Model Making Quick Tip: Scenes and Transitions

In this Model Making Quick Tip, I talk about my approach to story-based model making and describe how to effectively use scenes and transitions to create a model railroad with narrative depth and visual interest.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
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[@ArizonaGhostriders]

Your transitions are very good.

[@HumancityJunction]

Story Based Modeling, I love that!!!

[@clangerbasher]

Very clever video on an aspect not often covered.

[@SteveLee-iw6wz]

Outstanding lesson, presented professionally.

[@coxsj]

Excellent tip!

[@MineMountModels]

Excellent video and explanation of your techniques. Thanks

[@magnificus8581]

Really great video, thank you!

[@folkertvanwijk5168]

Just watched this video and think it's a great explanation. I love your visions, ideas, knowledge and filosofie on model railroading. Thanks!

[@PaulsinMo]

Dave, this production was a huge help in thinking. And your skills remind me of being at Disney. One scene flows to the next. Your work is outstanding 🙂👍

[@MrTimb56]

That was a prefect explanation and really was the missing piece I needed to figure out my layout, thank you!

[@travisshephard5491]

I didn't even realize I was naturally doing this. But by you pointing it out I'm able to better see how and where to set my transitions. Makes it more manageable. Thanks for the great tips!

[@fraxz88]

I didn't realize this was considered a freelance design. I like the idea of making 2 foot scenes, it makes it feel like I can actually complete a layout 1 bite at a time.

[@MichaelGanschowGreen]

This was superb “storytelling” in and of itself.

[@tonyharwood8408]

Thank you for a very thoughtful post. I will keep it in mind as I finish building my own layout.

[@vincenthuying98]

Hi Dave, thanks 🙏 for such an excellent narration on visual story telling, two foot rule, vignettes and transitions. Humbly think these concepts provide both great info as ideas and opportunities for other modelers to improve the scenes on their layouts. In addition, love how you’ve done those transitions between the scenes on your layout. Definitely get how the rock remnant on the right hand side of the t-rex scene defines the space, even without adding an inserted 2D divider. Especially when we’re telling the story of a railroad, the rolling wheels bring the narrative from one location to the next. This in my humble opinion means it’s indeed better to ‘describe’ the empty space with such natural or physical elements than to force the transition into another perspective. The art here too is to blend the different scenes into an entire story. In that aspect it’s to be preferred to enhance the field of depth towards the flat determining, although visual, but virtual horizon. Let me put it in the words of Peter Lloyd, who in his layout designs often talks about putting city scapes/scenes back to back, without a divider, which on both ends improves the ‘virtual’ visual of a larger representation of a city. This without having the perspective difficulties one meets when butting up these cities to a backdrop.

[@tomeasley5979]

Dave your modeling approach is extremely interesting (and well thought out)!

[@normanrowe2831]

Well said. Interesting and informative. Thanks.

[@pmsteamrailroading]

Frank Ellison (famous modeler and one of the fathers of operations) wrote of the model railroad as theater. The trains are characters, they come on stage perform (do setouts and pickup, meet or pass a different train) and exit the stage. This also extends to lighting. (fill lighting for the overall stage that will soften shadows) and Key lighting highlighting an area where the action will happen. (Pluss a few kicker lights to highlight some other area that will help to guide the eyes of the audience. If you ever get a chance to visit EnterTrainment Junction ( I hate that name, but i Didn't pick it) near Cincinnati you will find wonderful examples of this kind of lighting and transitions.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Frank Ellison was truly one of the greats.

[@dkaustin98]

Dave, I appreciate that lesson on the two foot rule. That is going to help a lot when I start into the scenery stage. I'm almost done with track laying. I'm working out my yard now. Nothing big, just five parallel tracks, but trying to get as much length in as I can. Looks like I will have room in the yard for an O scale standard gauge track for my across the loading dock interchange. Just like the Morenci Southern did in Clifton, AZ.

[@jvanamb]

Dave, Great ideas especially the "TELL ME A STORY" concept. In time you will find you have many stories intertwined within a scene. And each spectator will add their stories. It's unending! Now for those of us who are mathematically challenged here are two methods to train us to keep our trains within the two foot rule. First, when using a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood as a substrate cut the sheet in half lengthwise. You now have a 2' x 8' (which can be sliced again to a 2' x 4') perimeter to scenic. That will help most of us modeling gandy dancers who more clearly understand that our eyes are bigger than our layouts. The second is my method of bench work construction. I buy from thrift shops and rehab warehouses used kitchen and bathroom cabinets. The basic designs are a uniform 36"x 36"x 36". So you are limited to building your scenes TOMA within a preset configuration. It's also possible to customize the box with additional bracing lumber. And you get free storage, facias, & finished facing. No need for curtains. Well again great story. Great scene stealing. Great episode. Adios, Jim

[@ironworksmodels]

Great video! Do you find that visitors actually and subconsciously, move from scene to scene as you laid them out?

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

In my Modular club, we try to keep all the modules within two feet deep, or close to it. But the melding of one scene to another is more difficult. Each modeler has their own ideas, and as hard as we try. Sometimes, well most of the time it's a harsh change from one modeler's scene to the next. Doesn't mean we don't try. Thank you for the video. Hope maybe you have a chance to see some of my videos on You Tube at " Lynn McCurdy & the HDMMRC "

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Subscribed!

[@Hellonwheels66]

Just how big is the Thunder Mesa layout?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

It occupies a space about 13x18'

[@Hellonwheels66]

@@ThunderMesaStudio I forgot to ask…what scale?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

@@Hellonwheels66 On30.