Help with Scenery please.

[HST.]

I think I may have gone a bit over the top with my scenery, and before I go much further, I would value any opinions given.  You will see from the pics that I have been working from left to right, and my better half doesn't think the right side looks as realistic as the left side, which does not have as much detail on it yet.

 

Dave.

[Mudkip Orange]

I think the whole thing looks spectacular.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

I agree that you have done a very good job so far; an excellent piece of work!

 

One suggestion, if I may, about the woodland behind the layout. I would personally go for a little bit of colour variation in this area...a few darker shades of green as well as some suble yellows and reds...just to lift it a little. You are lucky inasmuch as you can look at the layout as a whole. It is easy for a layout to become unbalanced in colour and tone if it is constructed in sections; something I have experienced with Yamanouchi Oshika.

 

For me, the most effective scenery is that which is built up over a period of time...adding new layers to give a greater sense of depth. One other thing I would suggest...as your scenery becomes more subtle, so you may need to look at ways of gently weathering down the trackbed; you will be amazed what a difference that alone will make to the scenery in general.

[Kamiyacho]

go for a little bit of colour variation in this area...a few darker shades of green

 

I agree,  It is quite nice as it is and perhaps studying some real life hillsides will give you ideas on where and how to add other colors.  I tend to use a base green, which may change depending on the season I am aiming for, but then also mix in some other greens as not all plants and trees are the same green. Or perhaps there are more conifers in one area than another.

 

the most effective scenery is that which is built up over a period of time

 

Also a very good suggestion.  I also tend to start the way you have here, so that the trains don't have to run past white mountains, and then gradually go back and add a little bit here or there.  The best scenery is indeed done in layers. 

[Martijn Meerts]

Some more colors would definitely help.

 

What immediately draws my attention though, is the track. It looks out of place because it's so squeaky clean and has such straight edges. You could try to soften up the edges a bit, make the track look more like it's been there for years and years already.

[Tecchan]

Like for the trees, less clean grass would help. Different colors and length would make it more wild.

 

I really like it, well done! :-)

[HST.]

Thanks for all the comments, I think part of the problem is that it is my first layout and sometimes I don't know when to stop, I just keep adding flowers and grass tufts etc and I don't want it to end up looking like a "Botanical Garden"...LOL.  I think I will just step back for a couple of days and run my trains, make a Video of my new Kato 151 Series Kodama and post that later today etc, then take a fresh look at it.  I am far from unhappy with the results, it's just that I had some doubts creeping in as to whether it was looking a bit too "fussy", if you know what I mean, still, "onwards and upwards" !

 

Dave.

[Lawrence]

Would agree with what others have said about the track, some work there would certainly improve it.  As would mixing in some other shade of green around the place, I'm no expert on Japanese trees so my question would be are they really so brightly coloured? would you consider making them look a little less perfect?  Otherwise, excellent work, minor tweaks will improve it further though 

[HST.]

Slight change of subject, while I'm on about my layout, I need a name for it.  As I live on Poplar Ave, I wondered what the Japanese word for Poplar might be, and if it would be ok.    I think I've just got used to the track, it doesn't jump out at me like it would to someone seeing it for the first time.  I guess a light dusting with an Air Brush would be the best answer, if I had one, can't imagine it to be much fun ballasting it !

 

Dave.

[KenS]

It looks excellent.

 

That said, the track does look too clean. One thing to consider would be using a diluted black ink wash to darken the ballast a bit, take off some of the plastic shine, and provide a bit more depth (I can't find the link to the website that originally suggested that; it might have been Quinntopia).

 

In terms of the scenery, the amount of grass tufts on the left and the relative absence of them on the right does look a bit unbalanced, but you could address that by creating a reason: show people using the field on the right for some kind of recreational activity that would explain why the grass was kept short. If there is, you need a pedestrian grade crossing (which could just be some planks or asphalt modeled with painted styrene and a crossing light or even just a sign).

 

Another detail to consider: grass is often tall right up to the edge of the ballast.  At best, railroads spray weed killer along the right of way, but aren't likely to mow it, and adjacent land-owners won't own some area adjacent to the tracks but beyond the ballast, so it won't be harvested or mowed by them.  Around places where there are people, there might be some kind of fence (if only a single pipe-rail or similar) to make the property boundary obvious and keep people from walking onto the right-of-way by accident.

[qwertyaardvark]

As an engineer, I have zero aesthetic taste.  Pick any color, as long as it is black! 

 

Being serious now... I will agree that the grass and trees are a bit too one-shaded. For my if-ever-to-be-completed Ougakemachi, I specifically bought different color trees to mix it up a bit.

 

Personally, as a rail modeling noob, i prefer to have my railroads squeaky clean, <sarcasm> just like they really are in Japan! </sarcasm> I admit it does make it more realistic, but I don't think i could ever bring myself to dirty up my precious imported thingies, so you won't see me gunning for Railroader Modeler magazine anytime soon. :P

 

As far as Poplar in Japanese goes, there's the engrish POPURA (ポプラ) or Japanese Aspen / White Poplar (箱柳 - はこやなぎ - hakoyanagi)

[HST.]

I have to admit I like my trains etc to be clean, I have a good friend who builds Brass "O" Gauge Steam Loco's and he always weathers them, they look great, but just not for me.  I like the name you suggested, "Hakoyanagi", guess that means I will have to find a few Aspen/Poplar trees, if anyone makes them.

 

Dave.