After the paint dries, you may want to add a coat or two, darken some areas, add shadowing. Again, this isn't science, if it looks good to you and/or your family, it's good enough. And once again, you can make any changes in the future. This is your world!
Making roads takes some practice, and you may want more reference material (I'm copping out here!) to get a method that suits you. As long as it's flat, some shade of grey to almost black ,and goes somewhere, it's a road! When that's done, make sure to get cars and trucks on it. One hint: If your model takes place around 1940, try not to have PT Cruisers and Vipers on it. If your layout is going to represent a certain time and place, all the details should be correct for the period as well. If you're not being specific, and want a Porsche in your 1896 town, refer to the end of the last paragraph!
Your world now needs plant life, and places to go, and a reason for a train in the first place. I'll start with trees. In the desert, you need few, anywhere else, you need alot. Variety is the spice of life, and the nature of nature. Buy trees from various manufacturers, so it doesn't look like a computer-generated world. There are no rules here, either, save one. Mountains should have a majority of pine and spruce. Other than that, pretty much any tree can be used anywhere else. Example: I used to live in Las Vegas, where contractors landscape the place with things that shouldn't grow here! If we can have pine, blue spruce, oak, maple, cherry, and walnut trees mixed in with palm trees and cacti in the real desert, then you can pretty much do whatever you want in your model world.
One hint, Woodland Scenics and Architrees make the most convincing trees in any scale.
This is a good time to put the track on (unless you were like me; impatient!). If it's not on yet, you should use roadbed material. Talk to your hobby dealer about those choices. The roadbed gives the track an elevated look like the real thing. Most important: make damn sure all track area is level and smooth. Your trains will thank you by not derailing! |
