Mchowisko in 009 and minimalism…

We often marvel at model railways where a real feeling of space has been created and then continue to fill every square inch with interest and cameos on our own projects. I have long practiced restraint, and counselled on an artful approach - and this has been never more important than on my latest Mosslanda...

Mchowisko is 55cm wide and barely 10cm deep - yet I wanted to feel the expanse of the sugar beet fields in winter. In my previous introduction to the layout I shared that the composition was in flux, and I thought I would re-introduce some of the thinner trees at each end of the scene.

Well I have, in less quantity - but more than that, I've given the layout a single solitary detail.

Just the one.

No cliche. No platform. No ramshackle structure. No car. 

No, just a sign.

Created on my Mac, printed on lightweight cheap paper and superglued to 10thou styrene it does the job of placing us in Europe. It's form, above, echoing the letter box of the layout. Together with the tree they provide a focus, neither quite centre mind, all a case of tweaking and adjusting position. I also painted a very low horizon on the bottom of the back scene. This has removed the uncomfortable sight of the static grass overlapping the sky. Subtle but important details.

There are a few more things to tick off - whilst I'm generally happy with the trees I think there is more variation in ground texture required, perhaps some brown micro-fibre? Then a question of a touch of colour, subtle but that suggests human life - I've got something in mind, it can wait until next time. Until then, more soon...

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