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Scenery Articles

48-star Flags

If you model between 1912 and 1959, the United States only had 48 states, so the flag back then only had 48 stars. This page has scale, color drawings of flags for N, HO, S, and O-scale. It also includes measurements of a free-standing flag pole.

Appalachian Central

Ballasting, scenery, painting the backdrop, tree-covered hillsides, roads, ground cover, rocks, fascia, structures, and weathering.

Build Realistic Scenery

From using foam as a base to leaves for the trees.

California's Golden Grass

This articles shows how the author created tall and short grasses for his On3 layout. He used Joann Fabrics Grizzly Fur for the tall grasses, and Wal-Mart plush fabric for the short grasses. The article details how to paint the fabrics, how to install them, and how to hide seams.

Desert Scenery Without Breaking a Sweat

This article shows how to model Western U.S. scenery starting with a foam insulation board base, which is built up in several layers, adding rocks, painting the surface, adding rocks and foliage, and finally the track, ballast, and structures.

Details

Bob's thoughts on the how and why of adding details.

Details Make a Difference

The author shares some ideas on how to add more details to your layout.

Details, Details, Details

A description of loads that can be placed on pallets.

Details, Details, Details

Modeling scenes where underground pipelines come above ground for junctions, booster pumps, etc.

Details, Details, Details

How to model marshes or swaps, both dry and with modeled water.

Details, Details, Details

How to model highways, on-ramps, local airports, modern office buildings, all large items that require some selective compression.

Easy Street, Paved with Styrene

Creating roadways from 0.040" styrene. Article includes step-by-step instructions and photos on cutting and scoring the styrene, installing the streets and shoulders, painting, and finishing the scene.

Finishing Touches for the Pioneer Valley

The author covers adding automobiles, figures, utility poles, detail castings, chain link fences, junk, scratchbuilt details, signs, and signals to his layout. A sidebar article talks about the cabinets the author built for the layout, including parts list and diagram. There is another sidebar on the signals and signal driving circuit he added to his layout.

Florida Scenery

Living in Florida, Bob describes his state, covering such items as flora, architecture, industries, and water, with lots of supporting prototype photos.

How To Make Better Scenery

The article describes how the author creates a scenic base using Woodland Scenics' foam sheets, then covers it with "ground goop" (a mixture of Celluclay, Vermiculite, flat latex paint, and white glue). The photo essay continues with ground cover, planting trees made from Peppergrass, and finishes with two scenes of a suburban front yard and static-flock grass along the track side.

Jeff's Junction

Making the case for focusing on mini-scenes when building a layout.

Makin' Pallets

A simple jig allows the quick production of a scale pallet.

Making S-S-S-Scenery in S Scale

The author tries to replicate Minnesota scenery using Woodland Scenics' products. Includes construction photos.

Modeling Chain-link Fencing

Using lacy netting, the author describes how he makes realistic-looking fencing.

Modeling Deciduous Trees in Winter

Tips on how to build tree with no foliage.

Modeling with Air

This is an interesting article about allowing space between the back drop and the three-dimensional layout to create the illusion of distance.

Natural Scenery Materials Organizing Parts

The author recommends collecting some outdoor materials before the frozen winter sets in, buying junk-drawer organizers, and wearing a visor light.

Notes on Building More Realistic Stone Retaining Walls

After covering where one might find stone walls and what kinds of walls are found, the author describes several methods for modeling stone walls.

Oddity

The author found a BN cab/nose, a motor, and some barrels on the side of a field and decided to take a photo of it.

Over The Edge Scenery

You can give your layout extra dimension by taking scenery over the edge - the edge of the layout that is. The article shows three photos of how to treat the edge of the layout other than the usual Masonite board. One is to use wooden supporting timbers, complete with nut-bolt-washer castings. Another is to use rock outcroppings, and the last one shows what a rock wall will look like.

Plentiful Pallets

How to scratchbuild wooden pallets.

Realistic Trees

Models of Black Willow, Yellow Poplar, Live Oak, Black Locust, Common Ash, Sycamore, and White Oak trees.

Scale Scene

The author describes how to build creates, concrete blocks, oil drums, gasoline tanks, and tank stands.

Scenery From a Jar

Using the various Polyterrain products, the author shows how he builds scenery from a foam base, installs track, ballast, scenery base, ground cover, and scenic details.

Scenery from the Ground Up

The author shares the materials, tools, and techniques he uses to build realistic scenery.

Scenery Techniques

The author introduces this new column.

Seamless Removable Scenery

Using a strip of fabric to hide the seam of a piece of removable scenery (to access hidden tracks, for example).

Short & Easy

Make a garbage can from the top of a pencil. Includes diagrams and a model photo.

Short And Easy

The author shares Russ Mobley's design for building a scale hot-air balloon.

Sponge Modeling

Using a sponge and joint compound to create rippled water and smooth roads.

Stack-by-stack, not Board-by-board

How to build stacks of boards the easy way.

Texture, Color, and the Art of Model Railroading

Adding vegetation, details, and the use of color and texture all add to the believability of our models and layouts. Includes many close-up photos of the author's scenery work.

The Mighty Pen

Using the various parts of a ballpoint pen to model clay sewer pipes, bags of cement, drainage culverts, smokestack, piping, industrial valve, stove, and vertical steam boiler.

The Scenery Clinic Part II

This installment discusses ground cover, specifically hills and creek edges.

The Scenery Clinic Part IV

This installment covers how to model a cut bank.

The Scenery Clinic Pt VII

This installment covers how to model water using Magic Water®. Paul shows how he creates the illusion of fast-flowing water by painting white foam around rocks.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. XVII

This last installment covers the final details of the diorama. The author covers debris, adding vehicles, and grass tufts.

The Scenery Clinic: Painting Flexible Track

In this introductory article the author announces that he will be starting a series of articles on how he does scenery work. He has been giving clinics at shows for 30 years. In this installment he describes how he built the base for the diorama used in the article. The main topic is about how to make flextrack look more realistic by painting the ties and the rails.

The Seasons of Model Railroading

The author describes how he added Christmas-related items to his layout, such as Christmas trees, wreaths on locomotives, etc.

Thirty Minutes

Adding small details to structures or scenes doesn't have to take a long time, but can do a lot of the overall impression of the layout.

Vast Vistas - In a Few Inches

This article presents ideas on how to model steep hills in just two to five inches of space.

When is a Rock Mold not a Rock Mold?

Describes "Plastic Liquid" which can be melted to be poured over masters to make molds. The material doesn't stick to anything.