USING FLOWERS & FOLIAGE ON A LAYOUT
This tutorial was published the November-December 2007 Issue of N Scale Magazine.
When we look at scenery around us in real life, we often take things for granted. We see flowers and flowering foliage, but when it comes to adding these wonders of nature on our layouts, they are often missing and forgotten. Adding flowers and flowering foliage in various places on a layout creates a warm touch that is often overlooked.
Adding flowers track side is a very easy project to do. It will enhance the appearance of your layout with this very subtle touch. Most modelers don't think of using flowers or flowering foliage on a layout, yet this is part of the real world we live in.
There are three ways to use flowers/flowering foliage on a layout. The first method is to simply paint flowers on foam underbrush with a small 18/0 sable brush.
The second method is to buy commercial products for model railroading. Woodland Scenics makes many of these products.
A third way to use flowers or flowering trees on a layout is to buy dried floral displays from a craft store/flower shop and trim the floral display into trees and shrubs that are appropriately sized for an N scale layout.
I will discuss these three methods of using flowers/flowering foliage on a layout.
If you decide to make your own flowers, its really very easy to do and doesn't take much time. For this project you'll need the following supplies: a 18/0 sable brush, various shades of primary acrylic color paints, some foam underbrush or clumps and some white craft glue.
First take some Foam clumps/underbrush and glue them track side, next to rock formations or adjacent to buildings with some white craft glue. I use Aileen's Craft Glue and/or Craft Bond white glue. After the glue is dry and the foam clumps/underbrush are firmly in place, take an 18/0 sable brush and dip the brush tip in some acrylic paint. You can choose any color paint you want for the flower color. There is a full spectrum of colors to choose from, as nature is very forgiving and there is no limit to your creativity or imagination.
Now paint the tips of the clump foam foliage with the tip of the brush. You might have to paint the tips of the clump foam/underbrush several times to get the full effect of flowers on the foam clumps/underbrush. That's all there is to beautifying your layout with flowers.
I used violet and yellow for the flowers in the photo's in this tutorial. In Photo 1, you can see the clumps of purple flowers adjacent to the rock formations as a Rio Grande "Challenger" approaches the summit in the Monterrey Mountains on the upper level of the JJJ&E. This definitely adds a scenic touch to this photo. The flowers are in the scene, but aren't the focal point. The Rio Grand "Challenger" and the rock formations in the background are the focal points in this scene.
Photo 1
In Photo 2, you can see a close up of the purple flowers adjacent to the mainline track in the Monterrey Mountains of the JJJ&E. Even though this a small floral display , your eyes notice the flowers as being a part of the total picture.
Photo 2
In Photo 3, you see yellow flowers adjacent to the bumpers in the San Marino switching yard on the upper level of the JJJ&E. The flowers don't have to stand out and shout "Here I am". They are just a part of the total scene as it is in the real world. In many cases these bright patches of color would go unnoticed unless they were brought to your immediate attention.
Photo 3
In Photo 4, a bright yellow display of wild flowers are observed adjacent to the mainline track on the upper level of the JJJ&E near the town of San Marino.
Photo 4
In Photo 5, you can see a pale yellow display of wildflowers adjacent to the double mainline track near the St. Albans tunnel on the lower level of the JJJ&E.
Photo 5
In Photo 6, you have an overhead view of the yellow wildflowers adjacent to the bumpers in the San Marino switching yard. This technique is really easy to do and wild flowers can be "planted" anywhere on a layout. Again, the flowers are part of the total scenery effect, but would go unnoticed by a person casually viewing the layout.
Photo 6
In Photo 7, you can see some yellow wildflowers adjacent to the Jackson Transfer building, where crates and boxes are awaiting shipment. You also have another view of the yellow wildflowers adjacent to the sidings in the San Marino switching yard. Again, these are subtle touches that you as a modeler can add to your individual layout scenes without much cost or effort.
Photo 7
The second method of adding flowers/flowering foliage is to purchase commercial products made especially for model railroading. The photos below shows this method of using flowers/flowering foliage. You can trim the commercial products into different sized trees and bushes.They can be placed in many locations on a layout. Woodland Scenics makes many of these products and their application can be seen in Photos 8. 9, 10, 11 & 12.
In Photo 8, you can see bright areas of flowering shrubs adjacent to the water near the Fish Pier. This is water in this scene and flowering foliage is abundant in this situation. The scene is completed when this type of foliage is present. The flowering foliage has been "planted" next to aging detail parts, (a decaying and rusted boat and some long used fishing equipment). This definitely adds some color to the scene. The double track mainline near the St. Albans Tunnel can be seen in the distance.
Photo 8
In Photos 9 & 10, there are three different forms of flowering foliage on the long uphill grade to the town of San Marino the upper level of the JJJ&E. The foliage is growing adjacent to and in between the rock formations in the Monterrey Mountains. This is a very long 2% grade leading to San Marino. Some of this foliage has died out due to harsh weather conditions. Woodland Scenics has this type of foliage available in its product list. Woodland Scenics has several different finds of fine foliage mixes. These include a fall mix, a dead foliage mix as well as dark green, medium green and light green fine foilage mixes.
Photo 9
Photo 10
Photo's 11 and 12 also show the use of flowering foliage in a different application. You can see the placement of yellow clumps of flowers above a rock ledge in Photo 11 adjacent to the two oil tanks. In Photo 12 there are flowering trees beside the St. Albans tunnel. Again, the flowers/flowering foliage accents each scene, but isn't the main focal point of the scene.
Photo 11
Photo 12
The third method of adding flowers/flowering foliage to your layout is to buy dried floral displays from a craft store or floral shop. You can then transform any dried floral display into N scale flowering trees. This is easy to do and you can make many different sized flowering trees from these floral arrangements.
With proper pruning of these floral arrangements, the skies the limit on the number of trees that can be made for your layout. After shaping the individual trees, you can the branches and tree trunks a dark UP gray. Then you can dry brush some Rail Tie brown on the tree trunks which will give the tree a more natural appearance. In Photo's 13, 14 & 15, you can see an example of this method of using flowering trees adjacent to the service tracks in the turntable area of the JJJ&E.
Photo 13
Photo 14
Photo 15
In conclusion, using any one of the above techniques I described in this tutorial will add subtle touches of colorful flowers and foliage to your layout. This will complete and enhance any scene on your layout.
You should give one or all of these techniques a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the results. Your individual scenes on your layout will have subtle splashes of color which do occur in nature.
Stay cool and run steam......