[PRCo] Re: Modelling Seasons

[Dietrich, Robert J.]

I wasn't around on the weekend so I'll bring up the rear with my opinion,
having the advantage of all other responses.

I model early Fall because when I was a kid I read in MR that Fall was the
easiest season to model.  I now question the truth to that, but I still
think it is the best season to model.  Things are more colorful, trees are
thinner on leaves than in the summer, windows can still be open, people can
be in short sleeves as well as coats; come to think of it most model figures
are NOT in summer clothing.

But you asked about mixing seasons.  I can think of no valid reason not to
model mixed seasons - that was a YES!  There are a couple ways to approach
it.  The first, and most obvious, is to create two completely separate
scenes, as Fred Bruhn indicated.  Create a barrier between the scenes and
don't even have trains go directly from one to the other - a 3600' tunnel is
a good separator.  The second method is to gradually go from one season to
another.  Going from summer to fall by making vegetation a lighter green
then to yellow green then to bright fall colors over a span of three feet or
so.  Go from all building windows open (don't forget the screens), to some
closed, to all closed.  You get the picture...

So what seasons?  I personally think Winter is the hardest.  First the trees
are bare.  It is very hard to model bare trees, you can never get enough
small realistic branches.  You can go for freshly fallen snow but it is hard
to make it stay put and still keep it looking like snow.  Don't try
operating on loose snow, you won't be operating long.  A more likely winter
scene would have wet streets with puddles, plowed snow banks, and melting
snow on the roof - if you figure out how to do that one well let me know.
Then you have to make it dark and gloomy, there aren't that many bright
sunny snowy days, especially in the 'burg.

I think you should go with the tunnel effect, at the south end is a bright
sunny spring day and at the north end is 1945.

Bob


 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Jim Holland [mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net] 
Sent:	Saturday, May 19, 2001 5:17 PM
To:	-->- PRCo -- WP -- JTC -- The Big *3* -<--
Subject:	[PRCo] Modelling  Seasons


Good Morning!!

	Have asked this question on other lists and will ask it here as
well. 
It does concern models as opposed to the prototype, so for those
interested, we can take it off list once started.

	What do you think about modelling 2-or more seasons on the same
layout,
specifically a PRCo layout so we are not talking about a line running
over the Rockies and into the Plains!!??

	Not so much concerned with the details of modelling each season -
that
can come later (winter being the most difficult  --  it seems.)  Just
what are the thoughts of such a mix on one layout?

-- 
James B. Holland

        Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
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