Make. Paint. Build: Tips and tutorials for model trains, scale modellers and miniature war games.
Scenery And Terrain Tips & Tutorials
Tips, tutorials and guides to create rivers, ponds, hills, valleys, fields, trees and bushes for model railways, war games and dioramas.
Subtopics: Model water | Hills | Rocks & cliff faces | Trees | Static Grass & Scatter
What is a static grass applicator
Transform your model landscapes with a static grass applicator. Learn what it is and how it works in this informative read.
[...]
So the scenery starts: £35 project update
Since my last update, things have developed with the project; the dock has water; dock side & walls have been made and the track laid. [...]
Legendary railway modeller John H. Ahern’s advice on the best material for landscaping
Looking for the best material for landscape modelling? Here's what one of the legends of model railway building used. [...]
What’s the cheapest way to make wonderful water for your models
What is the cheapest way to make a beautiful river, pond, lake or sea for your models? You might be surprised. [...]
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. [...]
How to work with Styrofoam and Polystyrene
Styrofoam and Polystyrene are amongst my favourite landscape construction materials. [...]
How I Now Make My Own Plaster Cloth For Hills, Tunnels and Landscapes
I'm a huge fan of plaster cloth. It's messy, it works and it's super satisfying but it also costs. Until now. [...]
7 Steps To Laying Scatter + Help A Fellow Modeller
Mike M. emailed in recently with what seemed like an easy question. [...]
Make your own foliage
How a chance email revealed my new favourite way of making foliage and it's almost free.
[...]
The Cheapest Technique For Making Model Trees
I go full Blue Peter for this tip. [...]
Building Forests On A Budget
I've just read about a great idea that I haven't seen before. It's from the book Scenic Modelling by John de Frayssinet and if you haven't got this book I [...]
How to make bushes
Shortly after publishing a recent article on making stone bridges I got a number of messages from modellers wanting to know more about the vegetation seen in [...]
Recycle for your railway — money saving ideas
I'm always on the prowl looking for ways to save money when building my model railways. [...]
How to make your own trees, a new technique
I've covered making trees here before but I'm always on the look out for new techniques.
I recently came across this approach and have been impressed by [...]
Cry me a river – layout update
It's been a while since my last update on the layout so a quick progress report. [...]
Best Static grass applicator – which is best, applicators reviewed and rated for 2023
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 [...]
An awesome technique for quickly creating landscapes
A little technique for quickly making realistic landscapes from polystyrene foam. [...]
How to model water on your railway
Rivers, streams, lakes and seas are something every model railway builder wants but notoriously difficult to get right. Until now. [...]
