How to cast plaster rocks for model railroad scenery

Rockmolds1

David Popp Nothing says “impressive” quite like a rugged mountain range full of jagged rock faces. Though mountains appear solid to us, many are just individual layers of rocks, stacked one on top of another. If you keep this idea in mind, then adding impressive rock features to your layout isn’t a difficult task. Whether […]

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How to cast plaster rocks for model railroad scenery

Pouring Hydrocal into a rubber rock mold

Rubber rock molds and hydrocal plaster make it easy to add exposed rockfaces and other dramatic scenic elements to your model train layout   Nothing says “impressive” quite like a rugged mountain range full of jagged rock faces. Though mountains appear solid to us, many are just individual layers of rocks, stacked one on top […]

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DIY rock molds from Play-Doh

Hands packing Play Doh into rock mold

Use this quick tip to make custom rock molds for realistic model railroad scenery Want to make unique rock castings? Here’s an interesting method that was featured in the March 2002 Classic Toy Trains. Play-Doh, a children’s modeling toy, is a great one-time-use mold-making material. It’s water-soluble, easy to work with, and reproduces crisp details […]

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Modeling steers and bulls

DanLewisNscaleMilwaukeeRoadNorthMontanaLine_06

Most N scale bovines offered by figure manufacturers are milk cows, but the Montana cattle industry requires steers and bulls, too. Dan Lewis uses wire and Microscale Kristal Kleer to turn cows into bulls, as well as to model longhorns, on his N scale Milwaukee Road North Montana Line. One problem I encountered with commercially […]

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Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2020

Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide 2020 cover

Also in this issue: MRVP Tech, pg. 64 A Raspberry Pi for your layout DCC Programming, pg. 66 A guide to grouping locomotives Off the Rails, pg. 70 Tool tips for every modeler Let’s Make a Scene, pg. 72 Kathy’s best winter modeling tips It’s My Railroad, pg. 75 Easy signals for hidden track Q&A […]

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Let’s Make A Scene: Episode 16

Let’s Make a Scene with Kathy Millatt Part 16

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that Kathy Millatt’s HO scale (1:87.1) wintry diorama is frozen in time, she can turn her attention to adding frosty features to a freight car! Check out Kathy’s techniques for layering up realistic snow and ice effects, using commercially available products. […]

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Let’s Make A Scene: Episode 16

Let’s Make a Scene with Kathy Millatt Part 16

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that Kathy Millatt’s HO scale (1:87.1) wintry diorama is frozen in time, she can turn her attention to adding frosty features to a freight car! Check out Kathy’s techniques for layering up realistic snow and ice effects, using commercially available products. […]

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Twisting model trees from wire

WireModelRailroadTrees_01

When he needed a few deciduous trees for his HO scale layout, Robert Pethoud turned to a tried-and-true method – hand-twisting armatures from florist’s wire. Coating the trunks in a mix of plaster and glue realistically simulates bark. All photos by Robert Pethoud. Fig. 1 Big and small. Robert used 30AWG florist’s wire for the […]

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