Hornby Book of Model Railways by Chris Ellis

Author:Chris Ellis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2014-02-05T05:00:00+00:00

Figure 4.12. An enormous amount of quite intricate detailing can be done in scenic work, as shown by this country lane and cottage garden. Flowers in the border, weeds and undergrowth, trees, bushes, fencing, a clothes line, runner beans and other plants, and beehives in the garden, all modelled here in 4 mm scale.

Figure 4.13. Laying hedging (R8044). It is glued in place using with PVA glue.

Colour is very important. Scenery has to follow a season of the year, and most modellers choose a spring or summer setting, when trees are in leaf and grass is at its lushest. But lineside grass is yellowish rather than bright green, tending to be darker in well watered areas. From the shades available you should find what you think is suitable. Like an artist, develop your powers of observation before you get too far into a project. Just go and look at real grass. It is something you take for granted, but if you stop and look you’ll notice the sort of thing to remember when modelling it. See how it tends to grow higher against fences or walls, to spread out over footpaths if unchecked, to grow against the walls of buildings or between paving stones. Depict all this in your model. Personal research is always a great help to successful modelling, and reading books on grass, landscape and geology (there are plenty of them) will not be time wasted. Borrow them from a public library if you have none yourself.

Yet another option well proven over the years dates back to the days before modern scenic accessories were available in such variety. This method uses ordinary surgical lint. It is first dyed grass-green, using a suitable domestic dye as sold in department stores. The ground surface is prepared and painted green. When it is dry the whole area is painted over with ordinary glue. Allow this to get slightly tacky, then press the surgical lint, flock side downwards, on to the glue. When it is dry, pull the sheet of lint off. It leaves the flock behind, stuck to the glue. A realistic ‘grass’ texture results, usually a little lumpy in the characteristic way of wild grass. This is a favourite method of treating prominent foreground areas of grass, such as railway embankments.

Vegetation

Undergrowth can be represented in several ways. In fact it is a good idea to mix them, as real undergrowth is of several species. Readily available, also in varying colours, is what is known as ground foam. This is actually plastic foam ‘minced’ up into small pieces. It is very suitable for depicting undergrowth of the clover, thistle and plantain variety that tends to grow in clumps against fences and walls, and in between railway tracks. You can obtain other materials such as foliage and tree kits. There is always some left over and it is ideal for shredding into small pieces and for use as taller undergrowth.

A useful new material is called ‘moss-look liner’ (or some similar name), produced as green sheets for lining hanging flower baskets.

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