Library - "Scenery - Mountains" Magazine Articles

Category Description: Model railroad scenery as it relates to mountains.

7 Steps to Realistic Rocks

Model Railroader 2002-09 pg. 60     Scale: (none)     Author: Joe Whinnery

Using ceiling tile to create rock layers.

Building Believable Buffs

Model Railroader 1987-12 pg. 140     Scale: HO     Author: Robert Smaus

Simple, step-by-step procedure for building realistic bluffs to cover the area between two tracks at different elevations.

Building Scenery

Model Railroader 2003-03 pg. 110     Scale:      Author: Lionel Strang

How to overcome your fears of doing scenery for the first time on your layout.

Clay Rock Construction

N-Scale 2000-09/10 pg. 32     Scale: N     Author: Paul Rising

This article shows how to create shallow-profile rock cuts.

Geodesic Foam Scenery Part 2

Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-02 pg. 75     Scale:      Author: Joel Bragdon

In this installment the manufacturer of this product shows us how to make rock castings, painting the rocks, and installing them.

Geodesic Foam Scenery Part Three

Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-03 pg. 83     Scale: (none)     Author: Joel Bragdon

In this installment the author describes how he paints the rocks, adds ground cover, trees, bushes, water, figures, and other details.

Inexpensive Molds for an Infinite Variety of Rock Cliffs and Crags

Model Railroad Hobbyist 2010-11/12 pg. 83     Scale:      Author: Roy Buchanan

Making rock molds using bathroom silicone, shown in step-by-step photos.

Making Rock Molds

Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-09 pg. 66     Scale: (none)     Author: Jeff Johnston

Step-by-step text and photo guide on how the author makes his rock molds. He shows two methods, one using a single large rock and one using a board full of smaller rocks (to make a vertical rock wall, for example).

Modeling State Line Tunnel on the NEB&W

Model Railroader 1989-09 pg. 84     Scale: HO     Author: John Nehrich

This article covers the construction of the tunnel. It includes prototype and modeled photos that share a striking resemblance.

Mormon Rocks

Model Railroading 2006-02 pg. 28     Scale: HO     Author: Ted York

Creating a 3D backdrop of the famous Mormon Rocks, Utah. Includes step-by-step photos of how the author built this scene.

Paper Shell Scenery

Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-01 pg. 50     Scale: (none)     Author: Howard Zane

Instead of using plaster, the author used red rosin paper to create base of his scenery. Has lots of scenery construction photos and talks about how to create a tree mat forest.

Permanent Snow Fences

Model Railroader 1988-01 pg. 93     Scale: (none)     Author: Harry W. Brunk

A description of and how to model wooden snow fences. These fences held the snow back from the track during th winter months, but were left in place during the rest of the year. Includes scale drawings, prototype and model photos. and example trackplan placement of the fences.

Realistic Rock Castings from Molds

NMRA Bulletin 2002-09 pg. 26     Scale: (none)     Author: John Ostler

Using coal as a mold source for outcrop-scale rock structures.

Rocks Along the Right of Way

NMRA Bulletin 2002-08 pg. 28     Scale: (none)     Author: John Ostler

Includes prototype photos of track close to mountains.

Rocks Aren't Hard

Model Railroader 2004-09 pg. 70     Scale: (none)     Author: Tony Koester

About attempting to match rock formations to the area we are modeling. Model and prototype photos. How did the Appalachian mountains form? How did the Rocky Mountains form? Includes a full geological map of the U.S. and Canada.

Rubber Rocks, Wire Weeds, and Other Scenery Tips

Model Railroader 1985-12 pg. 156     Scale: (none)     Author: Bernard Hughes

The author describes how he makes rocks using cut-up sponges. From the left-over parts he makes ground foam. The article also covers making small weeds using multi-strand electrical wire.

Selective Compression and Landforms

NMRA Bulletin 2002-06 pg. 30     Scale: HO     Author: John Ostler

Using selective compression to bring mountains closer to the track.

Snow at Condor Pass

Model Railroader 1984-12 pg. 136     Scale: N     Author: Roger Baker

Creating a scene in a portion of the author's layout separated by a view-block. The author discusses how he created "winter trees".

The Bread and Jam Method of Cliff Building

NMRA Bulletin 2002-10 pg. 24     Scale: (none)     Author: John Ostler

Creating near-vertical cliffs.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. XII

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-01 pg. 56     Scale:      Author: Paul Scoles

This installment covers how the author built rocky cliffs using plaster castings.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. XIII

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-02 pg. 61     Scale:      Author: Paul Scoles

This installment discusses how Paul paints his castings to make them look like realistic rock.

Using Rock Molds

Model Railroader 1996-09 pg. 70     Scale: HO     Author: George Sebastian-Coleman

The author describes how he built the walls of a rock quarry by using real rock of which he made the molds.

Weathered Rock Surface

N-Scale 2002-11/12 pg. 66     Scale: (none)     Author: John Gerdes

Carving heavily weathered rock faces.