Has anyone watched the videos from Woodland Scenics? I need some suggestions on getting the scenery started. Also, has anyone tried to model scenery with southern yellow pine trees and palmetto bushes. They are prolific in my neck of the woods, but I haven’t seen anything that resembles them.
Well I haven't seen their video, but I have used their ground foams and such. I figured someone would have answered something by now, but in the absence of anything better I'll at least offer a couple of items. The photos came from a small diorama that I built for photo purposes and also to test out some new (for me) scenery techniques. I'm not sure what your overall plan was for scenery. I used extruded foam for building up contours. I smoothed them with a surform rasp, then used sandpaper (60, 80, and 100 grit as needed) to smooth it out. Then added my cork roadbed. I used some lightweight spackling compound to smooth and fill some seams, then lightly sanded that. Then I gave it a coat of "earth colored" (more or less) latex paint. Afterwards I brushed on a thinned (50/50) white glue mix and sprinkled a layer of Woodland Scenics fine ground foam. I actually used several different colors of fine ground foam on top or alongside each other to get some variation in color. I sprayed that with wet water and then with a more thnly diluted white glue mix. Then I used some Woodland Scenics "coarse" ground foam for a bit more texture. And I stuck on some of their "underbrush" and "bushes" ground foams. Here's what it looked like then. Oh yeah, used Arizona Rock's product for ballast. Still lacks trees, but turned out okay. You might even want to consider building a small diorama as a test before starting on the main layout. Don't know if any of that helped or not, but there you go. Regards
Thanks for the info. I'm relatively new to the hobby (actually I took a 40 year hiatus - I had one as a kid) Now, I'm about 2 hr drive from the nearest hobby stores that supplies train stuff, so I've looked at all the picture on this site trying to get some insight to creating scenery. I've gone ahead and ordered their video, just to get a start. This weekend, I scratch built a couple of small buildings and a larger barn. The barn I plan on using on my great nephews train. I have another question...when are you guys going to convince the Discovery Chanel to give you a series. I believe there is enough knowledge on this site to produce several years of programs.
Stone, Welcome to Trainboard there are lots of members here who have great modelling experience and should be able to help you. My hobby shop is approx 13 hours flying time for me in a boeing 747. I buy exclusively online and once you gain experience you will find it much easier. I would recommend any of our advertisers if you decide to buy online. If you can post pics of the trees maybe we can recommend the best way to make them? Look forward to seeing more of ypur posts. Ed, A fantastic pictorial on making scenery.
Welcome aboard Stone, and welcome back to the world of model railroading! Technology has come a long way during your hiatus, drasticly improving engines, power supplys, and scenery methods. Even N scale now offers things like DCC and onboard sound. Everything has a much more realistic look to it, less toy like everyday. Whatever your scale, you're sure to find oppinions here. I can see it now; American Model Railroader. Or maybe something more like TLC's shows with hands on help like In a Fix, or for the truly daring Trading Layouts. .....you may be on to something Stone!
