Setting up the scenery for your model train track layout might not be the most pressing issue you have on your mind when creating your layout, buts its very vital to the looks of your track. It's also a lot of fun to do and the options are endless with what you want to create. A model train just does not look right without the proper scenery to go along with it.



There are so many different types of scenery options available to the railroading enthusiast. What you but all depends on what type of out come you are looking for. What type of set do you want your train to be on. Desert, coastal, winter time, urban environment. The choice is completely up to you of course. My favorite is farm land. You can get just about any sort of scenery either online or at hobby/model shops in town.

For your first model train scenery I recommend really starting out with something basic and easy to setup quickly, just so you gain some experience and really get a feel for what it's like to design something like this from scratch. Beginners usually start out with something as simple as all grass and maybe a few animals.

You can start out with houses, tree's, stations, people you name it. I highly recommend that you keep it basic and then expand from there, but that's only my humble opinion.

The only real thing stopping you from buying loads of scenery is your budget and of course the size of the dwelling and space you have your train track laid out in. Size is always a problem. You don't want your scene to feel crowded with objects that don't really need to be there. Try and think like a realistic situation you might be in on a train and work from there. I find this is the best advice I got when it came to choosing scenery. Be realistic!

I know that sounds boring but it makes a big difference. Too many objects just looks like clutter and that you are trying to hard to make it look busy. Remember, scenery is the back drop to the bigger item, your train! Don't take away from the brilliance of your train and the hard work you have done to get it up and running.

If you are on tight budget and you are kind of artsy. There is nothing stopping you from creating your own scenery now is there? This is not my favorite option how ever, but thats because I lack the time and the skill to do something like that. Mine would look terrible, I am not artistic at all. A blank canvas or a track without scenery would look better then what I could do, so I leave it to the pro's.

When buying scenery make sure it is of high quality. Poor quality scenery will really let down your whole project and give it a cheap and rushed look that you really don't want to have at all. Make sure the trees you buy are quality trees. I know that sounds silly, but it's vital aspect of having a good back drop to your track layout.

Building as well should be of high quality and very detailed. Make sure everything you buy how ever make sense to your surroundings. There is no use in putting a farmers cottage in an urban train scene now is there. You also don't have to buy everything at once. I don't know many professionals that do actually.

I buy small bits here and there as to make sure I don't waste money and buy things I really don't need at all. Plus I like the excitement of waiting and then being able to put a new piece in.

Some of the professional model railroaders take years to complete just one project. They get every little detail just right and they are happy to wait and see the final product. It really is not about how quickly you finish when it comes to this. It's about enjoying the journey that you are on.