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The Art of FinescaleMichael CougillModeling from the prototypeWhen I worked as an artist, I learned the value of lookingdirectly to the subject matter for the answers to any questions.One thing a beginning artist has to overcome is their own preconceivedideas about what an object looks like. Ask someoneto draw a tree, for example, and they will likely draw a squigglycircle or blob on a stick, or whatever they think a tree issupposed to look like instead of looking to an actual tree anddrawing it. I think the same thing can happen in modeling. Weall know what a boxcar looks like right? Oh really?In modeling I’ve come to appreciate the value of goodinformation, especially photos. I recently read an article in theDecember 1983 issue of Mainline Modeler that got me thinkingabout how to improve my current skill level. In the article,author Robert Zenk outlined how he compared his effortsin upgrading the details on an HO Scale Life-Like F40PH tophotos of the actual locomotive. By looking at photos of theprototype and photos of the model taken from similar angles,he was able to see where he was successful and what neededmore work or refinement. Additionally, he was able to seewhere the model fell short in terms of what the manufacturerhad done with the original tooling. Some things he couldn’tlive with and some weren’t worth doing because the gainsdidn’t outweigh the bother.I was intrigued by this because I want to improve mymodeling skills. The layout is essentially done and I reallydon’t have any plans for expanding or modifying it; so I havethe time to spend on projects like freight cars, structures andmaybe redoing some of the first scenery efforts. Photo 1 showsa section of a fish-bellied underframe from a single-sheathedboxcar and my rendition of it in styrene. At first I was prettysatisfied with how this part turned out, but after a closer comparisonbetween the model and the real one, I could see roomfor improvement and so made the second one seen at the bottom.Without the prototype photos or a closer look at them,I might have settled for the quality of the first part. It workedand was close enough; however, why guess at how somethinglooked when you can verify it with photos if you have them?Doing a side-by-side comparison like this clearly shows wheremy modeling is lacking and how I might improve it. I’ve mentionedpreviously I was able to thoroughly document this carbefore it disappeared forever (something I wish I could do forevery project), and therefore I feel like I have enough materialto do a fairly complete modeling job.Not everyone will go to the effort that I am on this project,nor am I saying you should; but if you have the chance to thoroughlydocument a prototype car or building for a future project,I encourage you to do so. You won’t regret the time spentand your modeling may move to a whole new level as a result.Best regards,Mikeu1July/Aug ’09 - O Scale Trains • 9