| For many people who love model railroads, one of the | | | | rectangular and oval layouts are common. |
| best things is making their own scenery. If you're only | | | | Regardless of size and shape, you need to choose a |
| ever just put up a simple track around the Christmas | | | | bench-work that's strong enough to hold up your |
| tree once a year, you're missing out. There are lots of | | | | layout. Most are built on a sheet of plywood |
| options available for something a little longer lasting, | | | | three-eighths to half an inch thick. For portable |
| more creative and a lot more fun. | | | | bench-works, separate the plywood into smaller |
| It all starts with bench-work. You can either make your | | | | pieces before you begin assembly. |
| own foundation for the layout or buy one pre-built. | | | | Remember to consider the perspective of the viewer |
| Advantages of pre-made bench-work kits include the | | | | when building scenery for your model railroad. Most of |
| fact that they're sturdy and easy to use. Pre-drilled, | | | | the time, it's important to make the layout look more |
| pre-cut kits that are easy to take apart are almost | | | | noticeable in respect to the train. Using scenery |
| always more durable than the standard sheet of | | | | elements that vary in size (such as larger ones in the |
| plywood on a couple of sawhorses. You don't want | | | | foreground and smaller ones in the background) will |
| your train scenery to collapse! | | | | give you more depth. Keep the kinds of trains you run |
| Of course, making your own has its own advantages, | | | | in mind so that you can scale your scenery details |
| allowing you to make the perfect layout to match the | | | | appropriately. |
| one in your mind. It takes a little more time and effort, | | | | There are all kinds of different options for model train |
| but it can be worth it. Either way, start with a design to | | | | scenery, from miniature cities to water features such |
| follow. This will tell you what size your bench-work | | | | as ponds and rivers, as well as pastoral settings that |
| needs to be. | | | | include fences, grass and animals. Model railroading |
| As you come up with the plan for your bench-work, | | | | allows you to create anything you want and control it |
| you should think about whether or not you'd like to add | | | | all yourself. It doesn't matter what kind of layout you |
| to your layout later. How much space do you have, | | | | choose - your imagination and skills are all that limit you. |
| and what final shape would you like? It's easy to make | | | | This is one reason why model trains are so popular! |
| your bench-work any shape you like, though square, | | | | |