FORCED PERSPECTIVE : An Important Approach for P Scalers

Problem : How to make a small model viewscape in a model T⁴***  layout look much larger than seems possible .

If you have a convenient window through which to survey the landscape around you at this very moment, you will notice that those buildings which are closest appear larger than the ones in the background . Beyond them appear smaller buildings, even though you know them to be larger and taller. Beyond them sit tiny vehicles, like colorful smudges with little detail to identify them. Even a very large city seems smaller and smaller the further objects are from the eye, especially when seen from a height .

*** T⁴= A former mathematician's way of saying "Trolleys, Trams, Traction & Transit", hoping that this shorthand notation catches on !

We have only a small space in which to model a large viewscape. With up to hundreds of feet in depth to model, unkind reality provides us with a mere 10 to 15 feet at best.

Trying to do that in a Mega-Scale --- say, P scale, one-sixth full size, two inches equals one foot --- would be even more difficult. However, there exists a method that fools the eyes and brain of viewer into thinking that buildings appear to be far off in the distance, a method called “forced perspective”.

The answer to this difficulty, one known for hundreds of years to practitioners in the fine arts when producing a painting, is to reduce objects in the distance in size, which creates the illusion that they are very far away. A simple approach to achieve the illusion is to model the trolley or tram in two inches to the foot (P-Scale) while modeling the scenery and buildings behind it from the point of view of the observer in --- for example --- O Scale. When the observer looks at the buildings, they appear to be far away because of their smaller size, even though only a few feet may separate the two. Your eye perceives those decreases in size as increased distance, a common technique also used in stagecraft and magicians' illusions . Think of the backdrop of Manhattan skyscrapers appearing to squeeze an entire city behind the on-stage cast of "New York, New York" .

This illusion can be heightened --- both creatively and literally --- by placing background buildings and scenic accessories somewhat higher than the foreground streetcar tracks that are close to the observer.

Another technique which reinforces the illusion is to reduce in size those elements of a structure in the scenery that are further from the observer. It helps to consider yourself as an artist who is designing the elements of a painting by --- for example --- narrowing the backs of buildings as they appear to recede from the eye .

Another significant advantage to this technique is that --- particularly when building a landscape in a scale whose scenery is difficult to obtain commercially --- using readily available O scale and HO scale buildings is, therefore, not only more effective, but also much less expensive and easier to purchase commercially --- achieving two goals with one technique . To reinforce the point, because to the eye, small size equals distance; the smaller the building the farther away it seems. Also, please consider that model automobiles in one-sixth scale are, at the present time, almost unobtainable; however, some beautiful model cars are available in 1:18 scale, and will do nicely if placed in the background of a street scene.

Please try this on your next layout and let us know how this "optical illusion" works for you --- please use the Comments option on this blog for easy commenting .