Make. Paint. Build: Tips and tutorials for model trains, scale modellers and miniature war games.
Ground Cover
How to make and apply ground cover on models, model railways and wargame mats. Including tools and techniques for professional looking static grass.
How to apply static grass to miniature bases without an applicator?
How to apply static grass to war game miniature bases when you don't have an electric applicator. [...]
Make your own ground foam
Making your own ground foam for scenery is fun, much cheaper than buying the commercial stuff and gives your more flexibility in your scenery.
But [...]
How to recreate sunburnt fields
Do something different with your model railway scenery and landscape and create a summer heat wave in miniature. [...]
Add cropmarks to your fields and add novelty and realism to your layout: sunday scribbles
Here's a quick little tip to add realism and uniqueness to your layout. [...]
How to make scenic cement: my foolproof 3 part recipe for the best ground cover
There's a lot of misunderstanding around scenic glue but it's surprisingly simple once you know how to make it. [...]
The best paper mache (papier-mâché) recipe for model hills and mountains
Here's my trusted recipe for papier-mâché, sometimes spelt paper mache, that I use for landscape building on my model train layouts, railways and wargaming [...]
A rake for your static grass, Sunday Scribbles
This is a silly little tool-tip, but one I find myself using a lot since discovering it. [...]
Six simple steps you can use to make glorious model mud
Mud glorious mud. Or it is until you try to recreate it in model form. Here are six simple steps you can follow to make marvellously messy mud.
[...]
What is a static grass applicator
What is a static grass applicator and what does it do? Read the answer here in the Internet’s largest glossary for model railways. [...]
A quick tip from the school of the blindingly obvious
If you lay your scatter, as I do, by sprinkling the stuff from your fingers you'll love - or perhaps hate - this tip. [...]
How to make your own scatter & why I’ll never buy scatter material again
I'll never buy scatter for my model railway again. [...]
A master class in static grass (creating slopes)
Static grass makes a world of difference to a model landscape but getting it right on slopes is more involved than you might think. [...]
7 Steps To Laying Scatter + Help A Fellow Modeller
Mike M. emailed in recently with what seemed like an easy question. [...]
Best Static grass applicator – which is best, applicators reviewed and rated for 2022
Static grass, aka flocking, transforms a layout, model landscape or wargame scene but laying the stuff is a time hog and getting it to look right even more [...]
Making Your Own Engine Shed Ash
Hot on the heals of the previous post on making your own model railway grass, comes another tip from Stephen Fay, this time a low cost technique to making [...]
How to make your own grass
This is a short but great tip for making your own super-realistic grass by modeller Stephen Fay. [...]
Grass — Everything You Need To Know
Grass fields add life and realism to your railway, as seen in this photo of Miniature Wunderland in Germany.[/caption]If you want to bring your model railway [...]
The Best Of Both – How To Lay Grass Mats With The Realism Of Static Grass
Want to quickly add grass to large areas of your railway using grass mats AND get the realism of scenic grass without the cost? [...]
How To Make Your Own Grass Tufts
Looking for a cheap grass tufts? Here's an easy DIY method to produce your own. [...]
DIY Budget Hedges – Thrifty Thursday Model Building Tip #3
Using the pre-made commercial hedges on your model railway can be expensive what if there was a way to get hedgerows for a few pounds. Here's how you can make [...]
