Woodland Scenic subterrain system

[Anonymous]

I am finally getting ready to build my first layout. I wanted to hear if anyone has had exoerience with Woodland Scenic's subterrain system. I have gone so far as to buy their video and manual and I must say it looks like a great system (at least to me a novice). I plan on building a 4x8 layout and grow slowly from there. I have basic carpentry skills and bench work seems somewhat overwhelming but not impossible to me.. Any coments?

[Anonymous]

The best tool I ever purchase for benchwork was a miter saw. You don't need a big expensive one either, mine is a 8.5 inch and was less than $100. The best thing is to drill and screw it together with deck screws. The Woodland scenics stuff is great to learn with. It's a little higher priced than general hobby stuff, but with them you'll need to know the hows and whens. Good luck...FRED

[MAbruce]

I used their 2% grade for my N-scale layout. A real nice product and one of the few items they make that is worth what they charge for. It removes any guesswork on bench work risers, and it can easily flex to accommodate curves.

It’s also wide enough (in N-scale that is) for a double track.

[Anonymous]

If you have the video then buy this kit, they go together like hand and glove. The kit is the Woodland Scenics Mountain Valley Scenery Kit. In it is literally everything you will need to put a 4 by 8 together, scenery wise. In Canada, it retails for around $112 so in the States you can probably get it for around $80. Don't go by the cover on the box, the picture is the only bad thing about the kit. It uses everything you saw in the video except foam. It includes different grasses, trees, stuff for mountains, ballast, glues, shrubs, the different washes for colouring, rock mold, etc. A very complete kit and buying it will motivate you to work on the layout faster.

Dont go by the track plan shown in the kit, its a lousy plan. And you don't have to set the mountain up as shown. But the nice thing in buying the kit is you will own just about everything you will need. You might want to buy more trees, etc. but the kit is very flexible.

[Anonymous]

My biggest reccomendation is to avoid buying any Woodland Scenics products that can be purchased elsewhere at a lower price. For example, don't buy their styrofoam sheets, you could foam at a home improvment center at a much cheaper price. Another product is their "dead fall," a good look will show that its nothing more than some broken sitcks with a little dirt. With a little experimenting, with sticks and dirt, you can get the same product for free. Just keep your eyes open, and dont be afraid to look at places other than hobby shops for your scenery materials.

Josh Ziegler
Spokane, WA

[Anonymous]

In defense of Woodland Scenic and the comment about getting their products for free or less elsewhere, while that is true not everyone lives where they can just go outside and gather sticks and rocks and things. How would you haul a 4X8 sheet of foam in a taxi? FRED

[FJ and G]

Josh,

Agree. The appeal for me at least, is in finding stuff out in the wild. Not for everyone, though, as the subsequent poster points out.[:)]

[Anonymous]

i have used woodland scenics products exclusively on my layout....yes...their products are expensive...but the comments i get from people amaze me...and i do opt for the "nature" products in my backyard when possible....

[Anonymous]

Oh yes,
I like Woodland Scenic products, But to find right tree or land scape color and texture I sometimes go to nature for help. I like to used sand from the region I model. I use siffters, or to get more finer grains I use my wife's old riped nylons. Dave Frary has several videos on the subject.
William

[Anonymous]

I've just started to build a small transportable HOn3 layout using the Woodland Scenics products to see just how easy/fun it might be. I'm still in the process of laying out the track plan before installing the first bit of risers and inclines. We'll see how it goes. I bought the book, but not the video. Its not rocket science, but I agree, it can get pricey.

...Tom

[Anonymous]

As a person just reentering the hobby after 40 plus years, I chose to purchase the Woodland Scenics Grand Valley HO layout, the Atlas track pack and the Woodland Scenics building set. I am just now completing the plaster landscaping. It is going together just fine...there have been no suprises. The instructions are very complete.

The table to mount this layout is a 4 x 8 sheet of 1/2 inch plywood with 1 x 4 framing, and 2 x 2 legs. The legs have 2 inch casters on each. I do have some power tools but this very simple table could be constructed using only hand tools. I basically followed the table recommendations I found on the NMRA website.

[Anonymous]

I am just considering rebuilding my layout with this product and am having difficulty picturing its use. In particular, how would I blend the 2" or 4" risers into a relatively flat area such as a small yard.

[Anonymous]

I used their2% inclines on my layout and then used some generic "plaster cloth" and I am really happy with it.
Reed

[Anonymous]

I purchased the manual and some 3% riser material this weekend for my "N" scale layout. The manual really helped put the pieces together. The items may be expensive and I'm the king of cheap, but I also would rather spend what little time I have building my layout, rather than calculating and cutting grades. At least for the grade products, they are worth it. I'll be augmenting their products with left over pieces of pink foam and also other white styro I've been keeping from packing material.

Dave

[Anonymous]

The king of cheap has been dethroned. As a matter of fact you never where the king of cheap.

I'm so cheap I:

use dyed sawdust instead of ground foam to simulate grass

use only flextrack on my layout because sectional is so expensive

permanently borrow the wood for my benchwork from local construction sites (sometimes i ask)

Instead of buying tree armatures break off pinion tree twigs because the areaes where they growe are so hot and dry they brqanch of very very often

use paper mache instead of plaster cloth whenever possible'

keep all teh foam packing from anything my parentts buy to use as risers and stuff (I got some nice ones out of our new freezer that I used to make the pilings for the autobahn bridge on my layout)

I cram all my old garbage onto my layout and cover it with plaster cloth to make mountains


Despite how cheap I am my layout still looks ausome. Check out the website at www.angelfire.com/mech/trains

[Anonymous]

If this is your first layout, i'd recommend Woodland Scenics. I was (still am) a complete novice and bought the N scale layout. It's not perfect and not the cheapest way of doing things but a good starting point. By the way, I'd recommend buying both a glue gun and a hot wire cutter as well as extra foam tack glue. You will also probably find you want more trees and foliage. Would not recommend the Atlas track pack (this is what I bought and regret it). good luck
Stephen