I was glued to my TV last night watching the first episode of Great Model Railway Challenge. Here’s one great tip I picked up.
Did you see it?
Channel 5’s Great Model Railway Challenge is a fun and enjoyable series showing the activities of groups of modellers as they compete to make a model railway. It’s on My5 TV and here if you missed it – for show times see here.
It skips on the details of making and building a model railway but then it is for the TV masses. I did, however, learn one thing.
3D Backscenes
I’m a huge fan of back scenes and have written about them before. I’ve also written about forced perspective – the technique of using different scales in models to achieve the impression of distance.
What I hadn’t considered however was combining them both so your back scene has multiple layers, with objects of different depths protruding from it to create a 3D effect and using forced perspective to create a feeling of depth.
I’ll certainly be incorporating this into my next project. In the meantime, I’ve ordered myself a copy of Paul Bambrick & John Ellis-Cockell’s authoritative book Creating a Backscene.
Update: I’ve since received my copy and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s packed with ideas and tips and inspiring photography. If you haven’t already, get yourself a copy soon.
If you don’t have a model railway but the programme has tempted you, I’ve collected some of my best articles to show you how to get started.
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I just want to say that I’m so pleased that there are many younger people interested in model railways not just the retired. Thanks it has me more interested in trying to pursue this as I hobby now. Good job channel 5.