I would not count myself as a 'rivet counter' just someone who would like to build wagons to represent the real item as close as my modelling skills will allow. My foray into P4 modelling standards is because I felt if I didn't have a go I would always regret it.
I met up with some old modelling friends recently and in an ensuing conversion I mentioned the time it is taking me to build a few clay wagons along with the amount of wagons I intend to build. Questions were raised about my sanity before I was reminded of the old phrase about applying the 'two foot rule'. If the detail cannot be seen from a viewing distance of two foot then why spend time adding the detail. I then made the connection with painting 15mm wargaming figures. When I paint battalions of 12 to 24 figures which are going to be seen on the table on-mass I paint them to be seen as whole units. Paint the figures so they give a visual impact when seen together as part of each battalion on the table. I don't necessarily cut too many corners with the painting but possibly don't put too much effort in, picking out buttons on tunics, adding shading on facial features, or any other small detail. Whereas I do put effort painting the personalities/command figures, picking out buttons, adding extra shading and trying to pick out facial features.
With this in mind and as most of the clay wagons will be part of a rake (battalion) of 8 or more wagons, I will be turning a blind eye to some aspects of the Ian Kirk kits, and taking a few liberties in building them. This may go a little against the grain of modelling in P4 but I feel I have to cut myself some slack otherwise I'll struggle to get all the wagons I will need built in my lifetime. When seen on-mass I'm hoping they will create the right picture that can be appreciated from two foot away when viewed side on. They might not stand up to the scrutiny of a close-up camera shot but then they are not being built for a diorama containing just a few wagons.
Does that sound like a cop out for some poor modelling skills? Hmmm could be...
This is my first attempt at a model railway to P4 standards with a track gauge of 18.83mm
Nah ! At Pendon they build their woodland on a similar principle; the top foliage cover is all you need to see so that is all they put in place behind the tree trunks at the front!
ReplyDeleteThe Nov edition of Model Railroader has an article using the very same idea for a wooded hillside.
On a slightly different tack, my latest seated passengers (2 sets of 10 ten different painted figures) from China will be direct copies of the Preiser figures but costing £11.99 for the lot rather than up to £25 for ONE set from Germany. And the colours look reasonable but of course they will be hidden inside the rolling stock.....
Not at all a cop-out...
ReplyDeleteI don't follow the "two foot rule", but I am very aware of what is visible and what is not. Some detail like boiler bands is far more visually prominent than physically you would expect. equally, a lot of chassis clag gets lost in the gloom...
I think that this is broadly what you are saying about the wargaming figures - model what stands out and catches the eye.
So keep on with it, and keep the progress flowing...
Flymo
I guess I'm way to festidious and am pretty jealous as you probaly get far more done than me. I love detail and will spend days on one builting (took me 3 weeks to scratch build a small trawler). It's probably why I've taken to buying bags of ready made trees and putting them in the layout to speed up the process.... I also sit in front of the track at my computer, so think that may have something to do with it.
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