#Model Railroad Scenery

[dprs99]

Scandal at Maple Valley - 45: Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

Maple Valley is a dream. We who live here go about our daily business without ceremony or fanfare. The sun comes up and goes down. Sometimes clouds roll and rain falls, but sunshine always returns, except when it doesn’t. Despite the quaintness of Maple Valley defined by the expectations of outsiders. we are just like everyone else. People who slowly drift along our streets say things like, “Oh,…

[idea-explorer]

Mastering the Art of Weathering Your Train Models

Weathering is a crucial technique for adding authenticity to your train miniatures. Whether you’re aging a locomotive or adding rust to freight cars, these weathering techniques mimic the effects of time and use. By focusing on small, subtle details, you can make your trains look like they’ve been in service for years. Click the link and read more articles about creating realistic train miniatures.

[valmillion]

while i do love trains themselves i think my specific flavor of autism makes me more interested in the modeling aspect of model railroading. like don't get me wrong i don't just want to make dioramas, i want to have the train to make the scenes come alive. but i am more interested in learning modeling techniques than memorizing 10000 different locomotives.

[kaijuboarcreations]

I'm on my way to a model railroad show and it got me thinking. Barok would probably have a train table with some really elaborate setups. He would adamantly deny it of course he "only makes dioramas to map out crime scenes", but like that is way too much effort to do just for professional use when it isn't absolutely necessary. He has to enjoy it a little.

[eltristanexplicitcontent]

Hetch Hetchy Railroad in Black & White On30 Layout Tour with Steve Redeker

This guy is justifiably proud of his man cave. Historic b&w photos of Hetch Hetchy -- as beautiful scenery as Yosemite -- and he's built the model railroad in black and white with just a little "color pop" for contrast. It looks good! And he's quite an interesting explainer.

The real railroad ran from the Gold Country between Jamestown and Oakdale up along the Tuolumne River and up and over Poopenaut Pass to the Hetch Hetchy damsite, since it was that dam railroad. So perfect combining historical pictures with the b&w models -- this might be one of the the nicest On30 model railroads!

[anumberofhobbies]

Build an ULTRA-REALISTIC Wild West Model Railroad DIORAMA - Miniature Model Train Scenery

Jun 21, 2024 How to make a realistic, miniature Wild West Model Railway Diorama in G scale 1:22.5 scale, 1/24 scale (techniques would also work for 1/35 scale military models, O scale, HO scale, N scale, 1:12 scale for dollhouses)

PATREON:   / smolworldworkshop  

Please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy my content and want to support my channel!

In this tutorial, I show you how to make a super realistic Old West street front for a miniature diorama in 1/24 scale or G scale (1:22.5). I show you lots of quick and easy construction techniques using readily available and affordable materials that can be purchased at most hobby stores. I show you how to make models from foam core, and add a realistic finish by applying clapboard made from basswood and balsa wood, along with board and batten finishes and ordinary wood planks. I show you how to create realistic windows made from 3D printed parts, how to weather paint with acrylic paint chipping medium and packing tape, how to weather with acrylic washes and india ink, how to used real dirt for dioramas, how to make a model railway track from scratch, how to make rusty corrugated metal roofing, how to make balsa wood shingles, and much more!

I used a Bachmann 4-6-0 steam locomotive for this Wild West diorama. Let me know what you think! This would be a great setting for a model railroad layout, or miniature table top war gaming.

Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:36 Scale Drawing PDF available on Patreon 0:50 General Store Diorama Facade 1:00 Foam Core Model Making 1:25 Miniature Clapboard Siding Basswood 2:58 Acrylic Wash for Old Weathered Wood 3:22 Painting Models with Cheap Acrylic Craft Paint 4:26 Weathering a Diorama w/ Acrylic Inks 4:53 Installing Windows in Diorama Buildings 5:54 Old West Leather Shop Diorama 6:11 Balsa Wood Architectural Model Making 7:54 Board and Batten for Dioramas 8:12 Sheriff's Office Wild West Diorama 10:02 Old Western Hotel Miniature Facade Diorama 11:44 Wild West Barber Shop Diorama 12:50 Make Miniature Wooden Hand Painted Signs Waterslide Decals 14:26 How to Make Realistic Miniature Windows for Dioramas 19:53 Diorama Base made from MDF and Pine Wood 21:36 Balsa Wood Roof Frame Tutorial 22:31 Installing Miniature Awnings 22:57 How to Make an Old Balcony and Railing 23:36 How to Make Miniature Shingles from Balsa Wood 25:31 How to Make Model Railroad Ties from Scratch 27:14 Use Real Dirt for Dioramas and Model Railroad Layout 28:41 Rusty Corrugated Metal Roof 29:13 Airbrushing Resin 3D Printed Parts 29:23 How to Weather a Steam Locomotive 29:44 Adding 3D Printed Miniatures 30:40 Final Result! 31:09 Please Support Me on PATREON

Music: "Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"

[primerjohn]

Another railroad diorama found at the California State Railroad Museum, this is a massive presentation with so many components. I enjoy looking at the variety of terrain and how each piece transitions into the next.

