hi, i think ive got the general idea of what to do next but just want to make sure I have most of my track ballasted i have part of a road a mountian (not quite finished) and a hill and a junk yard (not shure to use hot wheels crushed in a vice or not, are they to scale?) my scale is ho and about 90% of plywood is still exposed, and except for the mountian and hill is totally flat also, can anyone give tips or advice on layout and what to do next thanx 4 the help
p.s. i want to have a montana, pacific northwest look too
What to do next is get a book on basic scenery construction if you want to model the Pacific Northwest. If you have a flat surface for your track, it may be too late to cut out areas for below grade terrain, but you can build up areas with foam or plaster/wire or any of a number of techniques. Far too much information involved for a simple answer on the forum. Good luck.
You can still alter the plywood base for any areas that will be below the deck. It,s not that difficult but cutting the plywood at this stage is messy and you need to use care not to cut the frame. Small spots for drainage ditches, ponds gullies can be chipped, chiseled or dremeled. This is why open grid and foam lends itself to easier scenery construction. I don’t like to place track on foam, but using foam for scenery gives you many options to carve and shape as you desire. Many just paint the foam, some cover with plasters, ground goop or sculpamold etc. Planting trees is a snap- poke a hole and plant. I would suggest reading a few of the scenery how-tos at this stage. Dave Frary’s scenery book cmes to mind. Do a bit of research before continuing, you won’t be disapointed later.
Bob K.
Research is the key, use the internet to your full advantage. The do it yourself television network has had a great website with scenery how to’s on it.
Keith
Hot wheels are roughly 1:62 scale, they really dont seem to have one scale, some cars appear larger than other cars, and not just because the prototype is larger than the other either. the only line they have that seem to stick to one scale are the collection series. they are 164, but none of them are 1:87 you need for HO
Go to wallmart. I have been seeing a new item there, 1:87 scale cars. Only drawback is that they all seem to be new era cars.
If the HW cars seem to be just fine to you, then by all means keep using them. its your call on your layout.
Actually some of hot wheels and matchbox’s cars and trucks are to scale. While most of their vehicles are between 1:64 and 1:76, it seems the scale of their vehicles is mostly dictated by packaging consideration. Although you may want to replace their wheels with some more accurate ones from HERPA and Busch.