Model Railroad Scenery using Extruded Foam: Part 8

[mightydesign]

Thank you so much for all your help over the last year since I started my first 8x4 train table. I have posted a video with the work that my 4 year old son and myself have done. Watching your videos not only gave me inspiration but it also provided solutions to problems I ran into. Thank you once again.

[waldenhouse]

Fabulous instructional video - very nicely presented from start to finish. Thanks. 5**

[joenflipflop]

is the actual mountain made of poylastirine

[thebige61]

Owens Corning FOAMULAR® 250 Rigid Foam Insulation

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[up6050]

Maybe I missed something---do you use any kind of glue-spray to keep the dirt/grass in tact with the layout?

[thebige61]

Yes, Woodland Scenics Scenic cement.

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[DanielThomasVideos]

I wish I had that kinda energy to build that.

[Robotechnology101]

I am planning to build an outdoor layout, and I am wondering how to adapt what you did to an outdoor layout.

[thebige61]

oooh. I don't know about that. I'm thinking you'd want to use real dirt and rocks for your terrain. I'd say create a test mountain out of foam, paint/weather it, and then leave it exposed to the elements to see how well it holds up.

[Robotechnology101]

Thanks for the tip, I have been interested in model railroading since I was a kid. BUT I have never done much with making a layout of some kind until now. So I just thought that I would research it and see what other people have done and see what they recommend for me to do. So thanks again for the tip and I will try that.

[DaBlackNinja1]

Do you use foam board or insulating foam from a can? I use GreatStuff window sealer for my terrain. It's easy to cut, expands geatly, and resembles a rocky surface or cliff.

[thebige61]

Good idea. Thanks for the tip

[bluehachiroku]

You can do it using the same strategies as the indoors. Only the materials change. Instead of hardshell or foam, you use a cement/river sand blend to make rocks,walls etc. You use heavier wire mesh for the form base and then plastic gutter guard mesh over that. Then apply the concrete/river sand blend. Carve and poke the surface until it looks natural. Throw some cement colouring(60/40 with cement dust) over it. Otherwise, you have natural dirt all over the place..so I wouldn't worry about that.

[bluehachiroku]

Oh yes, you will need to add some of that PVC type stuff that's for cement work into your mortar mix AND I also spray it as I would indoor work,as a fixative once I'm happy with the colouring I've thrown over the rockwork.

Don't skimp on the colouring..even the blacks as they will fade a little.

[bluehachiroku]

I've also used with great success big chunks of polystyrene from packaging as my base form support before applying the wire and plastic meshes. I'm about 80kg's and I can jump onto my rocks and dance around on 'em , with no problems.

[LeChungProduction]

do you glue it down

[senselessfool]

shouldnt u be running a magnet through the garden dirt? u dont want any hidden metal appearing on motor brushes and whatever else... just a suggestion..

[thebige61]

I got a magnet just for doing that. After I glue the dirt and grass with scenic cement I take off the tape, vacuum the tracks off thoroughly and then run a magnet across the tracks to pick up any stray metal filings.

[TheGreenCheekConure]

Hello, I am planning on building a mountain for my HO layout and then I plan to position house on the sides of the mountain. What would I need to build it?

[thebige61]

The house? there's two ways you could go: You could buy one ready made or you could go with a kit. What era are you modeling in?

[TheGreenCheekConure]

Its more of a modern era.

[disturbedrocker1]

what scale is your layout.. im 14 and i building a Nscale layou and i find ur toutorails helpful if u have any advice for me its my first layout im building on my own so i'd apprecate it thx

[thebige61]

It's N Scale. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have.

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[hmplantman]

Great work.

[tigi0660]

ive been looking all over for that grass stuff in the plastic bottle, do you know any good websites to get it off of or do you just get it localy

[thebige61]

You could probably get it at you local hobby store.

[willhibdon]

hello how do you get the grass to stay on or is it just lose?

[thebige61]

I sprayed it with Woodland Scenics scenic cement. you can see me do it in Part 9.

[atvrider99]

could you use a salt/pepper shaker to spread grass

[thebige61]

If you made the holes bigger then yes otherwise the grass would plug up the holes.

[gtc1961]

I found that using the shakers for some spices worked quite well (like parsley, etc.).

[thebige61]

Hmmmm...Well that's got some possibilities. I think dried parsley would make fairly decent ground cover plus my layout would smell like a salad...

Ok. Just kidding!

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[je972]

haha, sometimes you just get in the zone. i tried to airbrush instead of using washes for my first n scale layout and it did'nt work out too well. Thanks for all the videos!

[thebige61]

I still have other parts of my layout that need scenery. I'll probably tape the "washing" step then.

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[je972]

I noticed you did'nt show the use of any washes after you applied the base coat, but it looks like maybe you did use some? Excellent layout and scenery by the way, and in my hometown to boot! you have given me a new respect for n scale.

JE

[thebige61]

I got on a roll and forgot to record the video.

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[cflynn1979]

Classic Toy Trains did a project layout years ago, and they also used real dirt. If memory serves me correct they microwaved it vs. baking it in the oven. You gotta heat it to kill off anything organic living in it!

[PicklesandFrogs]

I dont mind your arm being in the shot! Ha

[ETAG231189]

how do you use the glue holding the dirt and grass?

[thebige61]

I use Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement. I mist the grass and dirt with some "wet" water first. "Wet" water is just water with a couple of drops of dish soap added. The soap prevents the water from beading up on the dirt and ground foam and it soaks in a lot quicker. I spray the scenery with "wet" water first to hold the dirt and ground foam in place plus it helps the scenic cement soak in faster.

[EXPL721]

What keeps the dirt from developing mold? The drying process?  I've used construction sand. 50 LB bag was not expensive. It had little pebbles in it which was an added benefit. You can dye the sand different colors or get colored sand at the arts and crafts shops.

[thebige61]

I suppose the drying process does take care of any mold issues. I've never run into any mold problems. Construction sand does sound like a good way to go also.

[marshmallower]

What temperature do you bake the dirt and how long?

[thebige61]

Oh...I think I baked it at about 300 degrees for about half an hour.

[marshmallower]

Oh ok, thanks! :D

[RustyDusty2005]

what do you use to hold the dirt and grass in place

[thebige61]

Woodland Scenics scenic cement

[RustyDusty2005]

i think that he likes his set-up to have a natural apeal

[m113Guy]

Yes I agree, A DVD set would really be nice, you seem to have alot of good ideas..nice job!!

[pacbelt]

I couldn't agree more!

[doffern89]

did u have glue at the bottom ??... first glue,dirt and than grass or did u have glue at the end? Nice vid!

[romanowm]

Is there anyway I could get a DVD of your series? I want to use it for educating our railroad club. We do not have Internet access in the club room.

[NEUROTIC83]

Very nice. You do a wonderful job of explaining your techniques

[trainboy414]

I use real dirt for my layouts too.

[Rickster64]

are you sure that regular dirt from the yard is fine for train layouts??? You use interesting tech. with foam, but I wonder why you don't use hydrocal or plaster, or even preforms for rocks? Nice job, although!!!

[thebige61]

The dirt is not loose on the layout. It's held in place by the glue. It hasn't been a problem so far.

I actually do use a few castings in the scenery.  I neglected to mention this in the video.

[thetreeregimovies]

can you use spray glue to hold the grass and dirt?