Beautiful weather, combined with a weekend with the house to myself, provided me with an opportunity to do some outdoor photography, which now has me thinking I've got it wrong. For one thing, the corn is way high for June. Up to now, I've simply overlooked this little wrinkle, but it's hard to ignore its height in the photo above (click for a supersized enlargement). For another thing, under natural sunlight the spring green actually looks more like the slightly yellowish tinge of early autumn.
In the grand scheme of things, nothing about the layout changes if I moved the time of year ahead four months or so, except for one very small detail: in Naughtright Mini-Park is a cherry tree in full bloom. This would have to be swapped out. Not a big deal, but I did kind of like that touch of color. Otherwise, the only thing I'd have to change would be all of the references to "late spring" on the website. Thankfully there's search and replace...
By the way, if you like these images, there are more.
3 comments:
Fantastic photos.
David, I just want to thank you for the web sites and blog entries. Long story follows -- feel free to get rid of it! :-)
I first got interested in Z scale back in 1985 when I picked up a Marklin "starter" kit while I was stationed in Berlin with the USAF. I had an idea that I would like to start modeling with it some day (like when I retired from the military and didn't have to move every 2 years or so). I picked up a few model kits, some Priesser figures and some additional track and even bashed one of the kits just for laughs (no, I don't have any pics -- my efforts were execrable; but I had a lot of fun, despite my total ignorance of the techniques or procedures expert modelers use, and the completely inappropriate tools and equipment I had). Alas, after I retired the divorce came along, and among the many things I lost along the way was my Z-scale set and accessories.
Now, years later, I was chatting with a VERY old friend (known the guy for 25+ years) and suddenly discovered he was an HO train enthusiast. He's been sending me pics as he finally starts to build HIS retirement set-up. I saw the size area he was working on (21 by 35 feet!!) and jokingly remarked that if he did it Z-Scale, he could do all of Germany (no, I know he couldn't, really). And he remarked that while he had no interest in working at that scale (couldn't see it, too finagly for him, etc), if I was really interested there was some amazing work being done -- and he sent me your web site (American Z Scale). I've just spent the last three days reading everything you wrote (that I could find) checking out the many sites you recommend and so on, and now, I have to say I'm fired with enthusiasm again -- especially since you do a great job of providing tips and the "slights" of the trade. I particularly enjoyed your remarks on the various truck and wheel sets -- that solves one problem that I was having with my original Marklin set all those years ago! Thank you for the fine writing you do, and the even finer modeling.
I can guarantee you two things as I start over again -- one, that I will never be as good as you are (heck man, you've got 25 or more years on me -- and seem to have much finer motor skills than I do); and two, that I will enjoy trying!
One request, if you're ever in the mood (and assuming its not a trade secret), I'd love to hear a blow-by-blow description of how you paint and weather your pieces (sort of like your discussion of emplacing ballast on your tracks). Yes, I know, there are quite a few web sites and so on that address that, but so far I've found your stuff to be very pertinent to the kinds of techniques necessary for Z-Scale, and I suspect some of the HO techniques simply won't work as well. Anyway, if you are so inclined, I'd love to see what you do.
Well, this was a long e-mail for no real purpose, other than I really wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your stuff. I'm really looking forward to starting again. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
v/r
Jeff Vandine
Thanks for the wonderful message, Jeff! It's always gratifying to know that one's work is appreciated. Please stop back any time and keep me posted on your progress.
Post a Comment
Please note that all comments are moderated. If you are a spammer, do not waste your time trying to spam this blog. Your garbage will never see the light of day.
没有广告。它不会工作。