[NIMT]

I'll show you how to go from a simple flat board to a nice 3D add-on for your layout for cheap and easy. The principals can be used for virtually any scale and size.
This small layout / diorama board took about 8 hours to build, most of that time was waiting for material to dry. The final product is really not finished just got to the point of landscaping and that's another thread!
I hope this helps enlighten those new and maybe re inspire the old.
Oh and Just Say No To Foam!!! It's for your beer/soda cooler!:laugh::laugh:
Start with a layout / diorama plywood top.

Track layed, rail painted, profile boards installed.

Screen cut and attached.

First coat of quick set drywall compound.

Finished mountain structure and base coat of landscape.

Move down threw the thread for the whole how to do it!

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

What kind of screen are you using?

 

[NIMT]

List of Tools and parts needed.

Plywood
Window screen, Aluminum or Steel kind
Quick set drywall compound 20 to 90 min if your new to this stay with the slower till you get used to it!
Small mixing/paint pail
Recommend small drill mounted mixing paddle, you can do it by hand.
Putty knife
Cheap scissors
Blue painting tape
Flat black or dark gray spray paint, Can be done with can and brush too.
Wood glue / White glue
T-50 stapler, not required
Cheap stiff paint brush
Clear latex caulk not 100% silicone, Ballast and paint won't stick to it.
Rubber gloves are nice too.
Thumb tacks / Push pins

 

[NIMT]

Laying track

Laying track-
On your layout top draw in the center lines of all track to be layed.

Apply caulking in two lines on either side of center line.

Starting at one end tack down the cork or foam rubber base to one side of center line.

Install second base and tack down, wait for approximately 1/2 hour to set.

Apply 2 small lines of caulking on each piece of base

Smooth with putty knife leaving approximately 1/16 inch of caulking.

Install track starting from one end on base pining down as you go.
Movable rail on flex track should go to inside of curve.

After 1/2 hour remove all pins and paint rails, ties, cork
This is optional but will give it a finished look when done.
If modeling an old railroad you can substitute black for rust color.

15 min later use a cloth with a small amount of goof off, acetone, lacquer thinner, or mineral spirits to remove paint off tops of rails.

 

[NIMT]

Mountain Building

Mountain Building- Part 2
Cut and install outside profile boards or what I call guard rails. be as random as possible

Cut and install mountain profile boards, if you want a 4 sided mountain just repeat boards on other side.

Cut pieces of window screen larger than space your going to cover, like 2 to 4 in of overhang on all sides.

Wad up, wrinkle and smash screen randomly.

UN wad screen and leave winkles in-tacked, tack to profile boards, You can pin the screen to the profile boards and glue the screen to the boards. If you fold the screen edge over and keep it from hanging over the profile edge it will be nicer when you bump into it.
When covering steep cuts or large surfaces it is good to add in more supports or a wadding of screen to keep profile till mud cures. once mud cures your mountain will be incredibly strong!

Fasten or glue screen to layout top. trimming for clearance to base and track.

Trim any remaining screen hanging over edges.

Cover base and track with Tape leaving no holes for mud to enter.

Mix small amounts of dry wall mud to a thin consistency, almost thin enough to run threw screen, but not quite. Using a paint brush, brush on the mud mixture in a thin layer, pushing the mud partially into the screen but not too hard. Thin is better than thick, removing extra is really hard to do after it's cured. You want to keep the profile of the wrinkled up screen as much as possible. Brush the mud as it hardens to get a semi smooth finish.

Second coat, Apply same as first building it up then smoothing it out. After all material is applied, slightly wet the paintbrush as this will aid in smoothing surface.

Third coat, This coat can be a little thicker in consistency and applied heavier to get the final look. I use rubber gloves to help couture the final surface and get a smooth finish with the damp brush.

After completely hardened, Remove tape, Clean of any residual drywall mud off and around track.
suggest using alcohol to wipe down rails to remove final dust and debris

Painting entire surface with latex (house paint) will aid in resistance to moisture. Finish product landscape to taste, Outside profile board will now inhibit the Flying engine or railroad car from from ruining your day.

Happy mountaineering!

 

[concretepumper]

Excellent tutorial Sean! :thumbsup: I might give the screen thing a try. I was already planning on using drywall mud to do some landscaping with.

 

[tjcruiser]

Yeah, I like the screen idea coupled with the contoured plywood perimeter. Nice stepwise tutorial, Sean.

No need for crumpled newspaper or such under the screen to give it some bottom support ???

FYI ... I used hot glue to glue down my cork roadbed ... worked like a charm ... very quick /strong grab.

Cheers,

TJ

 

[novice]

Very helpful for us not-know-howers

Thanks a bunch

 

[NIMT]

Whew.....
That was a work out!
If you posted before this post you need to go back and reread the previous posts, I was adding it all in when you posted.
Next time I need to break it up more.
I hope this is of use to someone!!!!

Gunrunnerjohn,
I think you posted in the middle of my chaos, :laugh::laugh: The screen is window screen.

 

[concretepumper]

Sean are you using thin set dry wall mud? What type please. Thanks, Rick :thumbsup:

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Thanks, that's a great treatment of the topic. Looks pretty easy to do and gets great results!.

 

[NIMT]

concretepumper,
I use whatever kind of quick setting compound that I can find, right now it's from Home Depot, Beadex, silver set 20. You just need any quick setting type, the numbers tell you approximately how long before it starts to set or harden. You will get the same results with either time it's just the longer one's give you more time to work with it! When you first start mix small batches till you get used to how it spreads.

 

[cabledawg]

Just......WOW.......I'm impressed. A little late for my current layout, but if we redo it in the future, I'll go back to this for instruction!:thumbsup:

 

[NIMT]

cabledawg,
Thank you!
You are adding a new addition.

 

[x_doug_x]

thanks for the tutorial. never would have thought of this.

 

[HOMODELTRAINZ2009]

Thanks for the tutorial it was very helpful and the results were amazing!! And it looks relatively simple to try for us newbies like me.

 

[NIMT]

Thank you,
Just start off small and work your way up!

 

[novice]

I just went back and read the details - absolutely fabulous! I was going to use plaster strips for my first layout, now I'm sold on drywall putty LOL - which I happen to have in my garage as well as the screen.

Can't wait to see your next tutorial - you're incredible!

 

[NIMT]

Just make sure it the quick setting kind of drywall mud.
It's a powder you mix, the standard premix compound will take forever to set and will crack like mad!
What kind of how to would you like to see next?
I'm thinking the quick and easy pond, lake or river?

 

[novice]

What kind of how to would you like to see next?
I'm thinking the quick and easy pond, lake or river?

Oh Yes - Please. That would be incredible.

Thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge for those of us just starting out and little to no experience.

Very generous of you.