This shot was taken on the layout from 12th Avenue facing east towards downtown. Trujillo is on the left, the runaround track is in the distance. The Miami skyline is cropped in as I think it’s a better look than the basement door which is what you’d actually see if you were visiting the layout!
Whew, this was a “project” but it’s finally done. Some lessons learned….First, unconventional subjects require unconventional, and more modern, tools and techniques. It would have been impossible to get this done without using the photo laminate technique and a craft cutter (a tool I appreciate more and more with each passing year). From past mistakes I’ve learned how crucial it is to have robust bracing when building large structures. I’ve learned the value of site visits to give you an understanding of what buildings are always on the horizon as you walk around the area you’re modeling. When on site, I’ve needed to train myself to get away from 3/4 view roster shots and get more images taken at dead on, ninety degree angles. Finally, the medical evidence continues to mount as to the detrimental impact screen time has on our ability to focus and concentrate. Putting measures in place to keep my screen time in check at a relatively low level seems to help in terms of getting more work sessions in and being more productive when I have them.
The front entrance and sidewalk area is now complete. Next up is the sawtooth awning.
The local crosses District Blvd. with a load of empty corn syrup tanks on its way back to the yard. I just realized the older iPhones, a 6 in this case, allow you to get much lower angle shots than the newer, “triple lens”, models. I think I’ll have to go back and buy a refurbished 6 just for the camera. They aren’t super expensive, a hundred bucks or so.
Well I can’t put off the front awning forever. Well, I could but…..time to get to work on the hardest part of the structure.
The biggest question in my mind was how to come up with an effective strategy for dealing with the unique sawtooth roof configuration. Ultimately I decided to create the photo wallpaper file and use that as a cutting guide. After printing out the image, I attached it to .030″ styrene. This is thinner than I usually go with but I needed something that was fairly easy to cut cleanly.
I still have a long way to go but at least now I know how to approach it.