| If you are starting to get involved with model railway | | | | can then add this section last so that you have some |
| trains then you need to know about building | | | | of the track already running and operational. |
| landscapes and water features. These are two of the | | | | |
| essential elements in any great looking model railway | | | | You can then add the bridge and take time to ensure |
| layout. Even a great track layout will look bland without | | | | that everything runs smoothly. From here you can add |
| the correct landscape in place. | | | | more water features and other landscape options. |
| | | | | One of the most popular sections of landscapes is a |
| It is quite easy to get inspiration for the options | | | | mountain. These make great additions to the track |
| available to you. You can look at your fellow model | | | | layout and provide a great spectacle to the overall |
| train hobbyist’s layouts and see what they use. | | | | scene. |
| You can also browse through magazines and look on | | | | |
| the Internet for ideas. | | | | Other good option for landscapes is hills, prairies, fields, |
| | | | | tunnels and people. It’s always good to have some |
| Another great idea is to just observe the countryside | | | | model humans involved in the layout. Again, this brings |
| as you travel around. There are so many ideas to be | | | | the realistic element into the layout. |
| found if you keep your eyes open and take notes. | | | | |
| Often you will start to create one layout and then find | | | | When you make use of the trains and scenery in the |
| yourself moving onto another concept that involves | | | | right way, you will create a setting that will be unique |
| more water features or different landscapes. | | | | and very interesting. Once you have more experience |
| | | | | in building track layouts you can start to add more |
| It is best to set up your layout on paper first. This will | | | | complex structures. |
| give you the best chance of making accurate | | | | |
| measurements and placements first time around. If you | | | | For example, you might want to add an end-to-end |
| just try to set up the landscape without planning, you | | | | track section, or a loop to loop. Another great |
| are likely to run into a number of problems. | | | | spectacle to add to any scene is a multi-level track |
| | | | | system. On top of this you should think about creating |
| Firstly, you want to organise the railway track. Ensure | | | | a nighttime scene by adding lighting. Oftentimes, an |
| that you have enough track to create loops, ovals or | | | | average looking layout really improves when it is seen |
| whatever your design may be. This will ensure that | | | | at night with lights and the headlights of the |
| your trains can run continuously, even as you | | | | locomotives running around the track. |
| reorganise the landscape. | | | | |
| | | | | Don’t forget that you can have separate sections |
| If the landscape is crucial to a certain area of the | | | | of track in different areas of your baseboard. This |
| layout then you should leave that area until last. For | | | | means that you can create different landscapes in |
| example, if you are using a bridge in the track layout, I | | | | different areas and really enjoy your hobby to its |
| would create and build the rest of the track first. You | | | | fullest extent. |