View from Above

I work with a lot of engineers - and it's their nature to really get into details - really minor details - in an effort to analyze problems and develop solutions. Which is why I constantly seem to be telling them "Sometimes it helps to step back and look at the big picture."

I'm currently trying to wrap up the requirements to (finally) complete my submission for the NMRA AP Scenery certificate. I almost got this done on the last layout ... and the one before that ... but for various reasons I never got things completely done to the point where I felt I could achieve the 87.5 points required to qualify for the certificate. 

This time I'm going to see this thing through - I wanted to include in the application a photo that showed the entire area being submitted for consideration. For the record the required minimum area is 32 square feet in HO scale - which the clever math whizzes out there have already figured out translates to a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. Funny how that works! But I digress. 

The area shown in my aerial photo is more than 46 square feet - but it seems like a logical chunk of the layout. 

From the perspective in the lead photo everything appears "done" - or pretty close to being done. 

It's when we zoom down that we see there's still some elements missing that when added will elevate the scene. 

For example, the garage/tire shop at the rear lower lever of the store looks abandoned - not a bad thing - but it looks like a cleaning crew came through and cleaned up everything before it was abandoned! Needs weed, junk, stacks of old tires ... and perhaps a junker car or two? 

The street side of the country store needs details and more signs - some country stores were plastered with signs - I've noticed the New England ones that inspired my model aren't quite covered in advertising signs, but a few are certainly called for. I have a couple of other ideas for the front of the store that I'll keep to myself for now. 

Speaking of the street - it needs some additional detail and obviously some grade crossing protection. Minor, but important details not visible from way above the layout but a scene on a model railroad is really just a compilation of dozens (or hundreds?) of details that combine to make a believable whole. Isn't it?