Scenery Articles and Links from BIG Indoor Trains^TM

Big Indoor Trains^TM to the rescue. Since early 2007, we have been writing or editing articles on making your own scenery inexpensively, using materials that are relatively easy to find in most parts of the world. We have been emphasizing projects that are:

• Easy to do
• Inexpensive
• Easy to store in the "off season" (or in some cases, easy and cheap to replace next year, if storage is not an option)
• Adaptable to any scale of trains (though most projects are shown with O gauge or On30 trains)
• Adaptable to any season (in case you are running a St. Patrick's Day, July 4th, or Halloween train instead of a Christmas train)
• Targeted to people who are just starting out.

Together with our inexpensive and easy-to-build building projects, it should be possible to make a portable, eye-catching 4'x4' - 5'x5' or larger setting for model trains of any scale or for collectible villages of any season for under $100. (Of course many of our tips are just as useful for large, permanent railroads or displays as well.)

As our list of articles has been growing, we've also been looking for other web resources worth linking to for more information. On reason we've given "Scenery" its own page is that it gives us "room" to include those other links without making our home "primer" page too cluttered to navigate.

We hope to continue adding articles about many aspects of these hobbies, and we usually have a couple in the works at any given time, so please check back often. Or Join our Mailing List for free hobby ideas and to be notified when new articles are posted.

In addition, you can help by sending us project tips, article ideas, and photos of your railroads and villages. We want this site to be as useful as possible to as many people as it can be. As the hobby grows, we all benefit.

Base, Topography, and "Water Features"

Portable (Foam-Based) Indoor Displays - Using a foam-based portable scenic foundation to display your trains and towns to their best advantage.
Easy Indoor Lakes and Rivers - How to get the effect of waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and streams on both temporary and permanent indoor railroads and display villages.
Free Scenery Set Pieces - Add a vertical dimension to your Christmas village or railroad for little or no investment. The technique can easily be adapted to other seasons.

Trees and Plants

Easy Homemade Trees - How to make realistic and inexpensive trees using (mostly) natural materials.
Winter Trees from Floral Picks- A quick and inexpensive way to add interesting textures to your winter railroad or Christmas village
Add Spring Color to Your Village or Indoor Railroad - How to use easy homemade trees and shrubbery to brighten your railroad or display village for spring.
Modeling Palm Trees - This easy project adds a tropical feel to your setting.
Modeling Sea Grass - Make an inexpensive accessory to add interest and texture to your seaside scene.
Bringing Autumn to Your Railroad or Display Village - How two easy crafts can make your model railroad or display village look like it is enjoying the fall season.

Accessories

Desert Accessories from Playmobil Products - How repainting carefully-chosen toys can add fun details to a Large Scale desert landscape. Many of the ideas shown here will work for other scales as well.

Links to Great Scenery Articles on Other Sites

• Base, Foundation, and "Water" Features
  • Making Easy Rock Faces from Ceiling Tiles - PCA
  • Making a Pond from a Cardboard "balloon." - PCA
  • Making Frothy, Foamy Water - PCA
  • Making Rushing Water (also called "Making the Rapids on Wagon Creek") - PCA
  • Methods for Making Water that Don't Work - You got to give the author credit for owning up to his less successful results, but this still gives you some ideas to try. - PCA

• Plants and Trees
• Making Prickly Pear Cactus - PCA
• Making Brush from False Fur - PCA
• Making Clumps of Grass from False Fur - PCA
• Model Scenery Ground Cover - by GJW
• Accessories and Final Touches
• Making Bark Texture on Logs - PCA
• Making Dirt Roads and Wagon Tracks - PCA

Watch this page: more articles are in the works.