The placard calls out the weathering techniques giving the display an authentic historical appearance, but I couldn’t help also noting how the weathering pigments and techniques ties everything together into one cohesive piece.

*San Juan Central*

Noted model railroader Malcolm Furlow published a series of articles in Model Railroader magazine during the 1980s to explain how he designed and built this layout, the San Juan Central, for Model Railroader. Furlow’s inspiration stemmed from his love of the historic narrow gauge railroads that served Southwest mining towns such as Telluride, Ophir and Silverton in Colorado. The scenery accentuates the vibrant Rocky Mountains and Southwest deserts with dramatic rock, dizzying heights, and the native vegetation of the region.

Notice the weathering techniques used to give the details an historical appearance. Furlow’s articles were later published in a how-to handbook by Kalmbach and Benchmark Publications.

[trainsinanime]

I'm starting to warm up to Train Sim World 3, a game I got via Microsoft's game subscription model. A huge part of that is because it has a lot of good tutorials for all the very non-obvious parts of it. Those non-obvious parts are there for realism, to be clear; most trains aren't designed to be obvious, they're designed to be run by trained personnel who got special training for all the details of each train they're on.

Anyway, the basic tutorials are all set in a fantasy location, the Training Center. It's a magic place where you will find German, British and American trains all next to each other on decidedly German infrastructure.

The setting is all over the place, with some alpine stuff, a lake, several station platforms, and the whole thing is notably not an A-to-B line. Instead it's a combination of different loops and sidings for shunting around that feels more like a model railroad than a real thing.

Clearly this is completely made up, right?

Well, no. While all the scenery is purely fantasy and quite a bit of the details are wrong, the track layout is in fact a real piece of railroad infrastructure. Specifically, this is the track layout of the Siemens Test Centre in Wegberg-Wildenrath, Germany, near… well, not really anything, but Mönchengladbach is the closest city.

This facility, built on the site of a former British airfield, is where Siemens (and to a small extent other manufacturers) tests new trains, both prototypes and sometimes individual ones. All the tracks are for testing trains at different speeds and in different conditions, and a lot also for storing trains. There are also big workshops, used for finishing touches, indoor tests, but also as an independent repair and maintenance facility, and to assemble trains built in other places.

According to its own description, it's the most modern of such test centres. I have no way of checking that. It is definitely not the biggest, that is VUZ in Velim in the Czech Republic, which has a much bigger outer loop allowing for higher speeds, but less other equipment and tracks as far as satellite images say. VUZ is still seeing a lot of use, though. Maybe they'll use that one as the training centre for Train Sim World 4.

Access to the Wegberg facility is difficult for rail fans. It isn't hidden by any means, it's about an hour's drive from where I live, but all the really fun parts are hidden behind gates and fences, and security patrols the area. They held I think like two open days for the public, in total, and the last one as far as I can tell was in 2012.

And of course I was there.

Hey, remember those days when the Vectron was fresh and new, and Siemens was still actively selling the class 189 (ES64F4) and that in-between generation they only ever sold to Portugal, Belgium and Lithuania? That sure was a while ago, now they've sold well over a thousand Vectrons and those beasts are everywhere.

First big difference between video game and reality: In reality, the outer loop is only single track, while the video game has it double-tracked.

The video game also gives me a top speed of 300 km/h for this outer loop. In reality, as far as I know the limit ist 160 km/h. Apparently the track gets checked and realigned weekly, to be sure that the measurement results are all accurate.

Yes, that is an Uerdinger Schienenbus. Yes, that did retroactively become a Siemens product, because the Uerdinger Waggonfabrik that built this dinky little rail bus ended up becoming Siemens's Krefeld plant (specifically the Uerdingen part of Krefeld, no longer an independent town), where they build all their high speed trains among others. Surprised the hell out of me too.

In the game, all lines are electrified and have British style third rail power. In reality, that is actually fairly close. Many tracks are not electrified, though (they have diesel shunters to deal with that, including some hilariously old ones). Even fewer have the British style third rail, although that is in use because Siemens does sell a lot of trains to Britain. Instead, some tracks, such as the inner loop, feature Berlin style third rail, raised, with a plastic cover and designed for bottom contact.

And in fact there's a fourth rail here, which the video game doesn't have. This is to test meter gauge trains; generally speaking that means trams. However, for the opening ceremony 25 years ago, they apparently did have a steam train from nearby historic steam railroad Selfkantbahn. Definitely the second-greatest historic steam railroad around Aachen.

