I've been looking for desert scenery but I can't realy find any does anyone out there know where i can find it.
If you go to You-Tube and type in "making desert scenery" you should find a few "how to" videos there. If you are looking for photo's of desert scenes go to "Google Images" and stare til your hearts content.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I think I saw some yuccas and Joshua trees at Fifer Hobby? (cant remember manufacturer) Was an article on MRR few months ago on how to make your own Joshuas.
Tim
What do you mean? How to build model scenery, finding prototype inspiration, selecting products?
What sort of desert are you interested in modeling?
This is the UP (former D&RGW) Cane Creek branch in eastern Utah, in the Colorado Plateau http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=398882&nseq=34 .
Above is Palisade Canyon, Nevada, part of the Great Basin http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=465502&nseq=4 .
Cima Hill, California, in the Mojave desert http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=439511&nseq=44 .
Maybe Marsh, Arizona, in the Sonoran desert http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=392276&nseq=3 ?
Every desert region has different landforms and vegetation. Techniques for each will differ depending on the look you want.
My layout is set in Great Basin desert scenery of northwestern Utah and eastern Nevada. I've chronicled construction of my scenery here and here . Depending on your interests, you may find some ideas of use.
Rob Spangler
I guess I should have also said where can I buy desert scenery.Thank you guys for the help..!!.
Woodland Scenics has a few items in their plant collection offering. I've used the mixed flowering cactus one, which I think gives you 10 or so.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/785-4124
This looks like new packaging, as I've bought them in a clear buuble plastic package, too. WS is widely available in hobby and art stores and various mail order outfits.
There is this kit:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/785-4112
Look for palm trees, too, I think from WS, but definitely from the German scenery mfgs.
This is the most desertified area of my layout. generally using various shades of brown and tan grass mats and ground cover provides a good general color scheme. Vegetation is sparse, but often colorful.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Check out the work by Pelle Soeborg and the February 2015 MR cover story is titled "Western Inspiration".
In this month's issue of Model Railroader (January 2015) on page 48, Kim Nipcow outlined building a small display desert layout with foam. It was well written and very informative. The bulk of the article is outlined in 8 simple steps! Very timely for your ideas, I would say!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
I like this kit, Desert Plants by Woodland Scenic:
http://scenearama.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/SP4124/page/1
You can find it at hobby and craft stores which sell supplies to make California Missions. They also have nice palm trees.
I use play sand from Home Depot ($5 for 30 some lbs) and clump foliage from woodland scenics. Also some static grass
I live in the high desert of northern Nevada on the eastern fringes of the Sierra Nevada range. The restored Viginia and Truckee is about 20 minutes away. This video is a great example of a very temperate type of desert.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
I don't model desert scenery (no deserts in rain-soaked Central Japan) - but I can see all the Mojave Desert scenery I can stand once I get out of the built up parts of Sin City. I have also traveled through all of the other desert parts of the US. I can assure you that all deserts are NOT created equal.
So, first, pick your desert. Then go on line and query the town names on that part of the map. Download images - and study them. The hard part is, mostly, getting the colors right. There is either a lot more or a lot less plant life than you might think, and very little of it is bright green.
A final thought. On early maps the area between the Mississippi River and the Front Range (home of those, "Amber waves of grain," that feed a lot of the world's population) was simply marked, Great American Desert.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - rain optional)