Recently started working on the scenery for my home layout. Here are some photos of the work to date. A Life-Like SW9/1200 pulls an Intermountain Saskatchewan Grain Hopper through some of the newly scenicked area. I am thinking about putting a wheatfield in the foreground area here. Any suggestions as to a good way to model wheat.
Grant, I love it! The scenery just smoothly fades away that corner. I would definately put some kind of farm or wheat field there. Good Work! <img src=http://www.trainboard.com/sigbreak.gif> Russ
Looks like you have an excellent start to your layout. I like your coved corners, lighting and benchwork.
Coved corners really make a difference don't they. I would suggest fake fur,sometimes called bathroom fur(???).
Good looking layout Grant. N scale wheat would only stand about 1/16 of an inch. The only experience I had in trying to make it was with course sawdust which didn't look too bad in the ripe beige/gold colour as long as you didn't look too close.
Grant, also look in a store where they sell bolts of cloth and piece goods for sewing. Ask for long staple or pile, velvet, and "clipped" velvet. Get a piece of the long staple velvet of the lighter color of ripe wheat, then cut out a section and insert a piece of the clipped velvet of a slightly darker color to look more like combined stubble that is left. Put your combine at the corner where they meet, and it will give the illusion that the combine has cut the field up to that point, see? The difference in staple height will assist as well as the color difference does. Remember, several grains are harvested with combines, including alfalfa and some beans, so several colors are also possible. Gently vacuum when finished, and brush the velvet pile in a direction to best reflect the light for photo work. This works on HO in dioramas, so should also work well on N scale for photo work too. Good luck. [ 06 May 2002, 15:18: Message edited by: watash ]
Some great work there. I particularly like the corner!! Keep up the great work and keep those pics pouring in!! John
From the Model RR Magazine Index there are 5 articles on using fake fur http://www.index.mrmag.com/ ========= Modeling tall prairie grass Model Railroader, March 1985 page 62 Modeling tall prairie grass Scenery Tips & Techniques page 20 (same article but in Kalmbach scenery book instead of MR magazine) ================= Fake fur grass Model Railroader, August 1996 page 86 ================= Wild brush grass - using fake fur Mainline Modeler, September 1999 page 32 ================= Track and fur/grass together Mainline Modeler, August 2001 page 62 ================= Keep us posted with more photos Great work so far................. eNjoy
Grant- Have you ever posted a layout plan? If so, as a recent enlistee to Trainboard, I've not had the pleasure of seeing it. Thanks- BoxcabE50
I have not posted a trackplan yet. But per your request I have put together a quick trackplan in my paint program. It's not a work of art but should give you a good idea. BTW: Should you be attending the PNR NMRA convention in Regina, SK, Canada this year you can see my layout on the layout tours.
Grant, Have you tried Atlas' RightTrack software? It's free, fairly easy to use and downloadable from Atlas's website. I did my trackplan on my website with it. I DO like the schematic you have for your layout- I can envision a string of SD40-2s (or whatever six-axle power that floats your boat) hauling grain trains across the prairies. Judging from the pictures, you're making great progress.
Grant, you are making excellent progress. I like the idea of curved corners - very smooth I envy your available space, and the trackplan looks interesting, but not cluttered. Trains out on the mainline will look superb. Good luck, and keep us informed of progress
Great layout! Looks almost like mine, but mine's not scenicked yet! I like the rolling prairies! how did you do scenery? Foam, hardshell?
The scenery is made of foam. In fact I used the bead board type shaped with a hot wire cutter and rasp. I then paint a base coat of a tan colour and cover it with ground foam. I use three different shades of ground foam. This I find creates a much more realistic effect as nature is not monochromatic. Thanks for the nice comments and I will keep updates coming as I progress. Progress will need to be very quick as the PNR meet is being held the end of June.
