Comments on: Building Model Railroad Scenery With Household Items – Part 1

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:24:55 +0000

MAx….. Been using foam for layouts tables for years now, and still now problems. And your dimensions match mine quite closely. My longest is 2.5 ft by 12, and no problems. I would suggest using a roadbed, foam or cork as it creates a better track profile with your scenery.

By: Roman

Roman — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:01:19 +0000

taking off and crumpling the green stuff on the back of sponges also makes great ground cover

By: dan

dan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:03:55 +0000

i use the green scrub pads 4 headgerow brio pads look like small wire bottlecabs even pinched my gf loo brush and made a fine oak if only my trains cost me a pound then id b happy

By: Max

Max — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:06:40 +0000

Need some advice from experience railroaders. I’m a novice but have read many books about construction ie plywood or homosote seem to be the preferred base. I saw a display in a train hobby shop. The base was multi-layers of foam insulation. My idea is to have a 2×4 frame with 1 x 2″ (actually 1 1/2″ thick) joist 12″ centers. 4 x 8′ foam (2″ thick) on top of the joists. This brings the level of base up to top of 2×4 framing. I will add another sheet of foam 1 or 1 1/2″ thick on top of the 2″ foam. I can easily cut out areas in the top foam for switch machines with a hobby knife. This base seems stable and strong, no need for cork railbed, can place balast directly on foam, no drilling – just punch a hole where needed, easy to install trees, poles, signals, wiring, etc. COMMENTS: GOOD IDEA OR BAD and why? Thanks for the advice.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:07:44 +0000

I am jsut getting started. I got my first grandson and he is 14 months old. He loves it…I have not gotten to far..I have a ping pong table and a half for my lay out and 2 trains that run o scale…Just dont know where to get started at its seems big. All have great ides …I have my set up on face book its a start now ! Tammy Staszczuk St loius Mo

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:32:13 +0000

Now I feel guilty, I’ve been making my buildings out of balsa wood. Using a air brush, I’ve painted them and dressed the area up. I have a 33 house/city built for my HO train set. One thing I’ve found that works for me is using the plastic wrappers. I’ve built a mountain with a tunnel going through.

By: Will Parnell

Will Parnell — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:45:35 +0000

What is the best material to use for your foundation when using plaster of paris?

By: allan

allan — Tue, 11 May 2010 07:01:59 +0000

Im using scrubbing pads to make tree tops from, any one have any better ideas please.

By: Christy

Christy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:31:35 +0000

I would like to make my son a HO scale little league baseball field. I am having trouble figuring out the dimensions. I there anybody out there that can help?

By: Mitchell

Mitchell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:38:15 +0000

hey guys from central queensland my god there are some great ideas on this site for scenery ive only just started making my own railroad layout in bachmann HO i buy model railroad magazines every week and decided it was time to start one of my own something to leave to my kids when i die so i made a dining table layout 8 foot long 4 foot wide bit big i know but hey impressive for an amatuer i didnt want to get caught up with all the new mod cons u know buying buildings and such so i made them everything on my layout is made from household items thanks to my fathers ideas and uncles help and i thought i would leave some ideas on here for others so one the main features that people like about my layout is how i made the tiny stone walls around the farms well easy peesy take a scotch brite scowrer and cut in 1cm lengths and dip it in a mix of pva glue water and ballast and pin it in place and leave for 24 hours and hey presto one very realistic and easy stone wall, also using the carboard rolls from bin bags or paper towels i use them as steel pipes on flat beds and another great item to use is soft drink cans u can make water towers grain silos concrete pipes or steel pipes or cut in half length wise and use to make knolls in the country side well i hope these help some people but as i read on this site u can use anything just takes a bit of imagination thanks guys ace site