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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8:06Creating Water Surface Effects
Martin Tärnrot shows how to create model railroad water surface effects, focusing on surface effects typically seen after motorboats, such as swells and turbulence. MATERIALS When creating model railroad water surface effects, a transparent gel is the base material. Martin uses a medium-strength gloss gel from Liquitex. It’s white when it comes out of the…
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7:13Making Bushes and Foliage from Sisal Rope
Martin Tärnrot shows how to create realistic weeds, bushes, grass, and trees when making scenery for model railroads using a very low-cost item: sisal rope. CREATING DRY GRASS/WEED TUFTS The natural color of sisal rope matches a dry, desert environment. Martin takes a piece of sisal rope and untwines it, then cuts off a short…
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6:36Paper Print Building
Does your layout have some horizontal spaces that are too narrow to fit 3D buildings? Martin Tärnrot gives a tutorial on how to work with model railroad paper buildings to create depth in narrow spaces. Martin uses an area on his own layout where the rail line is very close to the backdrop, only two…
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5:26Modeling Gravel Roads with Martin Tarnrot
In this video Martin Tarnrot demonstrates his method of making HO scale roads, and in particular, gravel roads. There are many methods to achieve a nice looking result, but the method he has used throughout my entire layout. For this video instruction, Martin made a small diagram, made from two inch thick Styrofoam. He prefers…
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4:26Creating Old-Style Model Street Lights with Martin Tarnrot
Modeler Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate his technique for making model street lights in the old style with wooden poles. The material required is 2.5 mm PVC tubing, 0.7 mm brass tubing, SMD type LED lights with copper wires, and the lamp housing. To start, Martin gives the tubing some surface structure using a coarse sanding…
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9:36Creating Realistic Aspen Trees with Martin Tarnrot
In this Model Railroad Academy video, modeler Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate how to make model trees, specifically Aspen trees. Aspen trees can be trickier to model because of their unique pattern and colors. Martin makes the trunk and branches from 0.03 inch thick steel wire. He starts the process by cutting 12 pieces of wire…
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12:53Creating Asphalt Roads with Martin Tarnrot
In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot demonstrates how he models asphalt roads for model railroad layouts. Though modeling asphalt may seem simple, with the right technique, it can elevate a railroad to the next level. The base Martin uses for his diorama is a two inch thick styrofoam. The actual road is made from a…
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11:38Take a Tour of Bill Brigg’s Layout
Bill Brigg’s Musselshell and Yogo Peak railroad layout is a stunning example of what can be done with unique backgrounds and scenery. Jump on the Musselshell and Yogo Peak model train and take a tour of this fantastic layout. As the train moves through its circuit, watch as the backdrop changes from sunsets, to rain…
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13:02Static Grass Fundamentals with Martin Tarnrot
In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot discusses the creation of grass covered ground surfaces on model railroad layouts. This will include a look back at techniques of the past and what is done currently. Before the static grass that modelers commonly use today, grass was made from fake fur. To color them, Martin uses a…
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