3 Easy Steps To Set Up Your Model Railway Trains And Scenery

Have you ever envisioned a beautiful model railway trains layout that grabs your attention because of the fine detail and model train scenery? How about one that almost looks real or keeps you interested because of its theme or the detailed way it is set up going from town thru the mountains and passing the roads, freight and lumber yards, and factories on its way.

The start of this kind of eye-catching display is good backward. It is important to pick a theme such as a country, city, factory, or mountain setting, or a combination of the above. This will help you in how to lay out the tunnels, bridges, and other model train scenery you can incorporate into your model railway trains tack plan.

Building Good Benchwork
Good basic benchwork can start with a 4 x 8 foot or smaller sheet of plywood. This can be supported by a frame of 1x4 inch pine. The legs can be sawhorses or something more permanent like 2x4’s. Another technique is to attach the legs with nuts and bolts, and to build the 4x8 platform in sections so the train table can be easily dismantled and stored.
It is important to have a track layout sketch so you can have a good idea of how to place the scenery.

Attractive Scenery and Buildings
Some people fly by the seat of their pants on this and lay out track on the board as they go. However, a much more efficient way is to use some of the tools available that can help you trace out a plan and calculate just what track you need as well as put the necessary radius in the curves to avoid derailment of the trains. There are also excellent software programs that you can use to help lay out and design your own model trains plan and even plan the placement of the mountains, towns, and model train scenery.

Naturally the model trains track layout should be well planned. It is important to lay it out on some type of roadbed. Some popular types are cork, homosote, masonite, and even asphalt roof shingle. This adds a nice rock ballast affect. After the model railway trains track plan is determined and laid out the first step is to select the buildings. These can be purchased pre-assembled or in kits. The kits can provide hours of additional enjoyment as you put them together.

The second step is the road building. This can be done by simply painting on the platform or a more elaborate roadbed can be made by using cork or premade heavy black paper. This can be purchased at the hobby shop and may even have white lane dividing lines down the middle.

The Final Details
The third step is adding trees, grass, telephone poles, tunnels, and mountains. Many of these materials can be purchased pre-made or they can be custom made by you. Mountains can be made from Styrofoam or the old fashioned method of using paper mache, which is a mixture of old newspapers and wallpaper paste. Another method can be with wire mesh and plaster soaked cloth.

Tunnels are easy to make with cardboard boxes covered in plaster soaked cloth or paper mache as well as chicken wire. This is easy to make a free form shape, which can be covered in the plaster of paper mache materials then later painted.

There are a variety of materials available that make real looking trees, grass, shrubs and bushes. The finishing touches can now be done by adding people, cars, and trucks.

As you can see, the addition of model train scenery not only adds great interest and realism to your model train layout, it provides hours of fun in the making as well as a great sense of accomplishment when done. A well-planned and nicely landscaped model railway trains layout will provide many hours of entertainment for adults, children, family and friends.

By: Neil Ardolino

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