Making a Mountain DIY Model Railroads host Ted Brown and model railroader Jay Caplan team up to demonstrate how simple it is to build a mountain. Materials:
2' x 4' piece of StyrofoamB. insulation board
Two 3" pieces of scrap foam board, purchased or found in packing material
Styrofoam packing "peanuts"
Two HO-scale portals
Low-temperature glue gun and glue sticks
One package plaster cloth
1" paintbrush
Scissors
Hobby saw
Shoe-box-size or larger container that will hold water
Water
Light earth-toned spray paint
Dirt-colored spray paint
Grass-colored spray paint
Black marker
- Locate the entrance to and exit from the mountain on the layout. These spots mark the location of portals for the tunnel (figure A). The portals indicate where the tunnel begins and ends as the mountain is built around them. You won't glue the portals in place until the mountain is complete.
- Use scraps of insulation board to build a support for the portals. The scraps can be any size or shape, as long as they fit the space designated for the mountain and don't interfere with the train's operation. Using a low-temperature glue gun, glue the pieces of insulation in place to begin building the mountain. Stagger the pieces to create a realistic, rugged-looking shape. Use a portal as a guide to gauge the space that must be left open for the train to clear the sides of the mountain. Use a hobby saw to cut blocks of insulation foam to fit the space allotted to the mountain (figure B). The mountain must be at least as tall as the top of the portal for the train to clear. Continue to glue and build up the front of the mountain until the front is complete.
- Build the back of the mountain from 3" pieces of scrap Styrofoam packing material. Use a hobby knife to cut the pieces to fit the layout board and fit around the portals. Secure the pieces with a glue gun (figure C).
- Put the top on the mountain to enclose the tunnel and create a base from which to build up the mountain. Clear the track of obstructions that might interfere with the movement of the train through the tunnel. Place a piece of Styrofoam insulation large enough to cover the entire mountain on top of the mountain's base. Use a hobby saw to remove unnecessary parts of the board until you get close to the outline of the mountain. Hold the top of the mountain in place, and use a black marker to trace the contour of the mountain's base up under the piece forming the top of the mountain (figure D). After marking the curve, turn the top over and cut along the marked line with a hobby saw, creating a perfect match with the base of the mountain. Glue the mountaintop in place.
- Now build up the top of the mountain by gluing scraps of Styrofoam insulation as desired (figure E). Use pieces of various sizes to create contours, and use a hobby saw to cut contours into the mountain (figure F). Glue on packing peanuts to create boulders and rugged contours. Complete the mountaintop as desired.
- Fill the shoebox-size container half full of water. Using scissors, cut a piece of plaster cloth about 4" long. Let it soak in the water for about 5 seconds (figure G). Drag the cloth strip along the side of the container to eliminate excess water. Place the wet plaster cloth over the Styrofoam sides of the mountain, molding the cloth to the mountain with your fingers. Dip a 1" paintbrush into the water, and brush the wet plaster cloth to eliminate bumps and air bubbles. Repeat the process until the entire mountain is covered. Let the mountain dry overnight.
- Finish the mountain by spray-painting it with earth-toned paints. If the room is not well ventilated, wear a mask. Use a light earth tone for the base, applying the paint in light, sweeping motions. Use a darker color to create and color darker patches of rock and soil. Use green paint to simulate grass growing on flat surfaces. Later you'll add trees and shrubs to give the mountain a more believable look (figure H).
Creating a Lake DIY Model Railroads host Ted Brown and model railroader Dave Caplan explain how to create realistic-looking lakes. Materials:
Plaster cloth
Shoe-box-size container that will hold water
Water
Acrylic paints in dark greens and blues
Sand-colored spray paint
8 ounces clear liquid polyurethane epoxy
White glue
Modelers' grass
Modelers' earth
Foliage in various shapes and textures
Duct tape
Scrap piece of Styrofoam board
Hobby knife
1" paintbrush
- The space for the lake was cut out when the bridge was installed. If you haven't yet removed it, use a hobby knife to cut into the insulation board along the lines drawn to mark the lake, and remove the Styrofoam down to the plywood. If the bridge is already in place, remove it and set it aside. Contour the edge of the lake with the hobby knife to create a shoreline. This will add realistic-looking detail (figure I).
- Use leftover pieces of Styrofoam and a glue gun to create an island in the middle of the lake (figure J). Be as creative as you like (figure K).
- Spread moistened plaster cloth, prepared as you did for the mountain, over the edge of the lake (figure L) to create a rugged shoreline. Place plaster cloth over the island, using a paintbrush dipped in water to smooth out the edges and eliminate air bubbles. Cover the bottom and sides of the lake, including the slopes up to the base of the track (figure M). Allow the lake to dry overnight.
- Apply a light coat of sand-colored spray paint to the island and the shoreline of the lake (figure N).
- Use a variety of blue and green acrylic paints to create realistic-looking water (figure O). Apply green tones to the shallow shoreline area of the lake and deeper blue tones in the deeper center of the lake (figure P). Use a paintbrush to blend the paints. Allow the colors to dry thoroughly.
- Once the lake dries, add some landscaping. Use white glue to create a path along the lakeshore. Sprinkle modelers' earth on the path to cover the glue completely. Repeat the process with strips of grass created with white glue and modelers' grass sprinkled in place (figure Q). Decorate the island in the same manner. Using white glue, add clumps of shrubbery and trees.
- Seal the opening at the edge of the lake -- the edge of the layout -- with duct tape and a scrap piece of Styrofoam (figure R) to prevent polyurethane (used in step 8) from running off the side of the layout.
- Pour clear liquid polyurethane epoxy into the lakebed (figure S), and spread it around with a plastic spoon or knife to completely cover the area. The epoxy will dry clear so the colors previously painted will show through, creating a very realistic-looking lake (figure T).
Resources Model trains, accessories and custom layouts
Dave Caplan or Jay Caplan
c/o The Train Works
10601 San Jose Blvd.
Suite 216
Jacksonville, Florida 32257
904-880-1002, fax 904-880-1006
E-mail: tranwrks@bellsouth.com
Web: www.trainworksjax.com Atlas Model Railroad Company Inc.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
908-687-0880
E-mail: atlasrr@atlasrr.com
Web: www.atlasrr.com/ Railroad Model Craftsman magazine
Web: rrmodelcraftsman.com/ Model Railroader magazine
Web: www.kalmbach.com/mr/modelrailroader.html
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | Mountains and Lakes |
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