Creating Pine Bark Rocks

A few years ago when Allen McClelland was working on his yard, he looked down at the pine bark mulch he had and realized it was a good-looking strata for sedimentary rock. He started rooting through it, looking for good pieces, and found some sections that would work excellently.

He saws them in half to get smaller pieces, then soaks them in water for a few minutes to prep them. He applies a thick plaster to areas where he wants to apply the pine bark. He works the pieces into the plaster, then comes back in with a pallet knife and blends it in so it looks like a part of the scene. Once dry, he stains the plaster an earth color and sprinkles earth, debris, and foliage.

Allen Keller asks him where he sees the hobby going in the future. Allen wonders if railroads will just be modeled with a computer simulation in the future. Although Allen is moving out of his house, he wants to stay active in the hobby. He will have a workshop and continue to do some modeling, finish locomotives, and help others who are modeling the Virginian and Ohio. He will also try to attend train shows and conventions.

Allen’s son and grandson are involved in the layout. His ten-year-old grandson Brady already has his own railroad: the Milkawkee and Ohio with interchanges with the V&O. NMRA President Mike Brestel, Curtis Marshall, and John Roberts leave some parting words for Allen McClelland in a heartwarming end to this video.

Watch more from Allen Keller’s Great Model Railroads series from the Model Railroad Academy archives.