Anyway, the point of this is… none whatsoever. I just thought it's funny. The makers of the game aren't hiding that they just took the Wildenberg-Wegrath track layout, you can find a number of news articles referencing this. But if you just downloaded the game because you got Game Pass and it says "train something", as you do, then you may never notice unless you're already aware of this test centre.

[eleemosynecdoche]

Thinking I should perhaps get some scenery for making dioramas with gunpla. N and TT model railroad scale neatly bracket the 1:144 scale of HG and RG models...

[gigantomachylesbian]

Literally so jealous of those people who have giant model railroads.... like real big ones... I think I'm still more interested in the scenery/diorama aspect of it rather than, like, the specific model of train but you just can't deny that having a train drive through that scenery is so cool

[bolters-and-rivets]

you forgot "harvested on an industrial scale to make scenery for model railroads" for the first bit

the lichen knowledge iceberg i have constructed on request

[dprs99]

Building a Strong HO Scale Shelf-Style Model Railroad

[idea-explorer]

How Miniature Train Models Are Used in Theme Parks and Museums

[valmillion]

the hobby of model railroading is plagued by the petit bourgeois. you can see this in nearly every aspect of the hobby - it's taken for granted how much money it takes to build and maintain a layout, even not counting locomotives, and even using extremely cheap or natural material, so naturally the people who have the money and time to build something huge in their basement have 6 figure jobs to fund all that. also, a ton of model railroaders start small businesses doing modeling work, scenery work, designing, benchwork, electrical systems, etc etc.

even membership in clubs is gatekept for those who can afford it - the national model railroaders association is $120 a year, local clubs often have yearly dues, these aren't particularly expensive for a year but it's on top of an already pricey hobby. this creates a hobby where all the manufacturers are catering to these types, who won't even blink at paying $200+ for a single locomotive or $40 for a structure kit, and nothing for the people who can't afford to spend a ton on hobbies (especially kids! this is the kind of hobby where you get a loop of track and 1 train for christmas, use it once, and stay out of the hobby forever unless you decide to get back into it when you have a job)

[getyoungersblog]

Avoid Costly Mistakes and Build the Perfect Model Railroad: James Reynolds’ Beginners Guide to Model Trains

Are you dreaming of building a stunning, realistic model train layout but feeling overwhelmed by limited space, time, or budget? Look no further than Beginners Guide to Model Trains by James Reynolds—a step-by-step resource designed specifically for beginners to create the layout of their dreams.

This comprehensive guide is packed with proven tips and tricks from James’ 27 years of experience as a model railroader. Whether you’re a complete novice or an intermediate hobbyist, this eBook and membership package is your shortcut to success without the trial-and-error frustration.

See More about "Beginners Guide to Model Trains" Here!

Why Choose This Guide?

The Beginners Guide to Model Trains offers a tailored approach for hobbyists who may lack technical expertise or handyman skills. Unlike scattered advice online, this guide breaks down the process into manageable steps—saving you time, money, and headaches.

James understands that everyone’s situation is unique, whether it’s limited space, a tight budget, or the need for specific features. This guide walks you through everything from planning your layout and choosing a theme to constructing sturdy bench-work and building realistic scenery.

Click Here to Download PDF "Beginners Guide to Model Trains" eBook by James Reynolds!

What’s Inside?

Here are some highlights of what you’ll gain access to:

Stress-Free Planning: Learn how to prioritize what matters most, so you can avoid overwhelm and develop a clear vision for your layout.

Beginner-Friendly Track-work Tips: Discover foolproof methods to avoid derailments and ensure smooth train operation.

Space-Saving Layout Plans: Get creative, functional track designs perfect for limited spaces, such as loop-to-loop and figure-eight plans.

Electrical Made Easy: Step-by-step tutorials for DC and DCC wiring, so you can power your trains with confidence.

Realistic Scenery Techniques: Master the art of creating mountains, tunnels, and weathering effects to bring your layout to life.

Essential Tools Guide: Invest in the right tools for the job without breaking the bank.

Exclusive Bonuses

When you grab this guide for just $47 (a limited-time discount from $97), you’ll also receive six value-packed bonuses worth $299:

Top 5 Biggest Mistakes Model Railroaders Make – Avoid common pitfalls and save money.

Essential Tools for Model Railroaders – A breakdown of must-have tools for every step of the process.

Step-by-Step Track-work Guide – Expert tips for flawless track laying.

DCC Model Train Guide – Understand the pros and cons of DCC systems and choose the best one for your layout.

Model Railroading Glossary and Resources – Demystify technical jargon and find trusted suppliers.

Track and Layout Plans – Beginner-friendly designs for small spaces and advanced plans for future expansion.

Plus, you’ll get 30 days of FREE access to the exclusive James Model Trains Membership Club, where you can dive deeper into tutorials, videos, and layout plans shared by a vibrant community of model train enthusiasts.

