Using Natural Material for Scenery

The Indian Creek Valley Railroad stands apart from typical model railroads because of the wide range of natural materials used in the scenery. Harry Clark managed to use natural materials in numerous scenery elements including the trees, the ground cover and the bodies of water. In part six of the 9-part Indian Creek Valley Railroad series, Harry discusses the natural materials used on his layout and demonstrates how to recreate several of these elements.

Using Natural Material for Scenery

Modeling is a process of trial and error. Harry dabbled in using several artificial and natural materials on his railroad. For example, he experimented with ground foam, but noticed it faded out within a couple of months. His solution was to use several types of moss as ground cover. He also noticed that caster resin gathered dust in his lakes, so he opted for using real water.

Harry believes you can’t beat Mother Nature when it comes to modeling scenery. The use of natural materials gives the Indian Creek Valley Railroad layout a unique quality. If you’re considering adding natural elements to your scenery, Harry offers plenty of tips and tricks for doing so and you can see the finished products on his layout for inspiration.