Hey Gary,
Thank you for the kind words regarding the site. First of all let me say that the techniques I use are ones that have been tried and tested by others. Nothing I do is original. I just modify them to my taste.
2 books have been very useful with scenery and detail:
-Scenery Tips & Techniques
-Detailing Tips & Techniques
Both are By model Railroader Magazine.
What I think looks great is to use real sifted dirt. I have access to fine sand from New Mexico which I use in every scene. Our local dirt has too much clay and is too red. The 'Feed Mill' scene is a good example of how light the dirt dries after being set with diluted glue. The road was rutted with the wheels of a scale car while still damp. When dry, highlight the wheel tracks by scuffing with sandpaper. All grass ground cover is Woodland Scenics. Avoid using just one color grass. Sprinkle on many shades and let alittle dirt show thru in places. Set with diluted glue: 50% glue and 50% water with a few drops of liquid soap.
The 'Babes Diner' mountain in the background was built over styrofoam. Cover the foam with Woodlands Modeling Plaster.
The rocks were made using a Woodlands rock mold. I used just one and turned it different directions to get variations throughout.
I Put the molds on while still wet so they could be pressed into the general shape of the mountain. When dry, spray paint everything primer gray. Spray the rocks with a alcohol/ black ink wash ( 1 pint alcohol / 2 teaspoons blak ink). Then sprinkle ground cover directly over the top of the rocks to show alittle vegetation
Trees- My forground trees are rather time consuming but I do not have to build very many. The tree armature is made of 1/8" cable I found at a hardware store. Cut into 6 inch pieces. Unravel half the length of the cable and form into the basic tree shape. Paint the trunk and a few bigger limbs with Liqiutex Modeling Paste. When dry, scuff up the trunk with a small wire brush to give it texture. Spray paint the tree primer gray. While it is still wet, sprinkle woodlands ground cover on the limbs. Then take a 2 inch square of Woodlands tree netting and stretch it very thin over the limbs. You want it thin enough to see thru the tree. Highlight the tree by giving the trunk a wash of alcohol/ink and highlight the top part of the tree by spray painting it with a very light coat of yellow.
I hope this has been helpful to you Gary. Let me know if I have been too vague on something.
Phil
Thank you for the kind words regarding the site. First of all let me say that the techniques I use are ones that have been tried and tested by others. Nothing I do is original. I just modify them to my taste.
2 books have been very useful with scenery and detail:
-Scenery Tips & Techniques
-Detailing Tips & Techniques
Both are By model Railroader Magazine.
What I think looks great is to use real sifted dirt. I have access to fine sand from New Mexico which I use in every scene. Our local dirt has too much clay and is too red. The 'Feed Mill' scene is a good example of how light the dirt dries after being set with diluted glue. The road was rutted with the wheels of a scale car while still damp. When dry, highlight the wheel tracks by scuffing with sandpaper. All grass ground cover is Woodland Scenics. Avoid using just one color grass. Sprinkle on many shades and let alittle dirt show thru in places. Set with diluted glue: 50% glue and 50% water with a few drops of liquid soap.
The 'Babes Diner' mountain in the background was built over styrofoam. Cover the foam with Woodlands Modeling Plaster.
The rocks were made using a Woodlands rock mold. I used just one and turned it different directions to get variations throughout.
I Put the molds on while still wet so they could be pressed into the general shape of the mountain. When dry, spray paint everything primer gray. Spray the rocks with a alcohol/ black ink wash ( 1 pint alcohol / 2 teaspoons blak ink). Then sprinkle ground cover directly over the top of the rocks to show alittle vegetation
Trees- My forground trees are rather time consuming but I do not have to build very many. The tree armature is made of 1/8" cable I found at a hardware store. Cut into 6 inch pieces. Unravel half the length of the cable and form into the basic tree shape. Paint the trunk and a few bigger limbs with Liqiutex Modeling Paste. When dry, scuff up the trunk with a small wire brush to give it texture. Spray paint the tree primer gray. While it is still wet, sprinkle woodlands ground cover on the limbs. Then take a 2 inch square of Woodlands tree netting and stretch it very thin over the limbs. You want it thin enough to see thru the tree. Highlight the tree by giving the trunk a wash of alcohol/ink and highlight the top part of the tree by spray painting it with a very light coat of yellow.
I hope this has been helpful to you Gary. Let me know if I have been too vague on something.
Phil