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Scenery Advice and Tips Needed

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  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: New Brighton, MN
  • 4,393 posts
Posted by ARTHILL on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:21 PM

Read the books is the best place to start. The Woodland Scenics advice is good. WS also makes a video that I found helpful.

My adition to what has been said is: for mountains, valleys and tunnels, consider stacked pieces of Foam Insulation board (pink, blue, yellow, green or purple all work.) I get mine from dumpsters behind consrtuction sites. I carve the rocks and gullies directly into the foam and then paint with my version of Ground goop. I then add the WS grass and stuff.

I have some pics in my sig that show what can be done with very little talent but a lot of persistance.

Have fun. Some of us find the scenery the best part.

If you think you have it right, your standards are too low. my photos http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a235/ARTHILL/ Art
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Saskatchewan
  • 2,201 posts
Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:46 AM

 Whistling

Well Acela,

You don't have to look too far.  At the top of these pages find a button that is marked "ARTICLES" then scroll to the bottom under ARCHIVES and go to the 2008 articles (all four of them)  That is where David Popp gives a good description of building his Waterbury Industrial District.  The second and Third articles give a great description of scenery techniques. You can't go wrong with these ideas and tips.  If you happen to be building with open frame work then go to the search feature here on the forum and search hard shell scenery. That will tell you about weaving cardboard strips or chicken wire base and plaster cloth covering for your teraine.

Also our Hosts here Kalmbach Publishing put out numerous MRR help manuals at a reasonable cost for the information provided on all areas , Benchwork, Scenery, Trackwork, Buildings, Wiring and DCC., Bridges, and even weathering rolling stock and locomotives,as well as Industries and Yards. Etc..  Be sure to pick up some of these for your own reference library.

And thanks David, You and that other little guy, with the hats, (Cody) always do a great job. 

Johnboy out..................... for now

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:40 AM

Dave Frary's book on model rr scenery is exceptional. You can't go wrong using this fantastic guide. It shows materials, techniques for all forms of scenery from the benchwork to the last piece of grass. 

 www.mrscenery.com website

http://www.mrscenery.com/book.html book to use

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • From: Seattle, Washington
  • 1,082 posts
Posted by IVRW on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:18 AM
Stop by your LHS (Local Hobby Shop) and check out their Woodland Scenics stand. 1) Their products are what most, if not all, model railroaders use. 2) Buy their "Scenery Manual" as it has the best introduction to model railroading and the most useful information on scenery I have heard (um... well... okay, read) in a long time. One hint is to always remember that the roads, buildings, et certerae are all there for a reason, so dont plop them down willy nilly, but try to imagine how the tiny people could live there. Have fun, and Welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby.

~G4

19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Oklahoma
  • 409 posts
Scenery Advice and Tips Needed
Posted by Acela026 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 11:09 AM

I am collecting information scenery phase of my 4x8 HO Model Railroad.  Would anyone have tips on scenery, (I.E. how to's, where and when to place buildings, etc.) or some tricks of the trade for a greenhorn model railroader?

Thank You!

Acela026

Tags: Scenery

 The timbers beneath the rails are not the only ties that bind on the railroad.
           -
-Robert S. McGonigal

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