Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Categories
Scenery - Waterside Articles

A Focal Point for the Harbor

Creating a convincing model ship for this author's harbor scene.

A Modest Proposal

Modeling harbor scenes using selective compression.

Build a Great Lakes Freighter

Prototype, modeling, and construction photos. Includes a scale drawing.

Building a Covered Barge for the Port Richmond Part II

Construction and final model photo accompany the article. This issue starts off with the hull completed.

Cajon Creek Step-by-Step

This how-to article shows, via photos, how the author modeled clear shallow water flowing under a railroad bridge using EnviroTex epoxy and Mod Podge medium.

Car Float Storage Yard

The author describes his removable float to handle the issue of having way more cars than the layout can hold at any one time. Storage shelves under the layout hold additional floats. Includes photos and drawings.

Creating Small Streams and Waterfalls

The author used foam blocks to build up the scene, etched the foam to simulate the erosion of the water of the waterfall, then poured thick plaster to represent the water, painted the water, and finally installed the surround scenery and the waterfall itself.

Cry Me A River

The authors cover in detail how they made their HO-scale stream (and N-scale harbor) using facial tissue paper and gloss medium liquid. It is an interesting technique with very good results.

Drive That Pile!

Using dowels to represents piles driven to hold the embankment.

How To: Unreal Details' Magic Water

The author shows the step-by-step process of using "Magic Water" by Unreal Details, which is a two-part epoxy.

Lily Pads, Cattails, and Pond Scum

The author describes how he models cattails (5- to 9-foot tall herb), grasses, lily pads, pond scum, and pond water.

Make a Realistic Lake

Step-by-step instructions on how to build a placid lake, and a sidebar on modeling rivers and creeks.

Making a Cardboard Party Balloon Pond

Thinking outside the box allowed this author to see how a shiny two-dimensional party balloon could be used as a soft-rippling pond. A photo essay shows how he installed it.

Model a Pond

The author covers how to waterproof the pond, adding bottom details, modeling cattail plants and dead trees, how to simulate standing water, how to pour the resin, and how to add lily pads.

Modeling Realistic Water Scenes Take Two

The author describes how he modeled slower-moving water ways on his layout, including covering the construction of the abutments and the bridges that go over them. Includes many construction photos.

Modeling Water

The author describes how he models small streams, creeks, rapid water, springs, stagnant sloughs, and small ponds.

Modeling Water with Plexiglass

The author describes building a low-height trestle bridge that runs across a lake. Includes photos of the entire construction process.

Modeling Waterfalls

The author builds a diorama showing how he models waterfalls. The article is a series of construction progress photos.

Portable Ponds

Creating a removable pond.

Rushing Water

Using white cotton and epoxy, the author describes how to model rushing water.

Scratchbuild a Fleet

Using 0.020" styrene, the author shows how he builds a fleet of row boats.

Short And Easy

Using the metal bands that hold an eraser to the end of the pencil as a culvert.

Short and Easy

Richard Lind shares how he created a muddy river, quickly.

Ten Ways to Model Water

This article compares 10 different methods for simulating water on a layout. Some techniques for modeling water are also discussed.

The Boats of Foggy Harbor

Photos of N-scale 1940s and 1950s boats.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. V

This installment covers how to model a river bank.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. XV

This installment covers how to model water using Mod Podge, and includes building some small trees.

Water and How to Model It

Different waterways are discussed and the author describes how to model them. Model photos are taken from the New England, Bershire & Western railroad.

Wetland Detailing

The author describes the methods and materials he uses to add life to lowlands, such as trees, fish, weeds, and several miscellaneous man-made details.

What's in Your Corner?

The author built an abandoned branch line track over a creek in the corner of his layout to make effective use of the dead space. Includes a sidebar on the history of the Wilkes-Barre & Hazleton interurban railway.

White Water on the Denver & Rio Chama Western

The author shows how he makes rapid moving water falling over cliffs.