Q: I’ve been trying to find the video Cody Grivno hosted a few years ago where he showed how to make a low-profile forest background using, I think, a furnace filter. I’m not talking about making furnace filter pine trees. This was more like cutting a continuous row of tree tops out of filter material and placing it directly against the backdrop. Any clues where I can find this? – JPD, Model Railroader forum member
A: Back in the August 2009 Model Railroader, Lance Mindheim wrote “How to make a distant tree line with scuff pads” (pp. 49-51). In that article, he introduced readers to Mikra Mirlon scuff pads. As the article’s title suggests, he used the dark gray synthetic steel wool material as a stand-in for tree lines off in the distance.
I was intrigued by Lance’s technique and wanted to put the scuff pads to use on our former Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. An opportunity presented itself when we worked on the Winter Hill quarry branch, a multi-part project layout series published in the January through April 2013 issues of MR. In the February installment, I shared how I used scuff pads, trees, and assorted scenery materials to model a distant tree line behind the MR&T main line.
In addition to the print article, I demonstrated how to use the scuff pads in part 7 of the “Build the Winter Hill quarry branch”, available on Trains.com Video. For another take on using scuff pads for distant tree lines, check out Rehab My Railroad: Episode 1 featuring Chuck Sable’s HO scale Chicago & North Western layout.
Send us your questions
Have a question about model trains, full-size trains, or toy trains? Send it to AskTrains@Trains.com.
