Once I have completed a layout, I often begin to lose interest in it, consigning it to my garage for several years before salvaging re-usable elements for my next project.I don’t think I’m alone in finding that I get the most pleasure from the building of a model railway, rather than the operation.
For this new project, consisting of a double–track main line running through the countryside, I have recycled a baseboard from a previous layout, stripping it of track and as much scenery as possible to provide a flat surface on which to build the new scene.
The baseboard measures around 2m long and 0.5m wide and it took just 30 minutes to clear away almost all trace of the track and scenery – all that hard work gone to waste in less than an hour! However, putting a positive slant on this, I was full of hope that my new scene would be better,building on the techniques I’ve been learning over the years.
RAISING MY GAME
The purpose of this new diorama is primarily for displaying models, rather than as part of a functional model railway, which would allow me to concentrate more on getting the scenery looking as realistic as possible. The scene is inspired by several locations I found while visiting various locations across Europe, with the curved twin-track main line elevated on an embankment and featuring a stone and concrete underbridge as one of the key scenic elements. My aim was to also make the scene suitable for posing UK-outline stock, so that would provide an additional challenge.
The trackbed was raised 2in above the baseboard, which is enough to create a dramatic visual impact without the scene making the trains appear to be too precarious. As the scenic contours would also continue rising in the background, the idea was to try and make the overall composition appear as natural as possible.
To give the railway a secure footing and ensure a consistent height and width for the embankment, Woodland Scenics’ foam Riser strips were employed. The surrounding landscape, which would be more undulating, was then formed around blocks of roof insulation foam, which is readily available from DIY stores, sold under various brand names such as Knauf and Celotex. These are a great resource for creating durable, lightweight scenery, especially when combined with plaster-impregnated bandage and a wet plaster coating.
I’m happy with this new diorama, with the underbridge and footpath providing some visual relief from the otherwise natural environment. That said, I’ve begun to wonder whether I should have added something a little different in part of the foreground, such as the edge of a field of crops. But that’s something to tackle at some point in the future.