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How to Give Your Railroad the Illusion of Size
Space limitations are a problem for most model railroaders, so the use of every square foot needs to be well thought out, from both an operational and visual view point. There’s nothing worse than a layout that looks cluttered.
Several clever visual techniques can be applied to provide the illusion of space and distance. Although the following tips seem logical, they are sometimes overlooked by many in the hobby.
1. Where appropriate, sort your objects into sizes placing the bigger objects towards front and the smaller objects behind. I appreciate this is not always practical, especially if you plan to position a big industrial building against the backdrop (that would make sense).
The point I’m making is that if you have, for example, residential houses, the ones at the front should look bigger than the one’s in the far distance. If they are all the same size – the layout can lack perspective. A big advantage of downloadable kits (over plastic kits) is they can easily be reduced in size by 5%, 10%, or even more, so buildings that are supposedly miles away can be smaller than those in the foreground.
2. Be aware that bold colors standout, whereas objects with softer colors and tones fade into the distance. A light, muted, object with grayer shades and soft edges at the back of a layout can appear to be located miles into the distance. Strong, bright, vivid, sharp objects against the backdrop will look much closer. So, to make bushes, trees and other vegetation recede into the distance; make the colors less bold, less sharp and less detailed.
3. Objects that are lower will appear as though they are further away, whereas higher objects will seem closer.
4. Position thin ‘low-relief’ buildings up against the back of the layout, as they will require less space, yet still add illusion of perspective and distance to the scene.
And tips added by readers:
5. Judicially placed mirrors can also create the illusion of a bigger layout (thanks Denis)
6. Road positioned at angles disappearing in the distance behind vegetation, buildings, or hills makes the layout look longer and wider (thanks Bud)
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Also remember that when adding roads run them at a slight angle. It will give the appearance of a longer and wider board.
Place a mirror in a scenery cut or between buildings which tracks or road go thought. The trick is to angle the mirror so no one can be seen in it and all the mirror edges are hidden. You can paint or place different objects on the back side. This is very effective; unfortunately I can’t show you as I am doing a new layout. Good lock.