Recently my attention was directed once more to the Chester Valley Railroad of J. Harold Geissel. This was the “Layout of the Month” in the November 1939 Model Railroader. That original article wasn't the starting point this time around, rather, it was the article by editor Russ Larson exactly 30 years later in the November 1969 issue. “What makes an outstanding layout?” asks the title. The author answers in the text below:
“I feel the basic ingredients for a good layout are:
A good track plan
- Authentic structures
- Attention to scenic detail
- Realistic operation, including the
selection of rolling stock
The final product must be judged, at least partially, on how well the modeler blends these basic ingredients together. It also takes an intangible something extra. To create an outstanding layout you must, I believe, go beyond what is commonly done and develop something better in at least one of these basic layout qualities.”
Note he begins by describing what makes a “good” layout before leading the reader to the answer to his question, what makes that layout “outstanding”. I appreciate his points and think they're not bad at all. And yet...
I think he missed one crucial ingredient; the concept.
Oh yes, this is one of those contrary articles in which I espouse my fervent belief that the concept and the plan are distinctly different elements. What Larson missed is what Geissel explicitly stated in his article from August 1939. (The November “Layout of the Month” article shows the track plan which was reprinted in Larson's article while the August '39 article is by Geissel himself and includes photos, also reprinted in '69.) Quote:
“The Chester Valley is now in its third location as an operating layout. While the basic idea carries along without change, each layout has been different; the track plan has been simplified, curve radii have been increased, and real railroad practice has been followed more closely." p.386
Sorry Uncle Russ, but it all boils down to the "basic idea", i.e., the concept. Geissel's article begins with a description of his rationale for choosing a short line - an idea that had remained with him since childhood. Once a good concept takes root in your mind, grows, blooms and drops seed, it can be nigh impossible to dislodge, should that be desired (it most likely will not be). How the concept is executed can change with income, location, skill, energy, etc. but a good idea - a good story - can call forth creativity for a lifetime, or at least until it has run its course and been successfully expressed.
You're right about having a concept as it's what ties everything together, and helps make decisions about how to proceed with the other 4 points. For example, Geissel notes the details of the geographical area where his railroad is set. Larson notes the existence of lots of structure kits in the 1969 era that Geissel didn't have access to, and seems to imply modern layout builders can use those kits as-is or improve them to help achieve point #2, thereby improving on Geissel. However, if one sticks to the original concept regarding geographic location, it's clear kits can't be substituted just because they are a convenience. For a layout to be outstanding, not just good, scratchbuilding structures is still needed in order to properly capture the essence of concept. Otherwise viewers upon seeing the layout will say things like "I've got those buildings too" and the spell will be broken. You want them to say "I remember those buildings from when I was a kid" or some such thing. You need a concept for that.
ReplyDeleteExactly. I think viewers to a layout on which you've even kitbashed structures, in an effort to deliberately make them resemble the structures from your chosen locale and era, will understand and accept what you're trying to convey. And, for the general public unaware of the available models, you can likely get away with stock kits built as directed. But for the sake of the artistry and world-building of the modeled scene, great care must be taken to put the right structure in the right place to tell the story, and that will involve at minimum employing appropriate signage or at best a custom built structure for that location. Mock-ups, to be lived with for a while, or even older kits that will be replaced, can stand-in and help with that process.
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