Here is a view from my Sketchup model of Mayberry, from an angle we never see in The Andy Griffith Show.  We are "standing" on the upper porch of the double-porched facade across the street from the courthouse, looking back at the courthouse and shops.  You can also see the entrance to "Walker's Drug Store" in the mid-foreground.

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/3d_view_from_upper_porch_2.jpg

Excellent job there. Time well spent   :)
Surely I am not the only person who would like to see more of your work.

Wow, Retro...what is "Sketchup model?"  Is it a particular type program?  Is it Google Sketchup?  Is there somewhere that we can see the whole thing?

This is great stuff!

*

Principal wrote on Feb 15^th, 2009 at 2:36pm:

* 42474E4A4D230

Thanks!   I have the models linked from my 40 Acres site, where I also have several 2D renderings on display ( http://www.retroweb.com/40acres_tour.html ), but below is a link to the collection of models.  The only caveat here is that you need Google Sketchup to explore the models, but it's free software from Google:  

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=c9b583b8cd3baa6aea3e4d6c8003e506&ct=mdcc

Goober Pyle wrote on Feb 15^th, 2009 at 2:01pm:

Excellent job there. Time well spent   :) Surely I am not the only person who would like to see more of your work.

Thanks Goober.   I also have some of the best 2D renderings on Flickr in this set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8469588@N08/sets/72157612555941735/

Hey Retro.  Your work is excellent !

I downloaded your comprehensive SKP file and have been having great fun with it.

I'm exporting animated walk-thru's (AVI's) around the buildings.  You really have done a good job.

I've started my own model of the Taylor home, but I imagine you are ( or will ) be doing that
at some point.

Anyway, congrats !  :)

Phil Sunkel wrote on Feb 15^th, 2009 at 7:35pm:

Hey Retro.  Your work is excellent ! I downloaded your comprehensive SKP file and have been having great fun with it. I'm exporting animated walk-thru's (AVI's) around the buildings.  You really have done a good job. I've started my own model of the Taylor home, but I imagine you are ( or will ) be doing that at some point. Anyway, congrats !  :)

Thanks Phil!   I haven't started any new models, but indeed, I've been homing in on the Taylor home.  The problem is, I know this will set in motion a longer-term project involving the whole residential street!  :)

You got yourself some amazing pictures there Retro, simply amazing! Great job!  :)

Really cool Retro.  I always had a hard time figuring out where the first cannon was.  Now I know, directly across from the CH betwixed the yeller and red brick buildings... I think.

Pierre wrote on Feb 16^th, 2009 at 11:26am:

Really cool Retro.  I always had a hard time figuring out where the first cannon was.  Now I know, directly across from the CH betwixed the yeller and red brick buildings... I think.

Yes, that low wall and fence was there early on, but that space changed over time, and in "The Statue," it included grass and a center sidewalk from which Andy and Aunt Bee emerged in one scene.

By the way, the small yellow building on the left was the "Reprisal Bar & Grill" in the film "Ride Beyond Vengeance," and in the Andy Griffith episode "Malcolm at the Crossroads," you can see the lettering "REPRISAL" behind Ernest T. in the right-side window.

Wow!  All I can say is, this is BIG!!!
Excellent work, Retro!!

Preliminary Taylor House Sketch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TytxMxBjfpA
Log in for YouTube.

Very cool Phil - Looking good.  I have never used Sketchup's animation feature, but I am going to explore it now!

Great stuff Retro.  Very cool.

retro wrote on Feb 17^th, 2009 at 5:51am:

Sketchup's animation feature

The render times are huge !  

With materials and shadows applied, a short sequence at 720x480
pixels can take overnight.  But well worth it.

Phil Sunkel wrote on Feb 17^th, 2009 at 9:56pm:

With materials and shadows applied, a short sequence at 720x480 pixels can take overnight.But well worth it.

Say it again.

Lee Drake wrote on Feb 18^th, 2009 at 10:27am:

Say it again.

;D Thanks Lee I am glad I won't the only one that was clueless...

Retro....Phil... ya'll are extra talented

LOL, TQ!

Yes, I concur with Thelma Lou:  All y'all are extry talented!
I'm jest obtuse.  (I hate when I'm obtuse!) :-?

ThelmaLou wrote on Feb 18^th, 2009 at 12:56pm:

... ya'll are extra talented

Well... I don't know about Retro, but I can't cook.  :(

Lee Drake wrote on Feb 18^th, 2009 at 2:12pm:

I'm jest obtuse.(I hate when I'm obtuse!)

I'm EPT!  ;D

Something about short Pixies and an overnight bag in the shadows?   :(

And renderin' lard..   :-/   They scaldin' a hog maybe?

Wonderful job, Phil.[smiley=thumbsup.gif]

But you left out the elephant tracks.

