Forced Perspective

BALOU LINE Sep 17, 2003

  1. BALOU LINE

    BALOU LINE TrainBoard Member

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    From time to time I find good looking vehicles that aren't quite to scale. In N scale we commonly find cars from K-Mart Rt.66 and Road Champions that are 1:144. In a side by side comparison, these look huge next to N scale 1:160.
    [​IMG]
    These can still be used however, to create forced perspective. By placing the larger vehicle closer to the viewer, the smaller cars seem farther away, making the scene appear much deeper that it really is.
    [​IMG]
    The same affect can also be achieved by putting even smaller models (ie: Z scale) in the very back ground of the scene. So lets take this concept to the next level and add an even bigger car to the foreground.
    [​IMG]
    As you can see this gives an illusion of depth to the scene that makes the layout appear larger. However, the same scene viewed from above gives away the secret.
    [​IMG]
    In N scale we tend to like our trains at eye level, so this illusion works well. It will work in otherscales also but controling the angle of view, between buildings or under a bridge, is very imortant.
    Here it is in use on my Red Rock Canyon
    [​IMG]
    So all this goes to show that just because things aren't the same scale, they can be used together to create an affect that will make the layout appear to be larger, and we can play with all our toys together. [​IMG]
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm not certain where it was that I'd first read about this concept. But when I finally awoke to how valuable it was, came with the issue of the John Allen book. It is indeed a great tool!

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. cthippo

    cthippo TrainBoard Member

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    This technique can be very effective, even in 1:1 scale. The best example I've ever seen of forced perspective at work is...You aren't going to believe this...

    Disneyland.

    The whole place operates on forced perspective. That huge castle is in reality no more than 150 feet tall. The Christmas tree has large ornaments at the bottom and smaller but identical ones at the tio. The whole facility is really quite small (less than 10 blocks, I think), but because of thr way it's layed out you would never know it! Take a look if you ever visit!
     

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