Scenery
Add a new dimension of realism to your layout with these expert tips and ideas for superior scenery. From lifelike lighting to blended backdrops, you’ll learn how to improve each element of your model railroad scenes to truly captivate your viewers.
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4:55In this video Martin Tarnrot demonstrates how to make model trees from scratch, specifically, a miniature oak tree. He pulls inspiration from the oak trees on Avery Island, which are excellent eye catchers for a layout. The trunk and branches are made from .07 millimeter steel wire. Martin cuts them into ten inch pieces, twisting
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3:57In this video lesson, you’ll learn how model railroader Martin Tarnrot models black spruce trees for layouts. Although black spruce trees do not grow everywhere, the modeling methods Martin uses can be applied almost universally to make other types of trees. The trunks are made from 4 mm flower support sticks or similar wooden sticks.
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3:16In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate how to create ivy for a scene. Martin creates the look of ivy climbing up a brick wall using twine. For this ivy, he uses kitchen twine, commonly used to tie up a roast before putting it in the oven. Holding it up to the wall to
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3:35Modeler Martin Tarnrot welcomes you to another Model Railroad Academy video. One method for adding depth with model railroad accessories is adding sacks on pallets. Sacks like these are commonly used to store onions, seeds, and other goods. Martin shows an example of how these sacks of seed look when placed on a model. The
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3:50In this video, model railroader Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate how to model water jets. Martin’s water jet is made of microfibre and water effect. The water beam needs a stiff center, so a steel wire of precisely 0.6 millimeters thick is used. Unfortunately, Martin’s wire is not white, but it can easily be painted. The
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3:46National Model Railroad Association Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone shows how to change the numbers on the side of a manufacturer car in this video. The first thing to do is remove the existing number from the car. Modelers have found many different ways to do just that. Methods depend on the manufacturer, on the
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5:38Layout Designer Doug Gurin gives some considerations when planning for realistic scenery on a layout in this video. For a layout to depict a certain part of the country, scenery planning should start immediately. Gurin suggests starting by collecting prototype images of signature landscape features of the area being modeled. It’s important to create a
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10:59Model road layouts add interest and realism to a model railroad. Just like in real life, roads can almost always be found near a railroad track. In this video, Gerry Leone, National Model Railroad Association’s Master Model Railroader gives his tips for creating model train roads. Leone starts by building a gravel road. His gravel
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3:35Modeler Lou Sassi demonstrates how he uses real dead leaves as ground cover for forest floors, lawns, and tree lines in his model railroad scenery. He starts by breaking off stems of dead leaves he has gathered and adds them to a blender, filling it about halfway. Water is added, filling half the blender. The
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