Aerial Shots
I added a new section to the blog: Aerial Model shots. Basically overhead shots of the whole layout through various stages of construction. Unfortunately, there's a five year gap between the last two pictures, but hey, it's all I have. Also included on the same page is a brand new shot, which shows a lot more greenery than the last few shots.
Quite a difference between these two shots, especially Cascade Peak. |
"Them little marmots over the tunnel must be a whistlin' to all you pretty gals, can't say I blame 'em".
The tunnel with the marmots popping up top (known as the "Marmot tunnel" in my writing) was officially finished and installed, which included putting in all 5 mechanical 1/2" tall marmot figures on the rig, each with their own unique movement. Something like this can only be demonstrated through video:
This is also the first video to ever use a new technique to me--green screen. I was able to shoot the footage against green screen and composite a sky in, so the viewer wouldn't see any unsightly views like paint jars and window blinds. I even got the clouds in the sky to move slightly.
New hill, more trail; along the future the Rivers of America |
Beaver Valley Scenery
The section of rockwork and the adjacent scenery started to take form along the track in Beaver Valley. The last time the area was "finished" was back in June 2006. I've come a long way in "scenic-ing" in the last almost 5 years. It's kinda hard to believe that everything in the second shot is new material; nothing from the previous shot transcended into the current day.
Above, Old Beaver Valley, June 2006
Below, New Beaver Valley, today.
The hills behind the stretch of track for Beaver Valley were pretty much done for the umpteenth time, hopefully this is the last time. The gray celluclay in the foreground will be the future river with the dams. Since the layout can break into two segments now, the split line is visible.
Half Bears for the water |
I threw down some pigment (some random green color I had) to give the viewer (and myself) a sense of what's going on in terms of waterways and land forms.
To recap, here's the same photo from the top of this post, this time labeled to show what's new and different since the last photo.
"Finishing Date"
I've pushed back the "finishing date" for the layout; at the top of the blog, I've written that "I might finish the layout by late 2010/ early 2011. Well, things have changed and I didn't come as far as I thought when I wrote that and it's now late 2011/early 2012. Plus, at that time, I wasn't devoting almost 30 hours a week at a job.
6 comments:
A finishing date of 2011 or 2012...what does it matter? It's done when it's done. Better to do it in a way so you feel good about the project rather than rush to meet an artificial deadline.
Happy to see the progress. Things are looking really fine. Thanks for posting the update.
There is no need for a deadline really, though it would get me to work on it more--especially since it's been in a state of construction for over five years. I'm definitely taking my time on this project. The reason why I have the "ballpark" time of completion is so people who read this blog get an idea of when I might finish it-- which is a frequently asked question.
Looks great! Thanks for the updates, keep them coming, always enjoyable.
Miles Wilhelm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mileswilhelm
Found your videos while visiting the Imagineering Disney blog. Great modeling skills.
You probably get asked a lot but any particular resources you can recommend to learn these techniques. For example, the waterfall creation method is different from other modeling sites I've visited. A company sells a product just for modeling water and I'm wondering if it's just the caulk you use.
Any pointers would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Michael Manchester
manchest@amtelecom.net
Hey Sam, I know you'll like this. It was a concept for Disneyland Paris. It was basically the "kid version" of Big Thunder Mountain: Lil Thunder Mountain
http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz352/loaloauk/Universal%20Singapore/Disney%20and%20more/lilthundermine.jpg?t=1268830183
It was basically the roller coaster version of Nature's Wonderland :D
That's really cool George, great find!
manchest: I've only used the caulk in the video for my waterfalls, nothing else (yet).
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