A question about forced perspective and smaller layouts

I would think a 1/64 car/truck would need to be a couple feet or more behind the the nearest scale object to pull off a forced perspective. But there are some real experts who know far more than me.

 Layouts I've seen were a basement/spare building size layout for forced perspective to work.  On an O Scale layout, S Scale items about 25 feet away seems to work.  Closer than that falls under the heading of:  It's your railroad, do whatever trips your trigger.  Place a short length of track, a scale engine with some rolling stock, one or two buildings with highway vehicles outside.  Pace off ten feet and place your 1/64 vehicles.  Step back and judge for yourself.   John

If you do play with perspective also try and RAISE the smaller objects up as they approach your designated horizon line.  Russ

Check out this post on Disney's use of forced perspective in a small window display.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...pective-using-trains

Hi Coach,

The responses you have received have all been very good advice.

Here is a photo of my farming area where I have a train of flat cars loaded with farm tractors on a siding. The closest tractors are Ertl 1/43 scale (larger than O 1/48) and they are models of larger real tractors. The next cars contain models of smaller real tractors, still in 1/43. There is an Ertl 1/64 machine shed by these cars. The last two cars contain 1/64 scale tractors near a 1/64 scale Ertl elevator set. The farm on the backdrop horizon is probably close to N scale. The total depth of the scene is about 5 feet. I think it looks quite believable in person.

This next photo shows my O scale passenger station in the foreground with a city skyline in the background. The city is obviously a fraction of O scale. That entire scene from the locomotive to the backdrop is only about 18 inches. Separating the two areas with the retaining wall makes it look a lot better.

Main Street USA in Walt Disney World has the third story of their buildings at 80% the height as the first story. This is about the equivalent of 1/48 to 1/64 in our world. I have found that you can get by with a lot more compression than you might first think. Hopefully your viewers will be concentrating on your cool trains.  

TJ                                                                       

Thank you all for your replies.

TJ thanks for the pictures.  In addition to the forced perspective aspect I too have an Ertl farm equipment dealership.  Although 1/64 I think the building works well with O.  I've been thinking about getting one of those grain elevators also. Now that I see it next to a flat car I think the shorter silos will be too short next to covered hoppers.  Not saying it's definitely out of the question but I will have to rethink it.

My distant mine scene is smaller than scale.

The tractor next to the K-Line barn  is 1/64 scale. The houses are made from two K-Line ranch house kits.

The hopper cars are 027 Post War.     

I know how you feel Coach Joe, I think it has been about the same time or longer for me about a permanent layout. I hope to remedy that within a year or so(depends on a few things). I will finish my small Christmas layout this year, need to make mounts for legs and then go from there.

Great discussion here!!  A lot of good info!

Alan

For an idea of how 1:64 looks, here's a 1:64 truck in the back (the yellow truck at the crossing in back of the scene), and a 1:43 car (albeit a small car because the road is narrow).  I did this for forced perspective.  But if you are looking at the back scene, the train looks huge when it come through! 😁

some very good suggestions above. the only thing I'd add is in your own words, you said you're using ceramic buildings that are not to scale, so I'm not sure it's that important if the cars aren't totally to scale. I've always used the "what looks good to my eye" as criteria for what I put on the layout. p.s. Pennsy484, that's a great scene. 

pennsy484 posted:

For an idea of how 1:64 looks, here's a 1:64 truck in the back (the yellow truck at the crossing in back of the scene), and a 1:43 car (albeit a small car because the road is narrow).  I did this for forced perspective.  But if you are looking at the back scene, the train looks huge when it come through! 😁

Looks quite satisfactory in my opinion.

MELGAR

pennsy484 posted:

For an idea of how 1:64 looks, here's a 1:64 truck in the back (the yellow truck at the crossing in back of the scene), and a 1:43 car (albeit a small car because the road is narrow).  I did this for forced perspective.  But if you are looking at the back scene, the train looks huge when it come through! 😁

Fantastic job!!

I like the bit with the car and truck as well. Does the road have a seam through it? One thing I would like to see is scale automobiles for different eras. I know that is asking a lot, but it would be something to have antique autos in their hay day waiting for the trains to pass. I'd love it.

One of the best uses of forced perspective was in the California Museum of Science and Industry's Model Railroad diorama. As I recall, it was about 36" deep. The O scale trains were in the foreground and 1:64 autos "ran" along the highway at the back. There was even a spur that ran out toward the back with an S scale care spotted on it and the track's gauge tapered from O scale to S scale. I only have these two photos of the layout but it should give you a good idea.

ChiloquinRuss posted:

If you do play with perspective also try and RAISE the smaller objects up as they approach your designated horizon line.  Russ

Yes - an often - typically - overlooked aspect of playing with perspective.

The right upper level factory background buildings are HO scale.

Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I like the bit with the car and truck as well. Does the road have a seam through it?

Thank you.  Yes there is a removable "access hatch" section there. Tough getting back there.  You do what you gotta do.