Animation.
Regardless of your chosen scale, it's what makes a scene of plastic, metal and wire come to life. Of everything we read on this site, as well as others, there's an acute lack of information being shared regarding moving objects in layouts.
Animation seems to have been sacrificed in the past twenty years in favour of more highly detailed scenes. For my taste, it would seem there's a fair degree of overkill in this area, with excessive garbage and detail crossing the line to clutter. I find clutter makes the scene unrealistic to the point of being almost surrealistic. Look in the pages of the magazines and you will see excessive numbers of people in strange parts of town at a strange time of day, or garbage in the streets of what might be an upscale neighbourhood. Some of this over detailing seems inspired by pseudo Spielbergian set designers, rather than anchored in any semblance of reality
Now I'm getting away from my intended point. Yes, clutter is a problem, but people have gotten so wrapped up in it, that NOTHING EXCEPT THE TRAIN MOVES ANYMORE.
Some years ago, the magazine pages catering to this hobby were filled with mechanized ideas. Concepts wre driven by everything from small motors to rubberbands triggered almost by magic to move something. I don't think I've seen a mechanized mine or even a turning windmill on a farm for at least 25 years. I wonder what happened?
We used to read, and see ideas on layouts that were almost unique, and indeed ingenious. There was the small motor used to agitate the wire in the hands of an "HO" figure in a field. At the other end, a kite lazily wafted in the wind high above the ground. On another layout I saw people ascending and descending an escalator on an endless belt. Some rush hour! I've mentioned the use of "HO" scale slot cars in another thread which has virtually fallen on deaf ears. Moving cars on layouts was widespread in the 60's, and they were'[nt being raced. Then there was my all time favourite sight. At a local layout, the host called everyone's attention to a platform (sans roof) with a sizeable crowd of passengers awaiting, facing the direction of an oncoming train. Once the train pulled in, blocking the view of the platform, a button was pushed and a small motor spun the platform around to an identical structure fastened underneath. When the train departed, the large crowd facing the direction of the arriving train was gone, replaced by a virtually empty platform with a few figures heading towards the station. Now that was REALLY NEAT to see!
Most animation is unexpected. That's what helps make a layout memorable.
Not only electrical motors were used, but there were all kinds of projects using magnets to move objects from unseen sources as well as hydraulics. One article years ago told of using simple doctors syringes and plastic tubing filled with water to simulate a working auto mechanics lift.
These days, commercially animated kits are available from Faller with revolving signs, a working gravel belt and mine, amusement rides such as bumper cars and even a swimming pool filled with moving swimmers. From the states, IHC has a large selection of amusement park rides with a generous offering of midway booths. These are all very nice, but most people do not want to devote large segments of "real estate" to unsightly industries, or the circus.
People have become far too involved with the CMRI (Computer Model Railroad Interface) while trying to fully automate train operations, or exploring DCC. These innovations to the hobby are technologically revolutionary, however we've become far too dependent on them. This facet of the hobby is not only taking us away from running a train as it is, but from what makes a layout magicllyunique as well.
I'd like to hear about what you have done, and what you've seen. You can't make the little guy on the observation platform wave, but the multitude of possiblities for animation are endless.
Let's get back to basics and get things moving again!
George.