Ed's Module Progess

Those look great Ed, one question tho, in some of the photos you can see some kind of silvery things hidden in the bushes, am I correct in guessing those are some kind of sensor for the crossing signals?

edit: I especially love the second to last photo, it really shows the scale of the forrested hill

Yes, the silvery pieces in the shrubbery are IR sensors for the crossing signals

I am shattered...that module is amazing! I really envy your skills and longs for the day I've practiced enough to reach your standard.

Ed- Excellent modules!- Hope somewhere down the tracks we can "Hook Up". The pictures are very good and the transition from City to Farmland is neat. My only observation--- from seeing other modules- and it's totally up to the individual modeler--The facia boards on most modules are painted black. This way the observer's eye is not distracted by the grain of the wood, screws- etc- and the butting of the modules appear more hidden. It would also match the skirts. It's sort of like the observer discounts the black and concentrates more on the scenery.
PS- I could be 720 degrees off base-It's happened before.
Well Done!!
Fred

As a Midwest guy, although I like to look at mountains, tunnels, and tall pines, I can really relate to what you are building. This is exactly the look I would love to get with my modules someday.This reminds me of back home.

Ed,

Your modules look great! I really like what you've done with your trees, especially the colors and height, very realistic.

John Bartolotto

Excellent module. A proud addition to any modular layout. Jim

Excellent!

I too, especially like the way you paid attention to the tree height. Take the first image on page 2 for instance. Although living there presumably as long, or longer than, the house and barn have been there, the trees around the house area are much smaller in relation to the trees that are in the farms background. Had trees as big and tall as in the woods been placed next to the house, they would have dwarfed the house and looked out of place. However in real life big trees would look perfectly normal next to any home. This is due to the perspective of us giants looking down at this small farm scene. Something we all need to keep in mind – perspective. Tall trees are great, and are perfectly prototypical; just remember where to place them to keep them from looking out of place.

Joe

WoW, Ed! Beautiful layouts and scenery. Any chance you could shoot some video, following a train around the layout?

The only thing I see "wrong" in any of these photos is... you're missing a certain NORFOLK SOUTHERN SD40-2 high-hood.

Great work, Ed. I wish I could build like that. They almost look real, Only one problem that I can
see. Theres no Santa Fe engines in the scene.

Thanks for all the comments. Building the modules has definately been an experience in itself. For the most part they have been great to work on. I have had few moments that take you back and really scratch you head hard. The tee was one of those moments. A week before the show I was hooking all the wire up underneath and got one crossed. Talk about fun time, the whole time telling myself the clock is ticking.

If had to make a suggestion to anyone, modules are definately the way to go. Gets your hard work out for the puclic to see, they are expandable, & you can run with other folks.

Fred -- It funny you mention that about the sides. I know they were suppose to be black, but felt pretty bad covering up that pretty grain.

Alex- All in due time. I have not forgotten about you.

eit27 wrote: Alex- All in due time. I have not forgotten about you.

I know, Ed. Just teasing you a bit after seeing the other black horse riding your rails.

Made a few scenery enhancements today to the ballon module.

Wow! Those flowers look great! Excellent work!

Todd

Yeah you gotta tell us how those are done

I used the Scenic Express Autumn leafy tuffs. They are a little large, but they look price nice.

Scenic Express has some amazing greenery that can be used for Z scale. A while back I got some of their Silflor brand Sycamore Leaf Foliage which actulaly looks close to really tiny English Ivy leaves. Sure the leaf could be the size of a Z scale persons head, but we are in the business of illusion anyway so it works for that purpose. The Leaf foliage I got came in three, 6" by 3 3/4" sheets about 3/8" thick. They can be cut, or pulled apart and used as climbing foliage too. Next I want to check out their DecoGrass. Looks pretty cool.