This seems to be the ...uh.... 'attention grabber'.... of those that notice details. Didn't plan it that way....until it was called to my attention in this shot. I think it's Preiser, and apparently a nice piece of plastic.
They are Woodland Scenics figures. They come in a set called "Lovers." Here, Rosa Krantz (Lt. Col., USMC, Ret.) snuggles with her Danish boy-toy, Gil den Stern, behind the statue of civil war entrepeneur John Buford Brad.
I've noticed that most people who visit my layout miss the details unless you either point them out or give them a reason to look more closely. I have several "look for" lists which I hand out to help the visitors zoom in on the items that they would otherwise miss. It keeps the kids from just running around chasing the trains and often makes it more interesting for spouses and the model railroader's friends who often aren't captivated by just the trains themselves. I have also put together a self-guiding tour of the layout that incorporates a humorous storyline into the reason for my fantasy railroad's existence. To be continued....
Sorry about the double post, but I was unable to edit the previous post for some reason. I've noticed that most people who visit my layout miss the details unless you either point them out or give them a reason to look more closely. I have several "look for" lists which I hand out to help the visitors zoom in on the items that they would otherwise miss. It keeps the kids from just running around chasing the trains and often makes it more interesting for spouses and the model railroader's friends who often aren't captivated by just the trains themselves. Some of the items are very easy to spot like the race track or a dairy farm, and some things like a dog marking his territory or a two-headed cow require much closer inspection. I even spent several hours one week painting an N scale figure wearing a striped shirt and hat, so I could challenge visitors with a search for Valdo (painted and named to be similar to the character in the Where's Waldo picture books). I have also put together a self-guiding tour of the layout that incorporates a humorous storyline into the reason for my fantasy railroad's existence. Sadly, very few people take the time to read through the self-guided tour pamphlet; but those that do find that their enjoyment of the railroad is greatly enhanced. Most folks are satisfied just to find the "hidden" details on the "look for" lists, and I don't have a problem with that. I'm just happy to know that my visitors N-joyed their time spent viewing my creation.
Given that trainboard is a family friendly place I will abstain from describing a few of the intended scenic features. I can say there will be a roving triceratops with an appropriate name, locations / stores / etc with punny names, scenic locations that make you one-der, and sculptures that are quite innocent when viewed from most directions.
To me one of the great traditions in model railroading is to not NECESSARILY take yourself so seriously you can't have a little fun in unexpected places. It's easy to overdo it. Woodland Scenics certainly has made it easy. I always got a kick out of guys like John Allen, who took things to extreme detail, yet had the triceratops yard switcher. Very unexpected. Although I am probably 'over the top' as much as anyone with prototype accuracy, I still can't resist some of the cutesy and humor stuff. And some of the detail in unexpected places. My son's girlfriend couldn't be pried out of the layout room once she got going. She spotted the 'police pullover scene', then started to REALLY dig for detail, and scored a "Perfect 10" on spotting stuff on the layout. Probably the first person to spot 'speck' the mouse, beside the Woodland Scenics cat, on the front porch of N Scale Norm's house. It can be a two-edged sword though. She was the first person ever to notice that althought there are people riding in the dome, the coach seats are still mysteriously empty.... hmmmm.... must be a railfan excursion...... D'oh!
Time to get out the Sharpie and draw little silhouettes of people in the windows like some of the old Bachmann cars used to have.
In my case it was one of the 'no good deed ever goes unpunished'.... I put the Rapido lighting kits in my entire 10-car Kato passenger train... and now run night operations as a grand finale. Those great interior lights now make it perfectly clear that the entire train is EMPTY. Normally, in daylight operations, all you can see into is the dome, and that was already covered. And I'd already put blinds in the windows... double D'oh.
I have seen someone do ants at a picnic in N scale once. However, the ants looked more like something out of a B grade horror movie. "Ethel, get the gun. They got me my the leg and are dragging me away!"
I know...they've noticed. I held a open house last June 2011. You can tell by the comments and they ranged from: "Oh $#!+", "Dang what a mess", "What you like spaghetti?" "Oh look at the people","Nice station and I wonder where I've seen it?" "You don't like Santa Fe, do you", and many other expletives that Russel would have to remove from here...grin...if I shared them with you. Even in it's plywood and presswood stage it gets noticed. The most complimentary is, "I've never seen a layout run so smoothly" to "This is mesmerizing to watch". I'l take that.
It's a tiny shard of .010 brass wire with piece of hair ACC'd on the end for a tail. It's painted brown on the top and white on the bottom. I have it on its side by the WS cat so it looks like a dead mouse that the cat dragged in. You can hardly see it. It's on a porch painted bright 'astroturf green' so there is at least enough contrast to show the cat and the mouse. It literally is a speck. It began as an April Fools thread a couple years back and stayed. At the moment, that mouse, and the donut that the cop is eating are on the top of the 'insane detail' list.
This may strike a bad cord with some modelers. But I helped my friend Dave and his club build a section for a train show (local). What we both agreed that the attention to it was not the background scenery itself, but what we did WITH the background scenary. BLMA Models Amtrak Moon Figures. So many people stopped and went "What the?!" Not one complaint from the crowd. Lots of laughter It was my first time building, even just helping, a dio and I was glad at the great response.
One of my fellow club members wants to do a back alley scene in his town that includes a "cardboard box of ill ripute."
So...is it sprinkled or chocolate covered Creme filled? --- I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=35.971789,-77.933405
A number of years ago at one the Greenberg shows here in New Jersey, my girlfriend and I came across a dealer who had HO scale couples figures in a variety sex positions. Most, as I recall, were premolded in color. However, we haven't seen that product since, nor do I recall the manufacturer's name. I heard of one club whose layou included a harbor scene. One member did a cabin cruiser model and put man and woman figures painted with flesh-colored paint, one atop the other, on a bunk in the cabin, with the door open. It was a subtle detail, which often caught second looks. Then there was the one modeler who put a prostitute figure on one end of a caboose, and a priest figure on the other... Dieter Zakas Subtle Naughtiness, NJ
>>A number of years ago at one the Greenberg shows here in New Jersey, my girlfriend and I came across a dealer who had HO scale couples figures in a variety sex positions. Most, as I recall, were premolded in color. However, we haven't seen that product since, nor do I recall the manufacturer's name.<< Moin / hello Dieter These are made by NOCH and called - NOCH Sexy Scenes - availabe in N and H0 scales looking for pics ? google helps http://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...83l0l10787l16l15l0l8l0l1l396l1499l0.1.1.3l5l0 There are other German manufacurers of sexy scenes for 1:22.5 scale Pics I´ve taken during a public show http://www.williwinsen.de/album/2007_06_24_Sexi-Schkeuditz/html/default.html Tschuess / bye Harald Brosch
