I suffered from a little insomnia last night, so between midnight around and 2 am I worked on my rough brewery trackplan pencil sketch to produce the below using a little Photoshop to tidy up some of the rougher bits. I've tried to avoid that computer look - preferring that 'back of an envelope/organic' style as seen in magazines like the excellent French model railway magazine Voie Libre and the wonderful illustrations of Paul Lunn.
I'm in a lucky position to have been asked to come up with a model railway idea for a well known book publisher, but to date have been unsure which direction to go in - if at all with so many other commitments. Maybe a selection smallish plans mixed in with a section on how to photograph what you've built? Just a silly idea maybe - any thoughts on this already over saturated market?
Back to the brewery; 'Brewhouse Quay' is likely to be the name of the current project, graphically the title works, and it's easy to remember.
Next, I hope to turn off the computer an start to lay some track .....
About Me
- Chris Nevard Model Railways & Photography
- Professional Photographer, Model Maker, Writer & Pretend Musician
The book sounds like a great idea. Can never get enough of great pictures of superb modelling - with a spot of the "how to" thrown in for good measure.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I find myself wanting sometimes is kind of a style file - here's a few ways of doing a small goods yard in the style of a given railway, or a junction, or a loco shed, so I can mix and match to get a plan to fit a space.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you are calling "over-saturated" but if its small layout plans then I'd have to disagree...on this,the left-side of the pond, its the "basement-empire/roomsize plans" that have over-saturated the market.
I for one believe that the future of model-railroading depends on smaller layouts...and the idea of a how-to photo your build along with plans is a great idea IMHO.
Cheers
Gene
Hi Chirs,
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts!
I think it makes sense to stick with what you're good at. So you could have sections like: how you draw up a plan, how to create a baseboard with a curved backscene, how to lay & build realistic bodgerscale track, how to model water, finishing with how to photograph & present your finished layout. All stuff you're bloody brilliant at!
Obviously this could be fleshed out more into:
- How to print a backscene
- How to paint track
- How to lay static grass
- How to weather stock
- Etc etc...
I know some of these topics are covered in depth elsewhere, but the point is that they're not necessarily covered in depth by you & I'd argue that this means the market isn't complete, let alone saturated! I genuinely believe people will be interested in "The Chris Nevard Style - Start to Finish"!
Having said all that, maybe this sort of book would be too time consuming for a first publication! What about the possibility of simply: "How to Photograph & Present a Model Railway" ? This could take the reader through a whole range of aspects including:
- How to plan & construct a layout & baseboard with photography in mind.
- Which materials look best with close up shots.
- Which cameras to buy.
- An approach to setting up & using a camera.
- Lighting.
- Photoshop altering.
- How to share your pictures! Flickr etc.
A publication like this might be a great way to test the market. If successful, then could potentially turn into a 10 part series or something? Part 2 naturally being "How to Create Realistic Track" (as that's what I've got to do next! ;-) )
Hope that helps!
Merry Crimbo
Jon