Risk-Free Guarantee

James offers a rock-solid 60-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk in trying out the guide. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you’ll get a full refund—no questions asked.

What Others Are Saying

Here’s what satisfied customers had to say:

“Saved me a bunch of money by avoiding beginner mistakes.” – Wayne C.

“Great track plans and easy-to-follow guides!” – Harold M.

“I finally know what to do from step A to step Z.” – Linda B.

Why Wait?

The Beginners Guide to Model Trains is more than a guide—it’s your road-map to creating a layout you’ll be proud to show off. Don’t let analysis paralysis or fear of mistakes hold you back. With James Reynolds’ expertise, you’ll have everything you need to turn your vision into reality.

Click the “Add to Cart” button today and start your journey toward the model train layout of your dreams.

[pero-me-encantas]

Elevate Your Model Railroading with Advanced Model Train Layout Software

Model train enthusiasts can take their hobby to new heights with the latest model train layout software. This specialized software provides powerful tools for designing, planning, and visualizing intricate model railroads. Whether you’re a seasoned modeler or a beginner, model train layout software allows you to create detailed layouts with precision and ease. You can plan every aspect of your train layout, from track placement and scenery to lighting and electrical systems. Advanced features often include 3D visualization, which lets you see your layout from different angles before starting construction. This software not only simplifies the design process but also helps in optimizing space and resources, ensuring that your model train setup is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. By leveraging the capabilities of model train layout software, you can bring your railroad dreams to life with greater accuracy and creativity.

Features of Model Train Layout Software

Model train layout software offers a range of features designed to enhance your modeling experience. Key features include drag-and-drop functionality for easy track arrangement, customizable scenery options, and detailed component libraries. Advanced software may also include 3D visualization tools, allowing you to preview your layout from multiple perspectives before physical construction. These features help streamline the design process, ensuring that every detail of your model railroad is precisely planned.

Benefits of Using Model Train Layout Software

Using model train layout software provides several benefits, including improved accuracy in design and efficient use of space. The software allows for detailed planning of track layouts, scenery, and electrical systems, helping to avoid costly mistakes. It also enables you to experiment with different configurations and visualizations, ensuring that your final model railroad meets your expectations. Overall, this software enhances the planning process, making it easier to create a functional and visually appealing model railroad.

How to Choose the Right Model Train Layout Software?

Selecting the right model train layout software depends on several factors, including your skill level, budget, and specific needs. Look for software that offers features relevant to your modeling projects, such as 3D visualization, ease of use, and comprehensive libraries. Reading user reviews and trying out demo versions can also help determine which software best suits your requirements. By evaluating these aspects, you can choose the software that will effectively support your model railroading goals.

Getting Started with Model Train Layout Software

Getting started with model train layout software involves installing the program and familiarizing yourself with its interface. Begin by exploring the software’s tutorials and documentation to understand its features and functions. Start designing simple layouts to gain confidence before tackling more complex projects. Utilizing the software’s tools for track planning, scenery design, and component arrangement will help you build a solid foundation for creating detailed and accurate model railroads.

Enhancing Your Layout with Model Train Layout Software

Model train layout software allows you to enhance your layout by incorporating detailed features and realistic elements. Use the software to add intricate scenery, functional lighting, and dynamic electrical systems. The ability to visualize and adjust these elements before construction ensures that your model railroad is not only aesthetically pleasing but also operationally efficient. Leveraging the software’s capabilities can elevate the quality and realism of your model train setup.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Model Train Layout Software

Common issues with model train layout software include compatibility problems, software crashes, and difficulty navigating features. To address these issues, ensure your computer meets the software’s system requirements and check for software updates or patches. Consult the user manual or online forums for troubleshooting tips and solutions. If problems persist, reaching out to customer support or seeking assistance from the software’s community can help resolve issues effectively.

Advanced Techniques for Model Train Layout Software

Advanced techniques for using model train layout software include creating complex track arrangements, incorporating automated features, and using advanced scenery options. Experiment with layering techniques for more realistic landscapes and utilize the software’s advanced tools to simulate operational elements like train movements and signal systems. Mastering these techniques will allow you to create highly detailed and functional model railroads that showcase your skills and creativity.

Conclusion

Model train layout software is an invaluable tool for both novice and experienced hobbyists, offering advanced features that significantly enhance the design and planning process. By providing detailed track planning, realistic scenery options, and 3D visualization, this software allows you to create intricate and visually appealing model railroads with precision. The ability to experiment with different layouts and components before physical construction helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures that your final design meets your expectations. As technology continues to advance, model train layout software is evolving to include even more sophisticated tools and integrations, such as virtual and augmented reality. These innovations promise to offer more immersive and interactive experiences, further enhancing the model railroading hobby. By leveraging these advancements, you can achieve greater accuracy and creativity in your model railroad projects.