Model Train Sets and Scenery
Here’s where the fun begins. Now that you have completed your benchwork, put that big empty table to use by laying down track for your model train sets.
Roadbed
Before you can layout your track you are going to need roadbed. Roadbed refers to the material that your train track sits on. Cork has always been very popular for roadbed but it is also sold in flexible foam strips called track-bed.
Roadbed is important as it deadens the sound of the running trains as opposed to placing model railroad layouts directly on plywood. It also makes it easier to fasten down the tracks using brads or small track spikes.
In addition, cork or foam strip roadbed provides the added advantage of giving your layout a raised “right-of-way” which makes it look more natural. You can also achieve this look using track that comes with integrated roadbed such as E-Z track and Unitrack.
Start by assembling your track and then draw an outline of it on the foam or plywood subroadbed. Remove the track in large sections, to make it easier to reassemble, and glue down your roadbed following the path of your layout. When the glue is dry, reassemble your layout and fasten the tracks of your model train sets to the roadbed and subroadbed.
Cork roadbed
Foam Track-bed
Integrated roadbed track
Scenery
The purpose of scenery is to add that final touch of realism. You need to make sure your train has people to appreciate it and factories, mills and mines that depend on it. It gives your layout that “Ahh!” appeal.
Kids of all ages will admire how authentic the surrounding environment is. But more than that they will absolutely marvel at how it’s all in miniature. Let’s face it, there’s something totally mesmerizing about a city, town or countryside that is a detailed tiny version of the real thing.
Many model railroaders take this portion of the hobby every bit as seriously as they do the locomotives and cars themselves. It’s amazing how detail oriented these enthusiasts become as they create an entire miniature world on a large sheet of plywood. In many ways, it’s your scenery that makes or breaks the attractiveness of your layout.
To begin, you could go to the hobby shop to buy your buildings, vehicles, men, women and children, mountains, tunnels and trees. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially when you’re first starting out. But there may come a day when you say, “I can build the scenery myself.” Either way, just keep in mind that the goal of this hobby is to thoroughly enjoy what you are doing.
If you’re of a mind to build your own scenery then go for it. I’ve thrown up some more videos from WGH where good old Dick will give you the general idea. Of all the videos I’ve seen I like the ones from WGH best because they are made with the beginner in mind.
Use your imagination
No matter what type of scenery you decide upon, whether it’s a large city, a small village, a lumber yard, a coal mine or whatever else you can come up with, you can find it in miniature. You can either find kits to build specific items or you can buy scenery kits to cover an entire 8’ x 4’ layout.
Let me clue you in on a secret, when it comes to scenery most of us build our cities from kits. We neither have the time, the patience nor the expertise to build this type of scenery from scratch. (Did I just hear you breathe a sigh of relief?) Even the buildings in the above videos were built from kits.
Another reason many of us use kits is quite simple, the choices, styles and varieties are simply amazing. All you need to do is walk into a serious, dedicated hobby shop to see the overwhelming number of structures that come in kits. This is especially true if you running N and HO train sets.
If you want to ensure that your kit building looks unique, add a few extra details or leave some off. This will be enough to give it that one-of-a-kind look. Another trick is to combine parts from different kits and create a custom design. This process is so popular it even has a name: kitbashing.
Scenery kits are also great for beginners because it’s quicker and easier than starting from scratch, but at the same time you’ll learn some of the principles involved in creating your own scenery. The thing is to just have some fun with it because that’s what model train sets are all about.