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After
the hard shell is complete, it�s time to apply some additional scenic detail
and textures.
Rock
Castings �
Very convincing rock formations can be created using rocks cast from latex
rubber molds. Molds can be purchased from a Hobby Shop or you can make them
using liquid latex rubber and a lump of coal or a real rock.
Ground
Coverings and Weeds �
Probably the best product for ground texture such as grass is ground foam
rubber, available at Hobby Shops. Dyed sawdust can also be used to provide some
contrasting texture and to represent other types of foliage. Weeds can be
represented by commercially available weed and tall grasses or you can speak
with your favorite hairdresser and ask them to save the hair when they cut long
hair. Blond hair takes less preparatory time but brown also will work. It is
possible to bleach the brown hair to change it to a more realistic dried weed
color.
To
apply the ground foam grass texture, apply a coat of earth-colored latex paint
to the scenery and immediately shake on the ground foam until the desired level
of coverage has been reached. I like to use old spice jars and cheese shaker
jars to apply the ground foam. Use various shades and colors to foam to keep the
surface from becoming a single boring color. While the paint is still wet and
the ground foam has been applied spray on some water containing a couple of
drops of liquid dish soap in about a pint of water. Wet the area thoroughly,
then spray on a mixture of 1 part white glue to 3 parts water, make sure the
area is completely covered. If you wish to add additional details such as junk,
logs etc do so before you spray on the glue/water mixture.
To
apply weeds, grasp a few strands of hair or other weed material with a set of
tweezers or a hemostat. Dip the end into some full-strength white glue and set
the clump of weeds in place. Allow to dry and trim the weeds to the desired
shape. Another source of weed material is hemp rope, cut into short pieces and
unraveled into the appropriate size clump for the scale you model. Plant and
trim the rope weeds like you did the ones made of hair. If you desire to plant
tall green grass, use the hair or rope method but dip the hair or rope into a
wash of acrylic green paint (you choose the shade) and allow to dry. DO NOT get
the wash too heavy or the fibers/hair will stick together � easy does it.
Trees
and Bushes � There are many ways to make good-looking trees. Commercially
available trees look great but are expensive if you need to have quite a few
(and most of us do.) Weeds can be
harvested in the fall to be used as the armature for convincing trees. Crepe
Myrtle bushes also provide a nice armature. To build this type to tree, color
some poly-fiber from the fabric store with a little black acrylic paint (about a
table spoon full in a cup of water. Dip the foam into the mixture and squeeze
the excess out and allow to dry. After the fiber is dry, pull and stretch it
until it is nearly invisible. Stretch the fiber over the armature and spray with
hair spray or clear adhesive. While the adhesive or hair spray is still wet,
sprinkle on some ground foam to represent the tree leaves. Small bushes can be
represented with the seed pods from some weeds or pieces of lychen from the
Hobby Store covered with ground foam.
Pine
trees can be made bending a piece of florist wire in half and
placing pieces of hemp rope in between the two halves. Place the ends
into a cordless drill, and place the loop end over a cup hook screwed into the
face of your workbench or bench work. Slowly turn the drill as the wire twists,
the rope fibers will be �trapped� between the twisted wire. Continue turning
and the wire will compress. Remove the wire from the drill and trim the fibers
to form a conical shape. Paint the trees with various shades of green paint and
cut the looped end off with wire cutters. While the paint is wet apply ground
foam to enhance the texture of the tree. When dry, examine the tree. If more
foam is needed, spray with hair spray and add more foam, them spray again with
hair spray.
People,
Autos, Signs etc � To
make the scene �come alive� add people, cars and signs. Several vendors
offer people and the price varies based upon the vendor. Purchasing unpainted
people and painting with acrylic paints will make it more affordable to populate
your miniature world. Autos can be purchased from a number of vendors either
painted or unpainted. I like to �customize� some of my cars by making a mold
of a car, then casting a duplicate and bending a fender or putting a dent in a
door.
Signs
on buildings and billboards add splash of color and help set the era for your
railroad. Use caution to only use signs that are correct for your era. For
example, do not use a billboard for 1960�s era automobile for a railroad set
in the 1950�s. It is acceptable to use signs for things that are older than
the year of the setting of your railroad. A sign for an older product can be
used but should be weathered to indicate the age of the sign.
Additional
Details - Don�t
forget the little things such as manhole covers, mailboxes, electric and gas
meters, TV antennae, clothes lines, children and pets playing, swing sets,
sheds, outhouses, barns, junk cars behind the barn, telephone poles, fences etc.
Summary � The
addition of these techniques will help produce realistic scenery and add points
of interest to your railroad that your visitors will notice and appreciate. For
more information pick up some of the following books and video tapes.
Recommended Book and Tapes -Most
Hobby Shops have scenery books and some have tapes for Rent. I like Dave
Frary�s Scenery tape and book. I also like the video tape �Building Scenery
with the Experts� from Kalmbach.
If your shop does not carry these items look for them in your favorite model
railroad magazines.
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