Getting back to the original topic, Pelle Søeborg is a good example of a particular type of model railroader: the type that plans everything to look great in photos. He seems to give just as much attention to camera work and lighting as to the trains and scenery. In this respect he reminds me of Vic Roseman. Søeborg is at the other end of the spectrum from operations-oriented guys like Tony Koester and David Barrow. I enjoy Søeborg's work, but when a magazine relies heavily on a particular author, there's danger that readers may get a bit tired of him. I remember feeling that way years ago about Malcolm Furlow.
His modeling may not be spectacular for Midnight Railroader but he still acknowledges some of Pelle's talent. So why all the fuss? Personally, I think his techniques are basic modeling techniques. But he has that certain ability to put it all together in a way that is very appealing, at least to me. I also agree that nobody should try to emulate his layout. That's because the best you could ever do is to have a model of a model. The realism will diminish with each iteration. The reason you should read his articles is because he does give some insight into how he brings it all together. As to thoroughbred's comment about how hard it is to model the desert. It is can be very difficult. The reason is because you can't hide imperfections under bushes, trees, and ground foam. The vegetation must be placed carefully and it must look pretty good because its in the open. Modeling a realistic desert is harder than modeling Georgia. To my eye, Pelle's desert is darn near perfect. I almost felt like I was back in Twenty-nine Palms when I saw his photos. Eric
I think the only harder thing to model is water. I've seen some good likenesses, but outside photos, which of course freeze movement, it's really hard to be convincing.
I saw Pelle in person at the German Convention in Rodgau weathering cars. He's an artist. In such a time to get such results!!! I'm still on my way to get such a weathering. Wolfgang
Boy, ain't that true! And it is even more difficult, as I have found, to generate water that looks good in both imagery and in person. My water looks much better in images than it does standing over it. I sometimes ask myself, "What went wrong!" :tb-hissyfit:
Well, I like Pelle's work. The desert may not apeal to everyone including myself especially as a modelling choice, but I find a sublime beauty in Pelle's modelling. Perhaps it is in the economy of detail and the apparent simplicity of his work. Any of us who have attempted to model a realistic scene know how difficult and complex this can be. Pelle seems to have mastered it and for this he has my respect. I also enjoyed the articles he wrote on weathering and layout photography. There were some very nice methods and ideas.
As I said before, I think Pelle is pretty good. His layout is the type of thing I want. I think his color pallete for the Donner area is off a bit and I don't think he's the be all end all of modelling, but I think he writes well and has a distinctive vision and voice. And really that's what you want out of a magazine article. Malcolm Furlow grated on Modellers, because he was just rehashing John Allen's Style and voice...and he wasn't a model railroader, but Allen's style in and of itself had value as did Furlow's repeating it.
I agree with YoHo that Pelle is not the be all and end all of modelling. I suspect that he would probably cringe if he heard anyone describe him this way. However, Pelle and and the rest of us have something to contribute to the hobby and and the more we offer, the more we help each other.
No, but they have enough class to keep negative comments to themselves. Of course everyone has them. Opinions are never the problem. How they're presented to others is often the problem. Duane Goodman
I think I recall a very old article from Pelle covering his layout, but I don't recall any of this current stuff. Anymore, I find MR enjoyable for around 10min of browsing per issue. By comparison, I think RMC is currently the top monthly publication as it takes me hours to read through most months. Perhaps (for MR) it is because they only have a few others presenting the similar things...none of which I'm interested in...so...Pelle's work hasn't caught my eye. If there are only a small number of authors, then we need more people submitting articles! I've currently got two top secret projects in the work for two different publications. I won't put them on my blog...as I know that most publishers want exclusive content (but not all). I'm doing so because of my dissatisfaction at some of the stuff that is getting published...a sign to me that I am either out of touch, or that the publishers don't have enough quality articles to choose from. I'm trying to do my part on the second scenario. Michael
Seeing that I have been modeling for over 40 years now and have never heard of this guy. I will have to check out some of his stuff!! I knew I shouldn't spend all my time in the train room.
I think it's always worth looking at someone else's work. Model Railroads are Artwork in their way. Each artist has their own "voice." Not every artist is for every viewer, but it's still worth looking at the work.
i have a copy of MR from 2006 that has pelle's mountian cut in it all i can say is wow!!! This guy is GOOD :thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
Here is a sample of Pelle's work: More can be found on his website: http://www.soeeborg.dk/myhobby.html Jamie
Whats not to like about Soebergs work? Ok, I admit I'm biased because I grew up out west and love western scenery and find eastern and midwestern very mundane. But Pete also does an excellent job. I don't have a layout and even if I did, I'd be a noob at scenery but I hope to emulate that some day but oriented more toward Utah, Western Colorado deserts rather than Nevada and Arizona.
I take it your are an anachronism also? Granted, I myself and stuck in the 1980's but fans of the 50's would say engines of the 60's-80's look like powered box cars too, refering to the esthetics of the Geeps and SD vs the older more styalized F units, Alco's and so on. Anyway, as for Pete's work, he does make the models of his era look sun baked and weathered nicely, as well as the desert scenery well done.
I have a general interest in all eras, 1830s-1960, but I tend to be drawn to the under-modeled eras:SG from before 1950, NG from before 1938. I strongly prefer the 1940s over the 1950s...I didn't live through either, but I prefer the clean steam from the late '40s to the dirty steam and diesels of the '50s. (My HO work is geared around 1946-1948). I appreciate the scenic work of modern modelers, but there isn't much overlap into my primary efforts in the 1880s. Based on the above photos, Pelle does a solid job on the scenery. Michael
