FORCED PERSPECTIVE IN TROLLEY DIORAMAS

Even in this unenlightened age, many model traction fans --- when they become bored with running their trolleys in a circle around a perpetual, virtual Christmas tree --- use backdrops from Walthers and Backdrop Warehouse as wall coverings in back of the layout. They are printed in a scale much smaller than the trolleys running in the foreground --- often very detailed, very nicely printed or photographed city backgrounds by commercial firms like Walthers and Backdrop Warehouse.

This key concept of using different scales for different sections of a diorama, where the scales differ and descend in size from front to back, is called 'forced perspective.

I would like to quote from a “thread” --- a list of comments in chronological, conversational order from an Internet forum on model airplanes. Because so many model airplane hobbyists, like model railroaders and live steamers, are interested primarily in operating their models, we found it surprising that any of them would be interested in building dioramas, usually a rather static display. It also was interesting that many people in that hobby --- and we're confident that holds true for model traction and transit as well --- had never heard of forced perspective, and had never realized that picturing a moment frozen in time of their otherwise very active, moving hobby was a valid, fascinating option for extending the time factor in order to appreciate the original historical scene or activity. You just wouldn’t think that there were valid static aspects of a hobby based on movement, like ours. What some British model railroaders, the fiddle yard modelers working in a very restricted area --- and French and German modelers who have built Feldbahns and industrial layouts, have demonstrated, is the satisfaction that can be derived through portraying the railroad experience in a very small area over some brief period of time. NO ! Ya doesn’t hafta just run ‘em around and around !!

The other advantage is that one can focus the audience’s attention on some small, evocative aspect of what electric traction railroading really felt like, looked like, and even sounded like, that extends far beyond running a trolley at speed and sounding the horn.

It also opens a major avenue for modeling in the really large scales --- Jimmy Sparkman’s and British trams ¾ inch to the foot, live steam's one inch and 1½ inch scale, and even in the size we're currently beating a drum for --- 2 inches to the foot, the scale utilized by action figures and Barbie dolls.

And lest you turn up your nose at the latter (Mattel calls it Playscale; our call is that it should be dubbed DisPlayscale), consider the possibility for realistic displays if you bring forced perspective into play :
DisPlayscale in the foreground --- it could be just a static moment captured for the viewer, with realistic figures engaged in typical railroad activity; immediately behind it at a small distance, a 1.5-inch-to-the-foot live steam locomotive or string of railcars; right behind that, at the appropriate distance, one-inch scale; next, some F Scale (1:20.3) or G scale (1:22.5 to 1:32), with their detail and outstanding visuals; and, finally, background flats in 0 scale (1:48), displaying a rich industrial or metropolitan background. We think it would take spectators’ breath away. If people asked what the diorama’s scale was, you could ingenuously say “All of them”.

Following is a set of relevant quotes from a model airplane forum:

“One further note, You might want to have several possibilities where your piece will or can be displayed other than a contest.

Museums.
Hobby Shops,
Libraries,
Private or permanent hangars where real aircraft are housed and repaired,
Tech schools,
Corporate headquarters Like trolley and model rail publishing co.,
Large malls
Government buildings, etc.
N.B. This list emended to reflect traction vice aviation interests

Finding a permanent home is not difficult if it’s well done. The first place my Staaken Diorama went on display was the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. It has been on temporary loan to the Wings Over the Rockies Aviation Museum for 4 years. If you do a club-sponsored contest entry, the post-contest and ultimate location should be established first and one person should be in charge of its disposition. This person would then answer to the club.

While there is more on the topic, it can all be gleaned from Shep Paynes great work. “How to build Dioramas”. Verlinden has great scenes and ideas. Don't discard any possibilities.”

Tool guys advise : Lefty Loosy, Righty Tighty
Diorama builders might say : Closey Largey, Farthey Smalley