Foraging for model railroad scenery materials

It’s no secret that model railroading can be expensive. Big-ticket individual items, such as locomotives, can carry price tags which climb north of $500. For good reason, too; it’s all too easy to forget how far model locomotive technology has come in recent years, with detail better than ever thanks to simultaneous advances in scanning, design, and manufacturing. Nevertheless, though, money is money, and $500 is a lot of it. 

Naturally, then, many model railroaders seek means to keep the costs of their hobby lower than they otherwise may be. And there are plenty of ways to do this – buying used locomotives and rolling stock, among other options. But those measures are palliative, helpful but still costly when added up, ultimately inadequate in addressing the root issue. After all, what better price tag is there than none at all?

That’s where foraging for model railroad scenery materials comes into play. While you can’t forage for locomotives (at least not to my knowledge), you can use foraging to source many different kinds of scenery materials, which is frequently an expensive part of model railroading. 

Foraging in model railroading operates on much the same terms as culinary foraging, and follows much the same rules. It is imperative when foraging that you establish two things above all others: First, you must make sure that you have permission to be on the land on which you plan to forage. Trespassing is, of course, illegal, and it makes little sense to forage for scenery materials if the cost benefit is negated with a fine for trespassing. Second, make certain that you can actually take that which you plan to forage for. Certain plant species are protected from foraging and thus are illegal to take from the lands on which they are found. 

Before we move on to what to forage for what purpose on your model railroad layout, there are a few pointers to begin with.

First, it’s very helpful to use a plant identification app when foraging. While foraging for this article, I used an app called PictureThis – Plant Identifier. This allowed me to verify the type of plant I was looking at, and also provided me basic information about the plant, including characteristics, range and hardiness zones. 

Second, once you have collected the desired materials for your layout, it’s essential to properly prepare them for your layout. Improper preparation of the foraged materials could result in a number of issues, from contamination to decay, among others. 

Generally, you’ll want to first soak what you’ve gathered in a mixture of four parts water and one part matte medium (or white glue.) Allow the materials to soak in this fluid mixture for at least a minute. The liquid will soak into the foraged materials, simultaneously preserving it while also preventing it from becoming overly brittle. Glycerin can also be used to preserve foraged materials for your layout. Baking foraged materials in the oven can ensure that no bugs are able to make the transition from the natural environment to your layout. In this case, keep a close eye on the oven while in use and exercise good caution. 

With those pointers established, let’s take a look at what needs your layout may have, and what plants and organic matter you could forage to fulfill them. 

Trees

Trees are one of the most commonly foraged scenery materials. Many plants found in abundance across the U.S. make for serviceable trees with a bit of work. The list of plants which make for good model railroad layout trees includes:

• False forget-me-not
• Yarrow
• Wild spiraea
• Sedum
• Goldenrod
• Sagebrush
• Smokebrush

Of course, many other plants than those listed above make for serviceable trees, but the listed examples are commonly found regionally across the U.S. The best practice, generally, for creating trees from plant matter, is to take the plants, prepared as described previously, and spraying the “branches” with matter medium or dipping them in diluted white glue, then dusting them with leaf flake. Some individual growths will make for better trees than others. Oftentimes, foraged trees are best used as background trees, rather than “hero” trees which receive positions of prominence on your layout. For prominent trees, many modelers opt for store-bought offerings. But if you find the perfect plant matter, don’t let that dissuade you from putting it front and center!

Leaves

What better way to replicate fallen leaves than to use fallen leaves? Well good news – you can do just that.

Simply collect fallen leaves – any kind will do really – and then grind them up. A simple, hand operated spice grinder will turn the leaves into a fine – but not too fine – powder which can then be sprinkled at the base of the trees on your layout. Then, adhere it to the layout with matte medium or diluted glue, and suddenly, autumn comes to your layout.

Twigs

Twigs can be a versatile addition to your layout. From freight car loads, to fallen logs, to deadfall, a well-selected twig can be serve many purposes.

When selecting twigs, though, take into consideration the scale of your layout and the purpose the twigs will serve. A poorly selected twig will look out of place if it’s not to scale with the other trees, scenery, and rolling stock on your layout.

Foraging for model railroad scenery materials can be a fun way to keep the accumulating cost of model railroading down, while also getting some fresh air and enjoying the seasons. For this article, I was foraging in late summer, and it’s generally agreed that the best time for foraging for model railroad scenic materials is in late summer into autumn.