There was a time in the late 70's that I remember quite well. The time George Lucas expanded our imaginations and created what would be a series of classic movies called Star Wars. I remember it fondly as a youngster, as I was involved in trains and a big fan of the dark side...
This influence still has its impact on me even today. Now after so many many years they have come together with what will be a December 18th, 2015 release and guest appearances by some original cast members. So it is fitting that I melted the two together in a photo shopped piece I imagined..
One great thing about photography today is you can age just about anything you want. Add in a photoshop program and a skilled computer artist, you will have an endless variety of interesting sciences to look at. Me? I just take a bunch of iPhone pictures and study them to see how I can make it look more realistic through the eyes of the camera. It allows me to see things statically. I can then dable as I watch my trains meander on their way. It is my therapy in this ridiculous fast pace world. I love to do a lot of things, but have found myself narrowing down the list. Getting older and going through a lot does that to you I guess. Now that the lenses grow a bit dimmer, I see things way differently than I used to. Wish I knew what I know now at 25 years of age.. Who doesn't?
This blog is a compilation of thoughts and ideas, (mostly model railroad related) but also tied into this individuals soul and thoughts about things) it is a timeline of sorts as well. There are a lot of thought processes going on that one might disagree with and that is ok. I don't even agree with me on some of the things I write either, but it is good to look back on now and then just to see the thoughts at the time..People change, change is good, don't get stuck on what you think or think you know., model railroading is the escape hatch and therapy like I said beforehand.
I don't even care if it gets read. It is for me and a cheap invite to look into my world. Some will connect, many more won't which is par with real life actually.
So how does it all relate?
Scroll to the beginning and see how it all connects if you really want to know. It's not like a book and the pictures are pretty cool to look at even if you skim over the blathering. Perhaps my kids will find it one day after I am long gone and find it amusing as well. I know I would!
The lumber yard above wasn't exactly how I envisioned it, but size and space dictated the way it turned out. ( like real life eh?) it is awesome to me that I finally was able to secure the yard to a mill for real operating procedure on the layout.
My fantasy railroad is based on reality to a certain degree by area, structures and how the NP wanted to connect with WP in real life in Northern Cal..everything else is what I see through my historical fantasy view.
Not so much of a review but an observation. So now that you have gone this far indulge me a little bit. Many moons ago in college..1987 to be exact , I was taking art classes, with some loft notion or idea of becoming an undiscovered world famous artist, only to discover that the most famous ones usually died penniless or were poverty stricken their whole lives and became known after their deaths.. That disappointment obviously redirected my career a bunch and put the kibosh on my what was then two dimensional talents. All that to say this... If it wasn't for my discovery of Kato track around 1993 I would have never continued the N scale hobby in a layout form. N scale needs perfect track to run smooth. Now- before offending those modeling purists who "Atlasize" ,"Peco ize" or hand fab track on their own layouts... let me first say I admire and respect anyone who can make those brands run flawlessly. My hats off to you really- you are micro engineers of greatest caliber.
Just don't get bent out of shape about people who will die on the hill of Kato track. There is great reason to love it, almost Instant gratification being one of them. There is nothing worse than poor running trains. KATO saved the N scale marriage for me, and I am sure it has impacted others in their own way with similar results. The fact that many have experienced the same and coupled with my personal experience with other brands, (I believe) afford me at least a strong verified opinion and position towards KATO.
Now recently I have taken some flack about my "pontification" of KATO track. (look that up on google) I don't believe that what I am expressing is dogmatic in any way at all. It is just my personal experience with it. I could care less if you want to utilize other manufactures. Dogma requires that you think and be like me, and we don't need another me for sure. Besides it is one way not the only way and this isn't the church of KATO and the doctrine of such if any allows for all shapes, sizes and personalities no matter how slanted.
And a word to the purist,,,, The toy like opinions, the unrealistic this that and the other comments you really should tuck it away, because you really are not that smart. You chant and beat the drum of hand laid track or peco or atlas and yet you have the following, glaring, unrealistic things among your own. How about those throws that look so great? Yeah they look good, but the throw arms would be 10-12' tall to scale of a person who had to throw them for the switch?? But I digress, and as I said before, they are fine and kudos to you on your track choices, just dont diss my love for KATO...
Happy times... Now go impress me.
Decided to try and make a paved crossing on the corner of the Shasta Line today. I remember now why I didn't like it the last time I did one. It is a definite weakness in my skill level. Perhaps it's the coloration and frosting cake look. I could probably build it up some more on the out side. I added granny's homestead to the entry of the town on the corner. It was plain otherwise. Should I get the rest of my roads paved or stick with gravel roads..? That is the question.
Well, that question was answered through the mulling and trolling over of various FB group inquiries about how my initial road turned out... Ask for feedback and the purists will certainly give it to you. I am one who is stuck in the middle, I love realism, but mixed with whimsical fantasy. I think the "it is my layout and I will do what I want"comes in to play when I don't like the answer given by fellow modelers. I think every modeler has that within their ego and narcissistic diatribe, so that is ok. Anyways, the last two photos show my day two update to du ones dissatisfaction. It might even have an updated 3.0 version, who knows, but for now it is infinitely improved... At least to me and some of the purists who gave their ten cents worth of criticism.... Model on
Was able to find another before photo to make a comparison from 2003. I wish I would have taken more pictures back then...
Don't forget to Document your progress along the way..,, here are before and after..,
Not everything is imported. Or,what I should say not everything sold is new.
From time to time our resources allow us to market vintage trains from years ago. Often times it is complete collections to just a few key pieces. Needless to say they represent a passion for many that helped fuel importing years ago...
