Last week I visited Harry Hieke, picking up a consist he just weathered for me and noticed he has a diorama approx 4' across and about 12-15" deep. He uses it to photograph trains in an outdoor environment. As Harry's was an open grid (no backboard) it was perfect for outdoor use. I am considering making one for myself. Curious to know who else has one where do you photo-shoot and how bis it is. Would love to see some pictures of your work. input appreciated
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Steve, I built the diorama pictured below for the sole purpose of photographing my trains. As you can see, it does have a back-drop, but it is attached with velcro strips so that it can be easily removed. This way, I can either use it indoors or outside.
I caught the weathering bug about a year and a half or two years ago and wanted a nice diorama to photograph my work as my current layout is tiny and not highly detailed. So when I saw this backdrop for sale at a local train show last year, I knew exactly what I could use it for!
Needless to say, I bought it, brought it home and then built the diorama to "match" the look of the backdrop the best I could. I figured a two-track mainline running along a pond in autumn (my favorite season!) would look pretty cool.
The diorama is built on a double layer of purple foam board, and measures 10" deep by 30" long. Again, the backdrop was purchased first, so I had to work around its size when building the diorama. If I were to build another diorama it would definitely be a bit longer...somewhere between 40-48".
Here are a few pictures of it under construction, the finished product, and finally "in use" as it was intended...
JoeyA, nice
Yes; basic. I have not addressed the backdrop, really. I should use the photographic solution method as done by joeyA, above - but with different photos (we don't get much "fall color" in this part of the country).
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My GM&O Heavy 2-10-0 (was a Wms brass USRA 2-8-2) bash job, "from the overpass":
Plain blue background; natural northern light, shot on front porch
(It's an old Rivarrossi O-scale C-liner; my re-paint/modification):
This Lionel backdrop sits on top of the wall unit in the family room. The trains are on 027 track sitting on Styrofoam blocks. I let's me view my favorite or recent purchased items all day long. The Wabash brake man about to have a bad day! Azgary
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