The wife's HO Atlas layout...

[wombat457]

Thanks Lynn, am about to start putting a few trees in on the "lift out" section of the mountain. I'll take some happy snaps and post them for comment.

 

[FM C liner]

Layout looks great Tony!!! I really like what have done with the scenery. I bet it feels pretty good to have some trains running around the layout now.

Thanks
Scott

 

[wombat457]

Scott,

Thank you and it certainly does feel good, a huge relief to both me and my wife. As she said, "now I can see something happening"

From here on in it all the "nice stuff" with no pressure to complete everything by today. That in itself makes doing this relaxing, and that is something I don't think I was before.

By the way, how is your layout going?

 

[steveparkinson]

The layout is looking really good Tony..... and welcome back!

I really like the shot with minimal lighting. Keep the updates coming.

Steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wombat457]

Started on the Tree Planting...

I have begun putting in the tree's and bushes, but wanted to get some feedback on them before I kept going:

The tree's are Woodlands that I had laying around and the bushes/small scrubby looking tree's are from the Woodlands Fine Leaf Foliage Kits.

All comments welcomed, along with ways to improve this.

 

[tootnkumin]

Trees look terrific, bonzer even. One thing about "wild" trees, they never look out of place.

 

[wombat457]

The layout is looking really good Tony..... and welcome back!

I really like the shot with minimal lighting. Keep the updates coming.

Steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Steve,

Sorry just saw your post and thank you. I kinda liked the low light shot too, although I am probably a little on the bias side

Trees look terrific, bonzer even. One thing about "wild" trees, they never look out of place.

G'day mate and thank you. Bonza huh, jeez now there's compliment if ever I saw one Most of my tree's are pretty shabby but I'm starting to think that gives them character. Well, that excuse works for me!

All I am really doing at the moment is putting a few in here and there, I figure if it looks too sparse, I can add more later. Besides, beats the hell outta tryin to take em out if I screw it up.

 

[logandsawman]

Trees look good, Tony; want to make sure the train doesn't bump into the overhanging branches (spoken from experience)

thanks for posting!! lasm

 

[Lynnb]

Looks pretty good Tony. I've tried the ws trees and had a hard time accepting the shiny trunks and found getting the foilage to look right was going to take a lot of practice. Hard to tell but the one tree by the bridge may appear too close to bridge. but looks pretty good as does the small group of trees, odd numbers is a good thing. When you take a photo try taking it with flash off and it will give a clearer most accurate pic. I've often found that simply planting trees just doesn't do the scene justice, and found that the ground work needs to be built up at the same time, even on a golf course the treed areas would have build up in the treed areas. I see what you mean about the ballast looking too new and I'm sure you know what to do with that ( again could be the camera. Your actually quite fortunate that your wifey is also in on the layout so perhaps she will allow you to use the blender to grind up some stuff from out doors , or she may suggest you to goto a second hand store lol. Tony I can easily work in an area for weeks at a time until I'm happy and sometimes move to another area and revisit. Keep working on it and it will all come together.

 

[wombat457]

Trees look good, Tony; want to make sure the train doesn't bump into the overhanging branches (spoken from experience)

thanks for posting!! lasm

Thanks lasm and good advice re the branches. I did try to make sure that they didn't over hang the track BUT I do see one that does, quite a lot. Not sure if the engines will clear it or not, if they don't - will bring out the chain saw

Looks pretty good Tony. I've tried the ws trees and had a hard time accepting the shiny trunks and found getting the foilage to look right was going to take a lot of practice.

I know what you mean here, mine are so old and dusty, they no longer "shine", at least they don't appear to in "person". I also had to move the foliage around quite a bit to get it to look half decent. Despite what ws says, the armatures are not as manageable as they say so far as changing their position. I know there are far better tree's out there, but they also have a far higher price tag too.

Hard to tell but the one tree by the bridge may appear too close to bridge. but looks pretty good as does the small group of trees, odd numbers is a good thing.

Are you talking about the tree near the road bridge? If so, yes, it is right on the roads edge and over hangs the bridge a long way. I did that intentionally though as it wont interfere with anything.

When you take a photo try taking it with flash off and it will give a clearer most accurate pic.

I don't use flash when taking pictures. My camera is set for AV shooting with a focus on F/Stop being set to 22. I will say that my camera needs a damned good service and clean. I might my other camera and see if that gives a better picture.

