubs on small platforms, items that could be set out for a temporary layout, yet easily enough packed back up with the trains. So the usual "prewar style" would not have much scenery.

Complex scenic model railroads began to be developed a little in the prewar period (mostly with Hornby O, OO then HO layouts), but the real scenic and detailed layout expansion happened postwar, once tinplate went out of production. So the two styles, tinplate and detailed scenery, never really coexisted in a sense. That is, tinplate got phased out for more realistic "model railroading" with scenery.

Of course, variations always exist and there are some rare examples of tinplate STDG layouts with developed scenery, but I'd say that is more of a "modern era" thing.

Tom Snyder's layout was a fabulous example of a scenic-ed Std Gauge layout.

Steve

https://youtu.be/fzMTEBJEF44

The old tinplate accessories / trains are an art form unto themselves, so my preference is to keep scenery to a minimum and let the trains and accessories, with all their bright colors, be the focus of the layout.  I've visited other tinplate/toy layouts that have had fairly elaborate scenery and I thought they looked great, but my personal preference for my layout (currently under construction) is to highlight the trains & accessories by minimizing scenery. Bottom line, your layout is your world, and there are no rules here other than to have fun and build it the way you want it.

Tom's layout is cool. It may be fully scenicked but still in an old school style. Kinda like an overgrown prewar Christmas "putz" without a tree in the middle. I like it.

Here you go; from Jim Kelly's Tinplate Times archive:

http://www.tinplatetimes.com/Layouts/MikrG/mikeg.htm

I think most have seen my layout. I wanted the look of years ago. I think they look best this way. JMO

DOC posted:

I think most have seen my layout. I wanted the look of years ago. I think they look best this way. JMO

oh, lordy!!! This is the look of probably most like what I'd hope to achieve, a little scenic-ing, but not too much. Clean and tidy, pristine. Shall I use a word, elegant. 

Doc, I'd love to ask about some of the details on your terrific layout at another time.

Carey TeaRose posted:

DOC posted:

I think most have seen my layout. I wanted the look of years ago. I think they look best this way. JMO

oh, lordy!!! This is the look of probably most like what I'd hope to achieve, a little scenic-ing, but not too much. Clean and tidy, pristine. Shall I use a word, elegant. 

Doc, I'd love to ask about some of the details on your terrific layout at another time.

BlueComet400 posted:

The old tinplate accessories / trains are an art form unto themselves, so my preference is to keep scenery to a minimum and let the trains and accessories, with all their bright colors, be the focus of the layout.  I've visited other tinplate/toy layouts that have had fairly elaborate scenery and I thought they looked great, but my personal preference for my layout (currently under construction) is to highlight the trains & accessories by minimizing scenery. Bottom line, your layout is your world, and there are no rules here other than to have fun and build it the way you want it.

I totally agree. While I think the layouts with complex scenery are a super work of art, I prefer the look of DOC's layout.  Just the old trains, accessories, buildings, etc. When my layout happens, that is the way it will go. Again, to each their own. They're all good.

Matt

My layout is far from complete. I started it in Aug 2015. Hoped to have more done but the back Surgery held things up. I have a lot of wiring to do, Not ready to go under and do it yet. I can run trains. I also have to ad the 4x4 elevated section at the far end. when done I will have 4 trains running.  3 o gauge and one standard but I might make it 2 of each. It will never be done because I will keep adding items to it.

DOC posted:

I think most have seen my layout. I wanted the look of years ago. I think they look best this way. JMO

DOC - Did you make the scenic plots yourself?  If so, how did you do it?   This is the look that I would like for my layout but I believe that I would have to make my own scenic plots.  Thank you.

No I did not make it. I got them at a auction about 2 maybe 3 years ago. Got it for a steal  .   I was buying what I thought I would like on my layout. I only have 2 buildings that I do not have room for. I might be able to use one of them om the elevated section that I have started yet. This lay out is 7x13.

Doc, this is Lionel No.919 artificial grass sprinkled directly on rollered-on wet green paint, am I right in remembering this?

What is the area at ground level in front of the houses, just ivory latex paint?  

And what are the little staircases leading up to the houses, please.

Roadbed roads etc. are a cream color I rolled that on. The green I had mixed to what I thought looked like what Lionel used I brushed it on so it was a little thick It is Lionel Grass sprinkled on. I then pat it into the paint. I vacuum up the loose grass the next day and reuse it . I go back and touch up the areas that the green bleeds under the tape.

The Steps I have no idea I bought this so I do not know what was used to make them .

I have always admired Tom Snyder's layout. I am designing my permanent layout layout with this concept in mind.

JoeG

Wonderful eye candy!

Ladies & Gentlemen,

   If you have not had the pleasure of seeing Thoms incredible Tin Plate layouts in person, to say the least they are Tin Plate incredible.  His game room walls are also a show piece for our hobby.   Treasure the invite, if you are lucky enough to get one.

PCRR/Dave

My layout started as an O gauge single level with scenery. I started adding more and more tinplate to the mix and just kept the grass, trees ect.  When I saw Tom Snyder's layout with tinplate and scenery I really took to the idea. With inspiration from Tom I put together this junk yard standard gauge scene on the same idea as on Tom's layout. The Hell gate bridge is one of my restoration jobs from an original Pre war Hell gate bridge.

Why do most 3 railers so hung up on doing what most other folks do?   

Chris,

   Great restoration job on the HG Bridge!  I really like the junk yard scene also!

PCRR/Dave

I like to think of this as Standard Gauge Art appreciation.

I don't want to reinvented the wheel, just make it better (and larger).

So many toys and so little space and money.

I'm all for scenery on a tinplate layout. Here's a quick video I made of my O gauge tinplate layout. My standard gauge layout is pretty small so the scenery is lacking but that's just do to the size of it.