Layout Update 12.5!!!

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[@LionelLLC]

Don't worry about 15 lights being too many. I often hear people say they don't have enough lighting. Never heard someone say too many lights. Give it time and you'll be happier every time your see it.

[@craigstrains55]

The layout looks great! New lighting really enhances the scenery.

[@mikesamericanflyertrains]

Looks awesome Chris!! It's almost impossible to overdo lighting for an area as large as your layout is in. The difference is night and day - sorry, pun totally intended. All the other updates and additions are pretty phenomenal. The tunnel portal and retaining wall turned out great, and all the little added details bring those areas to life. Crazy how a deadline for the TCA Convention layout tour can be such a motivator. Great job as always!!!

[@tomrogers5516]

The lighting spectacular, Chris. Really does credit to all corners of the layout. I remember being told that the larger the scale, more detail. You've done a great job adding little things and trees to fill out the scene. Really fine looking results. The double portal stone work opening is gorgeous. A fine update to see.

[@kiscofallsrailroad]

Lighting is such an important part of the dynamics of bringing the layout to life!

[@ChrissTrainsandThings]

Amen!

[@johnstup4479]

Chris, I had the same problem on my layout. Two areas were dark due to a bulkhead that contained duct work and plumbing. Added two more led lights to fill in the dark areas. Thankfully that's all I needed. The lighting on your layout looks great!

[@2railnation]

You never have enough lights. Specially for videos.

[@davidkoehler136]

the added trees are a plus great looking layout

[@theflintlockhunter5423]

New lighting looks really good, can really see those sections now. Digging that WLE Mallet, too, although those look better in the WM Fireball! 😁

[@joegabuzda976]

New lighting makes a nice difference. All thos added features are fantastic. Sometimes we keep putting things off and off. You now have an insentive to get them done, Your layout visit during the convention will be a great hit, Wish I could be there.

[@ozarkmidlandsouthernrailway]

The additional lighting is truly awesome! The new trees, and small details are really great touches. The tunnel portal, the new wall section and new scene do make a nice difference! Well done!!! Bill B.

[@betsy662]

Looking really good, now you can really see the "un-weathered" stuff that shines like new, the new lighting really helps to see the parts of the layout that you couldn't see before! 😊

[@therosejewelrailroad489]

Everything looks real nice Chris. You really have a lot of good ideas. I can see where/why you wanted to add more lighting. To be honest us you tube viewers never noticed. Like you said you added camera lighting while filming. You inspire me to add more detail to my layout. We have a lot of guests coming over this year for the holidays. I’m really wanting to add detail to my layout and add more shelving to the train room to display some of my favorite locomotives that just don’t fit on the layout. I enjoyed the video and thanks for the update. Ken

[@StephenKoferl]

Awesome layout update. Layout looks fantastic.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

That looks great, 15 is not overkill. Assuming you have them on a dimmer so you could always turn them down if needed. Really cool that they could install those lights around the duct work, I had that same issue but just went with track lighting.

[@mattstrainroom]

One of the biggest regrets in my current train room - and highest priorities for when I move next year - is better lighting. As my train room has concrete ceilings, I chose poor lighting over plastic conduits and ugly "aftermarket" installation practices with regret. One thing I look forward to it good lighting. I feel like it kills the detail and color in a lot of my locomotives, especially the blue and green steam locomotives look black in poor lighting.

[@MarkWick]

Your layout is, of course looking great and better with each update. For purposes of having people come to visit, the new lighting is great. I m wondering if you have the ability to vary brightness and/or turn lights on and off individually. I have more than 50 years experience as a professional photographer and had to learn to master light, the only thing that can be photographed. (Photography means painting with light.) I really enjoy building layouts and operating trains, but I am loving creating miniature worlds as studios for photography and video work. Balancing direct natural light with fill lights is really important for those purposes. My previous layout was in a ground floor room with a window at one corner. That window lets afternoon light shine directly on some of the layout. Every opportunity I could, I took photos and videos as that ever changing sun light made parts of my layout look very realistic. My current layout is in a second floor room with the West wall mostly window, and most of the North wall also window. As the Sun moves further North and adds more natural light to the layout, I am looking forward to the many different looks the layout will have as the light direction changes. There are no fixed lights in this room, so the windows and additional lights I add and can move, give me lots of options. I also recently moved control of all my lighted buildings to one transformer, attaching all the buildings to the base and variable posts of the transformers, so I can adjust the light levels inside the buildings to balance properly with the light surrounding the buildings. I actually liked the areas on you layout that had some shadow, as long as it was only one shadow, as those areas looked more real because of the variation in light looked very natural. Of course shadows on your backdrops were quite distracting. I look forward to more updates from your layout.

[@Flamingfred]

I hope next vid will have the viewer mail. Love those.

[@calebeastertrains]

Excellent video! I love the detail you have done on your layout and it looks fantastic!!

[@modelrailroadingthesouthwest]

That looks great! The layout is looking great!

[@daivdwalker2374]

Have you heard yet when the base 3 command is coming out? I've heard it got pushed back...and also can you talk about the new MTH SYSTEM coming out I've heard they have a new 1 also is it another Tiu system or going 2 be something Iike the Lionel Base 3 with built in WiFi ? Would like 2 get Mth set up too so I can buy their engines as well. Also if you know anything about the new MTH System will it run their old engines too like the Proto sound 2 & 3

[@user-gz3ze4rh4e]

This just goes to prove, a layout is NEVER done!

[@TheSpinCycle7]

What turbotrain is that?

[@chrislambert5249]

New lighting looks great. Really helps tell the story of your layout. 🚂🚃🚃