Great stuff! You cannot beat sunlight. Studio lighting will not have the crispness, it's something to do with that tiny bright pin of light from 93 million miles away that cannot be replicated in the studio, it being almost impossible to get the shadows as sharp.

Yes, Chris, I've tried all sorts of lighting indoors, but it's never quite what I want. The big floodlight comes closest. Then, of course, you get white-balance issues.

  This first photo was taken fairly early in the morning and shows the gentle light of that time of day. I'd love to get that ballasting done.


  
 A couple of loco crew would've looked good in this one.

 
and just to show I do have British outline as well  :)  my Bachmann 0-6-2

 


 Mike

That rocky embankment has captured the feel of an old, crumbling cutting very well Mike, considering they were shiny fish pond stones to start with :shock:      

It must have taken you ages to get the sunlight "just so" to hi-lite the rocks that way  :wink:

Lovely job as always, keep 'em coming.

Thanks Marty.  :)

 I've taken another batch of outdoors photos, this time with a different background.  I expect people have seen about enough of them, so here's just one more.

 

 Just the nose of a Boston & Maine GP38-2 poking in. The crossing signs are new. I still have to attach the  '2' for the number of tracks.

 There are more photos here: Photobucket | Make your memories fun!   Some ballasting has been done, but it's a bit pale [and untidy] Something else to fix.

 Mike

Very nice, had a quick peek at Photobucket.

Mmmm. I have plenty to learn.

Sorry Mike,

This one just has to be shown too…  it's too good to hide away.

You know Mike i am sure these are real pics and just a odd loco model and car + a figure thrown in to make it seem like a model.
They are just so real looking mate.
Phill

Yep, Phill, you got me    :)  :)  :wink:
 Meant to mention the railroad crossing signs are brass, made by Tomar Industries US. A gift from my sister.

 Mike

Tomar is quality kit in my book, Mike, even if some of their high-end models are rather pricey :!:

Tim   She did er…  hint that the signs aren't cheapies   :D
  I'd never heard of them before. I'll have to check them out, and see if there's anything else there that she'd like to buy for me         :wink:

 Mike
 
 P.S. thanks for posting that one, Marty.

Its that word again "BRILLIANT" :D  :D  :D

MikeC said

Tim   She did er…  hint that the signs aren't cheapies   :D
  I'd never heard of them before. I'll have to check them out, and see if there's anything else there that she'd like to buy for me         :wink:

 Mike
 
 P.S. thanks for posting that one, Marty.

Here's the link, Mike.  There's some cracking stuff in brass :!:

Tomar

Great link, Tim. Thanks! Excellent stuff there.

 Mike