| Elevations can be made from cardboard strips to form the contours of the mountains, which can then be filled with crushed bundles of newspapers dipped in Hydrocal and allowed to dry. In a short time, an entire mountain can be constructed and modified as often as the artist feels necessary (Frary & Hayden, 2001). Rocks and formations can easily be made from rubber latex molds filled with either Hydrocal solution or a special powder mixture, then dried and positioned on your layout to form an entire mountain or just a portion of a mountain. This creation can literally grow in front of your eyes. Including foliage, shrubs, trees and rocks creates a unique setting, which is the product of one's imagination and does not have to be perfect. |
Another Internet location useful for finding that certain article or book is the
Boulder Model Railroad Club Book Library, which gives a listing of several pages of an article
with the title, author and date published. This can be found at:
However, regardless of what reference one uses, the final results are achieved through the efforts and desire of the modeler, who, in the final analysis, is the artist of the painting. |
| The size of a train layout is not proportional to its appeal. Many individuals do not have space for a layout of 8' x 10' or 20' x 30' or, in some cases, up to and including 3000 sq. feet. Most railroaders create spectacular scenes from very small physical size layouts by concentrating on the scenery, attention to detail and authenticity. A scene, such as a portion of a town with buildings, homes, storefronts or industry cast against a painted backdrop, can mimic the model of an existing town or one from your own imagination (Model Railroad Skills Institute Curriculum, 2001). Track work put in place, should reflect the purpose of the train, rather than the train supporting the houses that are plopped down anywhere. Most prize-winning photographs are not taken directly from a large layout, but instead are taken outside on a staged module, using natural light or the combination of light and shadows. |
For years, the tried-and-true method for designing a layout was from paper, pencil and eraser. This
also required the ability to adjust your layout to a scale that you had selected to model or continue,
in many cases, to improve. As electronic technology has improved the computer, so
has the computer improved the methods of drawing and planning model railroads. Today, one
can purchase three-dimensional (3-D) software that not only does the track layout, but also
projects models of houses and mountains in 3 dimensions to simulate what you would like on your
layout. This is accomplished by sophisticated software and libraries providing all the
various shapes and sizes to implement your artistic desires. This software tool provides the
railroader the ability to improve areas of design, even before the first piece of wood is cut.
Although a great tool, it should be used in conjunction with the actual implementation
of the layout. There is no substitute for experience, especially in this area. Some of the current software
layout packages available can be found from
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