Model Railroad Hobbyist | April 2015 | #62 IMAGINEERING column Dave Meek A model railroad as themed environment ... I’d like to focus more on the “why-to” than the “how-to.” Future columns will no doubt delve more deeply into the nuts-and-bolts of presentation, but for now, I want to discuss the general principles of themed design and how they apply to the hobby of model railroading. My On30 Thunder Mesa Mining Company layout is a freelanced work of fiction. While it borrows from the long tradition of trains at Disney Parks, in building it, I also try to emulate Disney’s design process and strong focus on story. My goal is to create an immersive and entertaining miniature world built around model trains. I like to think of it as a place for stories to happen. A place Disney Imagineers would call a “themed environment.” At its most basic level, a themed environment is a designed space for interactive storytelling. It’s a place to play. It can be a room, a store, a restaurant, a single attraction, or an entire park. The idea borrows many tricks and techniques from movie making but XX EXPLORING THE CREATIVE SIDES OF THE HOBBY MRHMAG.COM • TABLE OF CONTENTS • INDEX