This past week I’ve created the first “real” scenery on my layout.
When I first worked on my layout I couldn’t stand the thought of looking at pink foam for the time it would take me to create real scenery, so I initially covered it with Life Like Grass Paper. Since that time I’ve added a large number of Woodland Scenics deciduous trees and pine trees. I’ve also added about a dozen structures, telephone poles, people, roads, automobiles, etc. My layout looked pretty nice, but it still had the “toy train” look because of the rather unrealistic grass paper.
I knew it was time to do what I had always planned – cover the grass paper up with something more realistic.
I started landscaping the area around my passenger station. First I created an asphalt parking lot using WS Fine Ballast Cinders. The fine texture and black color of the cinders made very realistic looking asphalt. I used a metal cylinder to roll out the cinders while the glue was still wet, and it made a very nice surface for my parking lot. I then used WS Dark and Light Green Clump Foliage to create some shrubs around the parking lot.
My next task was to create a grassy area on the far side of the parking lot. I first laid down WS Fine Turf Green Grass and then sprinkled Fine Turf Burnt Grass across the top to provide some variation in color.
My first scenery really looks nice. It took me a ridiculously long time to landscape an area about 4" x 12", but I am sure as I gain experience it won’t take as long. The best part is that it showed me that I CAN create realistic scenery!! Now that I have that confidence, the range of my projects will surely grow.
Many thanks to the posts on this board and the articles in MR that instructed me on how to do this. I would have had no idea where to start without them.
Boy, I’m so in to this now I’ve even decided to try weathering my first building (GASP)!! [:D]
I look forward to seeing some pics there Roadtrp, I’m way behind on scenery and probably won’t be there for a couple of years yet. once over the hump it’s down hill and easier.
I’ll post pics when I get more of the Life Like grass paper replaced with REAL scenery. At the rate of 1 foot by 4 inches at a time, it might take a while. Hopefully I will get to where I can do it a little more quickly.
I loved your pics. You may not have a whole lot of scenery down, but you have a MAJOR layout going. Being limited by space to my 3-1/2’ by 7’ N scale layout, I can only dream when I see something like you have.
One way to achieve better-looking scenery in less time is to create scenic blends, ready-made mixes of various colors and textures of ground foam, which when applied will produce randomized scrub. I keep various grades of pebbles on hand, too, to sprinkle in there at whim, and I found some felt/flock craft material at the art store which looks like grass blades when applied as a topmost layer to the glue-wetted ground foam. Basically, the principle is “Mix it all in together”. If you sit around trying to rationalize your way through to figuring out what color material to use where and in what proportions, you’ll go batty; they aren’t rivets, so don’t count 'em. I happen to also collect my sawdust, and add some in from time to time (I’m referring mainly to by hardboard masonite sawdust, which is finer and a darker brown than pine), plus I gather scoops of real dirt from time to time. I just keep an eye out for anything, absolutely anything, which might add a new color or texture to my scenery, and then find an old coffee can or whatnot to store it in.
Now, I actually do take a good amount of time to do an area the size you mention, basically working one square foot at a time. Don’t feel bad for investing the time; as you get faster and better at it, you’ll end up spending the same amount of time but just adding more layers and details to your work. Or, at least you should, because scenery is the funnest part of the hobby!
Thanks so much for the advice on mixing various colors and textures of ground foam prior to application. It seems like an incredibly obvious solution after reading it, but is one I had not thought of. It will certainly be much easier (and more realistic looking) than applying the various products “ala Carte”.
I really appreciate folks like you who take the time to share their experience with rookies like me. [:)]
Hi Roadtrp
Grass paper WOW my layouts before I get started on the scenery propper are usualy just paint on the flat wood town area and old green bed sheet streched and pinned over the exposed open frame area to stop trains hitting the floor if they derail.
your effort sounds good.
Don’t be concerend about time taken good scenery takes time, and as you get better you will revisit areas for that extra detail you just have too add to the scene
it will be a detail you have just descovered like dust bins (you call them trash cans I think) when I first found them I went mad every house just had to have one I could not help my self I filled one up with bits of junk and paper put down some glue and tiped it over it looked great well i thought so…
I then much later removed the can and beat it up and re glued it havinig discoverd a running cat and dog and completed the scene.
That is what it will be like you will think your finished then you will descover another gem that can go just there or a little improvement you can do over there
That is how the scenery improves over time
I some times think part of the enjoyment is to see it all take shape over time
regards John
Varied color and TEXTURE is the key here. I got some good advice on this from a scenery video sold by Dave Frary at his “Blue Ribbon Models” website at:
I believe Micro-Mark also sells it. Dave wrote a version of Kalmbach’s scenery book years back. He uses totally solvent free methods and materials. I know this is a growing requirement for many.
I should also mention at this point I have no affiliation, financial gain, etc,. nor even know Mr. Frary. I just like his methods and the look achieved. Maybe you will, too.
another good woodland scenics product i’ve found that does wonders for the layout is the green poly fiber…it really looks good on the edges of ditches and tree lines…it doesn’t take much either…the stuff goes a long way
REMEMBER! Run a strong magnet over the dirt you plan on using in your scenery. For earth, nothing beats real sifted dirt. If you don’t remove the magnetic particles, they can find their way into your locomoitve motors!