Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Books
How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery

Chapter

Page

Title / Description

4

Introduction
New materials available, how to use this book, and list of tools to have to do scenery work.

1

7

Designing Scenery with Plans and Models
Create a scale model of what you want your scenery to look like. Create scene themes, and developing a scenic plan. Planning and installing layout lighting.

2

13

Building Scenic Forms and Shells
Using the cardboard webbing technique for scenery base. Installing tunnel portals and interior walls. Using styrofoam as a scenery base. Working with plaster. Adding paper towels or gauze to form strong scenery bases. Working with Sculptamold.

3

23

Basic Colors and Textures
Creating basic earth colors using latex paint. Various color mixture recipes. Using paints and dyes. Making dyed sawdust. Grinding foam rubber. Water-soluble adhesives.

4

31

Modeling Rock and Rubble
Making rock molds. Casting rock faces in place. Rock coloring formula. What is "wet water"? Step-by-step instructions on painting rock. Creating rubble. Gluing rubble and rock. Casting retaining walls

5

42

Scenic Finishing: Texture over Texture
Various texture materials available on the market. Gluing texture. Ballasting track. Creating clutter. Using real dirt on layouts. Building dirt roads.

6

53

Trees, Stumps, Weeds, and Vines
Using real twigs and sticks for tree armatures. Coloring tree trunks. Bark relief washes. Adding branches and foliage. Using polyfiber. Using dried florist's materials. Modeling evergreen trees. Bumpy chenille pines. Creating stumps using a mold and plaster. Growing vines. Using lichen. Modeling tall grasses. Creating weeds.

7

71

Modeling Water
Preparing surface for water. Using plexiglass for water base. Forming banks. Painting flat bottoms. Building 3-D stream bases. Using gloss varnish, acrylic gloss medium, polyester resin, and epoxies. Waves and white water. Ripples and rough water. Waterfalls and rapids.

8

86

Backdrops and Background Scenery
Basic backdrop construction. Curved corner backdrops. Dealing with seams. Painting backdrops (covers all parts of backdrop scenery and how to paint them - very good). Painting using projected slides. Installing paper backdrops, and offset backdrops. Structures as background scenery (using smaller-than-modeled scale for forced perspective).

9

98

Diorama Techniques for Foreground Scenery
Tricks in using slopes and placing structures. Leading the viewer through a scene. The rule of thirds. Using fences. Diorama-quality trees. Foreground texture. Track is part of scenery. Building paved roads, telephone poles, and installing cast details. Painting and weathering.

10

111

Special Situations and Special Effects
Allow for easy removal of buildings, trees, people, and vehicles to change the scenery around from time to time. Lots of information about weathering. Creating styrofoam scenery. Making urethane foam rocks. Ceiling tile rocks.

11

120

Modeling the Changing Seasons
Modeling winter and fall.

12

127

Repairing and Rejuvenating Scenery
Dealing with dust and ultraviolet light. Performing touch-ups and repaired scratched water.

132

Index