Thanks, Mr. Becker.

I forgot the spinach, too.

The question I have here is that I don't remember scenes where the Taylor house had steps on the side of the porch. I remember in Barney meets the Governor that they had to take one giant step up onto the porch (and push Barney).  And other scenes like Man in a Hurry Gomer took a giant step up I think, but I don't seam to remember anyone going up side steps.

Orville Monroe wrote on Mar 14^th, 2009 at 3:02am:

The question I have here is that I don't remember scenes where the Taylor house had steps on the side of the porch. I remember in Barney meets the Governor that they had to take one giant step up onto the porch (and push Barney).  And other scenes like Man in a Hurry Gomer took a giant step up I think, but I don't seam to remember anyone going up side steps.

You're right, there wasn't any side steps on the Taylor house.

Here are a few renderings of the latest addition to my "Virtual 40 Acres" 3D collection.   I was torn between modeling the "Taylor" house next or the "Aunt Pittypat" (aka Rimshaw) house next door, but I started here.  I hope to eventually model at least the five main houses on this side of the street.

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/3d_taylor_house_01_500.jpg

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/3d_taylor_house_03_500.jpg

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/3d_taylor_house_02_500.jpg

Here is a "Virtual Mayberry" view re-creating a photo angle similar to that seen in the accompanying behind-the-scenes shot.

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/3d_mayberry_high_angle_view_500.jpg

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/mayberry_high_angle_photo_500.jpg

There was no hotel across the street from the Court House.

Briscoe Darling wrote on Mar 15^th, 2009 at 1:46pm:

There was no hotel across the street from the Court House.

The camera didn't pick up that sign often, but it was a recurring fixture on the northeast corner of the island building (see photo below)...the same structure which included the entrance to Walker's Drug Store (door facing us below):

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/ANDY_GRIFFITH-137-hotel-sign.jpg


It's also in the background in this shot, but so is "Rusk Hotel" over the door facing us.    Granted, I don't think it was ever the intention for that building to be dressed as a hotel for The Andy Griffith Show.
http://www.retroweb.com/bb/ANDYGRIFFITH_S6_D5-37.jpg

Awesome renderings, Retro !

Boy, Andy's getting awful close to that parked car.

What is that ?  '63 Ford Falcon ?

:o WOW :o ! THAT IS AN OUTSTANDING PIECE OF WORK YOU HAVE DONE THERE RETRO! WELL WORTH SHOUTING ABOUT!!Brian

Orville Monroe wrote on Mar 14^th, 2009 at 3:02am:

remember in Barney meets the Governor that they had to take one giant step up onto the porch (and push Barney).And other scenes like Man in a Hurry Gomer took a giant step up

Some folks, boys and men, especially, take more than one step as an expedient and / or to impress others.  Rest assured those steps were there, but boys and men bein' what they are, they made the big step.  Too, there could have been filmin' equipment in the way of the steps and they had no choice.

Pierre wrote on Mar 17^th, 2009 at 2:05pm:

Orville Monroe wrote on Mar 14th, 2009 at 3:02am: remember in Barney meets the Governor that they had to take one giant step up onto the porch (and push Barney).And other scenes like Man in a Hurry Gomer took a giant step up Some folks, boys and men, especially, take more than one step as an expedient and / or to impress others.  Rest assured those steps were there, but boys and men bein' what they are, they made the big step.  Too, there could have been filmin' equipment in the way of the steps and they had no choice.

Sorry to disagree, but I'll post a capture later (don't have it handy) from "High Noon in Mayberry" that shows siding, not steps, on the right side of the porch.  Perhaps steps were added later, but at that time, the only steps were on the front side.

I saw something somewhere that suggested steps when I was tinkering
with my Taylor house model.  It was probably just shadows on siding.
My mistake.

Let me explain more completely:

Some folks, boys and men, especially, take more than one step as an expedient and / or to impress others. Rest assured those steps were there, but boys and men bein' what they are, they made the big step.  THEREBY BYPASSING THE STEPS THAT WERE THERE.  Too, there could have been filmin' equipment in the way of the steps and they had no choice.

These images, from "Barney and the Governor" and "High Noon in Mayberry" respectively, reveal that the right end of the porch (at least in the third season of the series) not only had no steps, but that it also had a row of grass and small shrubs under it.   Steps may have been added there later, but I haven't spotted them yet.

By the way, in "Man in a Hurry" (not shown below), Gomer walks up the front steps, and doesn't step up on the right end.  Below, Andy is helping Barney over the right end of the porch.

http://www.retroweb.com/bb/taylor_house_porch_right_side.jpg

"Do you like me ?"

"I like you."

"I've always liked you."   [smiley=shocked.gif]