G’day Mates,

The thing about a ceiling layout is that one cannot belly up to it and see it at eye level, unless, in the case of the NE&E, you happen to be seven feet tall.  And without the incredible eyesight of Col. Augustus MaCrae (read Lonesome Dove)  it’s nearly impossible to see all the figures and interior decor and weathering I take pains to add to my scenes in order to create realistic dioramas.  (I’m considering purchasing some opera glasses to hand to my guests.)

Fortunately, there’s photography.  With a long lens, say, my 70-200mm, I can capture all of the fine detailing and exhibit my layout to all of you and justify the effort I invest in making my scenes come alive.  Still, I’d love for you to see it in person, and so, sometime this summer, we’re planning another New England & Erie BBQ open house.  Stay tuned for dates.

Blue Star Diner on the NE&E
(Click on the image  to see an enlarged view.)

The diner scene above is one of my most recent scenes.  The diner is a kit by Walthers Cornerstone.  The lights are by Miniatronics and the neon signs, which are animated by the way, are from Miller Engineering.  Figures are by Preiser, the VW van is from Model Power and the motorcyle is by Busch.  The YMCA is built entirely from card stock and the facades are from Model Builder Software.  The tree is steeplebush from our meadow and the remaining shrubery is by Woodland Scenics. The highway railing in the background is by Rix Products.  Digital command control by NCE and Tony’s Train Exchange.

Rob and I are updating the Railscenics website, adding a new fine art print gallery where we’re offering oak-framed and matted 18″ x 24″ railroad prints, and several stunning, new custom photo backdrops.  See all the exciting new changes at www.Railscenics.com. 

Below is a sample of our new backdrops. (Click on the images to see the enlarged versions.)

General Mills

Katahdin SpringKatahdin SummerRed CanyonRumford Pulp MillSagebrush Cliffs

I look forward to meeting many of you at the model RR shows.  I’ll be at the CVMRR show at the Fireside Inn and Suites in West Lebanon, NH on April 10, from 10:00 am  until 3:00 pm.  See you there!
In the meantime, keep those wheels on the tracks!
Gustav

 Canadian National 7470 at the Station

To start off, I’ve had the privilege of visiting and photographing yet more remarkable layouts since early last summer when I travelled extensively to photograph many of the top layouts in our region for the northeast regional convention.  Most notably, I was invited by my friend and fellow nature photographer and train chaser, Eliot Scher, to visit his Munoz Lines in Carmel, New York.

Even after five years into this hobby, I don’t consider myself qualified to be dispensing model railroading advice, especially to all you masters out there who have helped me come such a long way on my own layout.  However, here’s a nugget I would take to heart unless you have the constitution of a Berkshire – if you’re into one of the smaller scales, say, HO or N and especially Z scale, be extremely careful about visiting a layout in a much larger scale. 

I’ve seen O scale equipment at the shows.  And, of course, I’ve seen prototype trains.  Oddly, I haven’t felt compelled to own either or to envy anyone who runs O scale equipment or ever entertained the urge to run away from home to work on a real railroad.  That was before I spent two days in Eliot’s train room. 

I still don’t want to work on a real railroad.  However, coming home from Eliot’s two weeks ago it took me a while to warm up to the NE&E, my own HO ceiling layout, again.  In photography, we refer to this syndrome as “lens envy”.  I guess in model railroading, one might call it “scale envy”.  Fortunately, a few days later, my Green Mtn. GP40 arrived in the postal mail from Tony’s Trains with its new QSI Quantum Revolution-A decoder and sound.  That, together with the addition of some phenomenal lighting on the NE&E from Miller Engineering, was all I needed to pull me out of my funk.  Nothing cures “scale envy” like a new engine, some animated signs, and the skills of the crew at Tony’s Train Exchange!   

To see Eliot’s Munoz Lines O scale layout and understand why I was so smitten, simply watch his holiday video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiinaVX6zvA  and enjoy!

Then, a few weeks following my visit to Eliot’s home just prior to the holidays, Eliot came up to photograph The Conway Scenic RR “Steam in Snow” excursion with me.  In previous years, one had to be a penguin to endure the frigid temps and chase the train during the excursion in order to intercept it at various photogenic locations along the way.  This year, I could almost have done it shorts, shorts with long johns.  Consequently, we weren’t caught off guard slacking or warming ourselves in the truck when we should have been behind our cameras and we got some great shots. 

Steam on the 4th Iron
 

 Canadian National 7470 Steaming By
 Around the Bend 

PROGRESS ON THE NE&E

I’m making considerable progress on the New England & Erie Railroad, our ceiling layout here at home, and I’d like, once again, to invite everyone who gets this newsletter to come visit us.  A visit to the NE&E is unlike any op session you’ve ever been to.  You’ll get some down home cooking, spirits if you desire them, your own wireless cab, and you can run and watch the trains even as you’re enjoying desert at the dining room table!   Just send us an email and Cheryl and I will be delighted to have you over.

NEW BACKDROP – The Lake Terminal R.R. Co.

 

Visit www.Railscenics.com to see a larger view of this and other backdrops.

 Keep those wheels on the tracks,

 Gustav