I've often found that simply planting trees just doesn't do the scene justice, and found that the ground work needs to be built up at the same time, even on a golf course the treed areas would have build up in the treed areas.

Point taken and I have put in "some" additional ground cover beneath the tree's for that reason. Last night I ordered more stuff from Scenic Express that will provide that build up and hopefully give it a more realistic look.

I see what you mean about the ballast looking too new and I'm sure you know what to do with that ( again could be the camera.

It isn't the camera - it is new and does look new. It is pristine, I've just been laid" ballast. Last night I made up a test bit of track and ballast to experiment with I/A, and will be using that to "age" the ballast on the layout.

Your actually quite fortunate that your wifey is also in on the layout so perhaps she will allow you to use the blender to grind up some stuff from out doors , or she may suggest you to goto a second hand store lol. Tony I can easily work in an area for weeks at a time until I'm happy and sometimes move to another area and revisit. Keep working on it and it will all come together.

I am lucky that my wife is into the layout as well, whether she would let me use the house blender is another thing though Might be a case of visiting the local salvo store and pick up a "Layout Scenery Only" blender.

For the moment, as I did order the Scenic Express Dead Fall, I will wait and see how that looks - what exactly it comprises of and if I even need to go scavenging for small twigs etc; although, I most likely will anyway.

Thanks for the comments and advice guys, appreciate it a lot.

 

[Johne230]

Your scenery looks better with every addition you do.

 

[Mixy]

These pictures are looking very good. In real it is probably even better! Keep the great work

Mixy

 

[wombat457]

Your scenery looks better with every addition you do.

Thank you, it is getting there slowly. I will be much happier when I can get more realistic pictures though; that being said, I am fairly happy with the progress to date.

These pictures are looking very good. In real it is probably even better! Keep the great work

Mixy

Mixy, thank you sir. This layout is essentially your design, or at the very least my design with your improvements added so I am very glad that you approve of its progress.

You are also correct in saying that it looks better in real life, my pictures don't really show it properly. Hopefully, now I have one of those Camcorder things, I will be able to get truer looking shots.

 

[wombat457]

A Wombat Productions Block Buster !

Morning Guys,

I got my camcorder yesterday afternoon, charged it up and got an SD card for it, after which I did a David O Selznick!

Here is my first (pretty poor) attempt with a camcorder, never used one before so be kind okay

[video=vimeo;111184803]https://vimeo.com/111184803[/video]

Comments, complaints and concerns should be directed to the Customer Service Department of Wombat Productions Incorporated ... you can find us in the phone book!

Thanks for looking guys and, seriously, let us know what you think and how to improve.

And here is a still from that video:

 

[Bruette]

Great video Tony and the quality is fantastic, thanks for sharing.

 

[Bruette]

By the way. what model camcorder is it?

 

[logandsawman]

Thanks for posting the video, Tony. I am no expert on movies so won't delve into critique.

Didn't know they used the word camcorder anymore. Consider youtube as a free video storage option. I like your layout!! lasm

 

[wombat457]

Great video Tony and the quality is fantastic, thanks for sharing.

Thank you Louis, glad the quality is good as well and hopefully it shows a little more detail and clarity than my photo's.

By the way. what model camcorder is it?

The camera is a Canon (of course) Vixia HF R50. It was discounted 33% and had good reviews which is why I bought it.

Thanks for posting the video, Tony. I am no expert on movies so won't delve into critique.

Didn't know they used the word camcorder anymore. Consider youtube as a free video storage option. I like your layout!! lasm

lasm, if you have taken a video before (even one) or picked up a camcorder/video camera before - you are more of an expert than I! I also didn't think about YouTube before I got this Vimeo. I also use photobucket, but it wouldn't upload this particular video for some reason.

 

[rzw0wr]

Customer Service Department of Wombat Productions Incorporated
To whom it may concern,
Today I watched a video form your production company, it was stated that it was the operators first video.
The only comment I can make is that it looked good to me.
I liked the content, it was in crystal clear focus and the panning motion was steady and at the correct speed.

Please continue making these videos as they are very interesting and informative.

Thank you,
A pleased viewer

 

[wombat457]

Pleased Viewer,

Thank you for getting in on the "fun" and thank you for your comments. We, here at Wombat Productions, believe in providing our loyal customers with what they want. As such, you can be assured that further Video's will be available in the future. We also appreciate our customers candid comments, as that is how we improve our product.

Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

CEO Wombat Productions.