Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Can you recommend a good source for information on building scenery?

4123 views
17 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Southington, CT
  • 106 posts
Posted by mthobbies on Friday, July 2, 2021 11:42 AM

Basic Scenery for Model Railroaders by Lou Sassi is an excellent book. It takes expert techniques and makes them seem easy. Step-by-step

 

-Matt

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Posted by willy6 on Friday, July 2, 2021 9:37 AM

WS has numerous videos on scenery.

Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, June 28, 2021 11:39 PM

More great suggestions!

Thanks guys!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Monday, June 28, 2021 4:02 PM

I also like Luke Towan's videos but I think that the "Marklinofsweden" video series is better geared toward novices, even though the host achieves some very realistic results.  I recently tried his "toilet paper and glue" technique to model the water in an N scale harbor scene and, even though it was the simplest and easiest method of modeling water I have ever tried, the results are fantastic!

Hornblower

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Monday, June 28, 2021 1:57 PM

Youtube is my first go-to, better than any book IMO.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: Ohio
  • 231 posts
Posted by josephbw on Monday, June 28, 2021 8:03 AM

In addition to Luke, Kathy Millatt has Utube videos on scenery and many useful techniques.

Joe

  • Member since
    March 2021
  • From: Quebec, Canada
  • 129 posts
Posted by ModelTrain on Monday, June 28, 2021 6:14 AM

I have not tried the techniques yet but I have this beautiful book called "How to build realistic model railroad scenery" by Dave Frary. It's part of the Model Railroad book collection.

Stef

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, June 28, 2021 3:28 AM

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Sunday, June 27, 2021 7:57 PM

Go with books/webpages that keep things easy.  It doesn't seem that the person has a lot of time/money to devote to making artwork.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,768 posts
Posted by snjroy on Sunday, June 27, 2021 7:40 AM

I have that book Dave and it is excellent. The advantage of the more basic books is that they cover all aspects of a small layout and are a bit more to the point. Frary's book is a long read... but it is a goldmine for sure.

Simon

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, June 27, 2021 1:46 AM

snjroy
Do you have a LHS?

Hi Simon,

There are a couple of hobby shops but they are both about an hour away, and their prices are scary! I don't know how they stay in business.

I searched Amazon and found a book titled "How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery" by Dave Frary, so I ordered it for our friend. I think that is the same book that rrebell suggested. She is a very talented artist and sculptor so I don't think she will have any trouble creating great scenery.

Thanks,

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, June 27, 2021 1:39 AM

DSchmitt

Hi DSchmitt:

I did a search for Kalmbach publications using the 'Shop' option in the header on the main forum page. I got nowhere near the number of choices that your link showed. In fact there were no comprehensive books listed. I guess this is yet another glitch in the software. Very frustrating!

Thanks for your help!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, June 27, 2021 1:34 AM

RR_Mel
The best source for scenery for me is Luke Towan's Boulder Creek Railroad (BCR) YouTube Videos.  His work is outstanding!  He goes into great detail on every project.

Thanks Mel.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,662 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, June 26, 2021 4:13 PM

Buy "how to build relistic model scenery", so good I used to have two copys. Was accually able to e-mail a conversation with him a few times.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,768 posts
Posted by snjroy on Saturday, June 26, 2021 8:04 AM

Dave, given that she is not building an empire, you might want to look for a book that's a bit more introductory, like "Three railroads you can build" type. Do you have a LHS? I would go there and look for that type of book and look for one with foam scenery.

Anyway, that's my two-cents worth.

Simon

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, June 26, 2021 7:19 AM

Lots of choices

https://kalmbachhobbystore.com/search?q=scenery

The Information Station downloadable products aren't expensive.

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, June 26, 2021 6:00 AM

The best source for scenery for me is Luke Towan's Boulder Creek Railroad (BCR) YouTube Videos.  His work is outstanding!  He goes into great detail on every project.

 https://www.bouldercreekrailroad.com/






Mel
 
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951



My Model Railroad    
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
Aging is not for wimps.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Can you recommend a good source for information on building scenery?
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, June 26, 2021 2:51 AM

Hi folks,

A friend of ours has decided to turn her Christmas train under the tree into a permanent layout. The layout is currently running. She has asked me to recommend a source of information for how to build scenery.

I searched the Kalmbach on line store but I could only find one magazine that directly addressed the topic, and it was paired with a second magazine that discussed industries. She doesn't need the industry information, and the cost for the two books is steep IMHO.

Can anyone recommend a source of scenery construction information? Is there an out of print book that might help?

I would offer to help her myself but I have very little experience with building scenery. I don't want to inflict my learning curve on her.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!