I have been working on my 70 sq foot layout for about 6 months. I have the benchwork built, track down, wiring done and a mountain built with a couple portals complete. I am looking for someone who would enjoy collaborating with me in working towards completion of my basic scenery. I am capable, but short on time with a busy professional job and young family. While I could have just paid someone to drop me off a layout...that just is not my style. I wanted to pour some sweat over this thing and want it to be my vision. I expect to add details and detailed scenes over time but am looking to complete the basic scenic shell in the next 2-4 months.

Anybody near Sterling Heights Michigan?

congrats on getting everything in order ... and excited to help with the next step. you certainly came to the right place! while there are advantages to having someone do the scenery work on your layout (especially for someone working and raising a new family), there really is no feeling like getting your hands dirty with the nitty gritty. being the captain of one's own ship not only assures that you will follow the charted course, but also allows you the liberty to make changes along the way: a reef here, a submerged wreck there, rapids, waterfalls ... well, you get my drift!

since i am also young and with family, apartment living precludes me from having much experience in working in such a large scale. however, may i offer a few words of advice:

1) figure out the type of topography that best suits your layout. having differences in elevation, even slight ones, adds a whole lot to the layout. and not just the track. mainlines should be elevated somewhat as should roads ... rivers and lakes should be a bit lower as erosion works its magic. interesting altitude changes can make the surrounding scenery even more impressive!

2) plan on having some water, somewhere ... anywhere: a bridge or two always is eye candy on a layout. so much to choose from, so many different styles and materials available. whether its a gully washer or a beautiful high arch bridge like csxal's, i've always been a sucker for bridges. also, if possible have a stream or river run part of its course through the layout. lakes, marshes, and swamps are natural offshoots of a watersource, and you can fill some of the space available quite easily with appropriate scenery.

3) choose a ballast color and size that best suites your scenery: its one of those chicken and egg things. there is a natural tendency to ballast first, before the scenery goes up ... sometimes resulting in being unsatisfied with the final results. if you do ballast first, keep in mind the area and the color palette you wish to use throughout the layout. if you chose to do the scenery first, its much easier to then choose colors and sizes that match their surroundings.

4)add some crossings: just seems like a natural to me! after-all, as a kid, this was where i usually got most of my train-watching done. layouts always seem naked without one.

5) SCRATCHBUILD whenever possible: i know it sounds very time consuming and crazy, and perhaps it borders a little on both ... BUT, i highly recommend it. i was very wary about trying my hand and what i thought was something far beyond my talent or attention span, but with so much helpful and encouraging advice from the great bunch of girls and guys here on the scenery forum i took the plunge. know, a water tower and a bridge later, i'm trying to build a freight depot. its still slow going and i have found that blood makes a great wash for weathering ... but just knowing that my blood, sweat, and tears are a part of something just gets me all tingly inside when i look at it.

6) lighting, lighting, lighting: another pitfall many fall in AFTER completing scenery work on a layout. lighting is one of the most critical parts of a layout and has a profound effect on mood, realism, and photography. spend some quality time figuring out placement and types of light sources BEFORE you start work. it will pay off big-time in the end.

7) concrete vs jungle: figure out what areas will be urban, which will be rural, and which are uninhabitable. a well sceniced layout should have all three and smooth transitions between each area. paved and dirt roads, brick to wood, concrete to timber ... good use of scenery and some clever techniques can trick the eye into thinking many miles have passed from one scene to another, when in actuality the scene you are viewing is a mere few feet from the other. its one of those fine skills that few have.

of course this is just a short list from me, and i'm sure others will add their thoughts as well. take some time to look through past posts as there are many great how-tos posted. right now they get purged every six months, but we are lobbying to try and get that changed. for now, the token three railers are keeping them alive in a cryogenic state on a blog we have started to rescue them. check it out by clicking on my signature below. also, the sunday scenic showcase may give you some ideas as well ... there is some beautiful work by many talented modelers posted there every week.

good luck ... and please keep us posted!

Mich,

Look up my email in my profile. I have something that might help.

Why does it have to be done in 2-4 months? To me, the fun is in the construction period. I have been working on my layout for over ten years, and am sad that that the basics are done. Fine detailing and operation are not as fun as the part you want done in 2-4 months. This is just my opinion after all of these years.

Good Luck!

I'd recommend you get Rich Battista's DVD. He covers how he did the scenery in a step-by-step, straightforward manner. Well worth the $20 investment.

Charlie, I agrree with Matt, the DVD from Rich Batista is terrific and well worth the price, which I think may still be on sale, See the link in the "Sourcelist".
Dave G.

After seeing you guys recommend it, I ordered it. Never hurts to have help and seeing how others do things. It's been many years since I did full blown scenery.