Build N scale mountain scenery

Building a small diorama for some of my N scale models allowed me to combine my two favorite hobbies: model railroading and photography. The idea for this project was formulated while I was building a number of N scale wood kits from Hunterline.

A model train in a mountainous forested setting — Dennis Murphy built this lightweight photo diorama as a showcase for some of his N scale wood structure kits. His construction techniques can be used to build mountain scenery for dioramas and layouts in most any scale.

In fact, I was having so much fun that I kept building more and more of them, winding up with a number of finished models with no place to put them on my home layout. So I built a small diorama for the models. My goal was to include as many structures as I could in a setting that would produce good pictures. I was able to include a timber tunnel portal and its matching liner, three retaining walls, a 50-foot queen post truss bridge, and a timber snowshed.

As shown in fig. 1, the diorama fits into my 18″ x 33″ photo booth, so that determined its maximum size. I like using the photo booth because I can control its lighting and use interchangeable backdrops.

Fig1Photoboothsetting — **Fig. 1 – Photo booth setting:** Dennis has a number of prototype mountain background scenes that slip into his photo booth behind the diorama to create a variety of seemingly remote locations for his model photography.

The modular approach

While I was planning my diorama, I realized that many of the techniques for building modular layouts could be applied to this project. Modules can be built in many different ways, but the National Model Railroad Association offers standards and recommended practices for module dimensions and track measurements as a free PDF file at nmra.org. By following these standards, you can build a module that could be used in a club layout, like those seen at train shows, in addition to being used for photography. Though I didn’t use these standards for my diorama, it is something to consider when getting started.

Material choices

With the photo booth determining the overall size, I began construction. Some common scenery materials, like plaster and screen wire, aren’t suitable for portable dioramas, as the surface isn’t flexible enough to travel well. For my diorama, I used 2″ thick extruded-foam insulation board, which is light, resilient, and easy to work with.

I cut the a base layer of foam slightly smaller than the footprint of my photo booth. I then set my structure models in place to determine a realistic arrangement. Based on the kits I had on hand, I decided the track would exit a tunnel, pass through a snow shed, cross over a small stream, and run along a hillside. I carefully marked the location of each model on the foam.

Next, leaving an opening for the tunnel, I added a second layer of foam board, attaching it with acrylic construction adhesive. I did some preliminary shaping as I went, but saved the final cutting and sanding work until after the adhesive hardened. I then applied a coat of flat tan latex house paint in the lower valley area.

After the paint dried, I laid the roadbed and track through the scene using thin layers of the acrylic construction adhesive and straight pins to secure everything. While the adhesive set, I began building the mountain by stacking more layers of foam, as shown in fig. 2. I did some shaping as I went, but as before, saved the final work until after the adhesive set. Once all the layers were solid, I used a pruning saw, rasp, and coarse sandpaper to do the final shaping.

Fig3Testfit — **Fig. 2 – Test fit:** Dennis used a pen to outline the locations of all the finished structures. Then he carefully trimmed notches and recesses into his foam board base to receive the foundations before test fitting each structure.

After I was satisfied with the overall look of the scene, I set about making sure all the models fit properly into the terrain. This took some patience, but eventually I was able to make everything fit. Then I painted the foam hillside with flat tan latex paint.

Adding realistic rocks

To simulate blasted rock and other rock faces, I used rubber rock molds and Durham’s Water Putty, as shown in fig. 3. Water Putty is a gypsum-based material that dries hard, doesn’t shrink, and has great bonding strength.

Fig4Rockcastings — **Fig. 3 – Rock castings:** Durham’s Water Putty has a fine texture and sets quickly, so Dennis used it to cast rocks in rubber molds. As the putty began to set, he pressed the still soft rocks into place directly on the foam board.

I made each rock casting by mixing a batch of the water putty and pouring it into a mold. I waited a few minutes for the putty to begin to set, then pressed the mold into position. After the putty hardened (about 20 minutes), I carefully removed the rubber mold.

I painted the castings after I’d installed the rest of the scenic texturing. Then I used an assortment of water-based earth-tone paints to apply a series of thin washes, staining the rock castings and bringing out the fine details. I apply the lighter colors first and then layer on the darker shades.

Structures and “slop”

Next, I test-fit each of the structures, made any needed adjustments, and glued them into place. After the glue dried, I began adding the ground cover to blend the structures into the terrain and hide any seams. See fig. 4.

Fig5Plantinggrass — **Fig. 4 – Planting grass:** With the major structures attached, Dennis used a brush to apply thinned white glue over areas about a foot square. Then he sprinkled on the first layer of ground foam grass. The finished grass layer is shown here.

I do this initial layer of texturing with a material I fondly call “slop,” a by-product of my modeling activities. Whenever I work with ground cover, I vacuum up the excess and toss it into a large plastic jar. Except for sawdust and bits of plastic, almost everything else ends up in the jar, including grass, small twigs, dirt, bushes, and gravel.

To apply the collected material, I brush on thinned Elmer’s white glue over the area that will receive the base texturing, and then sprinkle on a liberal coating of the mixture. My thinned glue recipe is 60 percent water, 40 percent white glue, and just a drop or two of dish soap to “wet” the mix. The soap makes the thinned glue penetrate the scenery material better. After the glue has dried, I vacuum up any loose material and dump it back into the jar for use on the next project.

I filled in around and behind the retaining walls with mixed gravel, as shown in fig. 5. Fortunately, a module or diorama can be easily moved and positioned at odd angles, so I tilted the work surface to let gravity help me keep the gravel in place until the glue dried.

Fig6Rockbackfill — **Fig. 5 – Rock backfill:** Dennis applied more thinned white glue to secure the various sizes of rocks, made of crushed plaster remnants, that he used as backfill to cover any visible gaps between the scenic terrain and his structures.

Filling in the details

Now comes the fun part, filling in the details that make the scenery come alive. One technique that I use to get a feeling for the realism in a modeled scene is to photograph the area at ground level with a small camera set in the scene. Taking a close-up, low-angle view emphasizes anything that needs work.

Foliage adds depth to the scene, so I planted an assortment of commercial fir trees. I grouped them in bunches of three to five with a little space between them. To force the perspective, I placed larger trees toward the bottom of the hill and used progressively smaller trees as I worked my way up.

Next, I planted some tall weeds. There are a number of commercially available tall weed products, but I never made much use of them until I found the no. 81751 field grass planting tool in the Micro-Mark catalog. The taller weeds take time to “plant” in clumps, but they add realistic depth to the scene. See fig. 6.

Fig7Tracksidedetails — **Fig. 6 – Trackside details:** Numerous details, like this stack of extra rails and tall weeds, add a lot to a scene. Dennis planted the field grass by pressing clumps of grass strands into the foam using a Micro-Mark no. 81751 planting tool.

I added all sorts of man-made items commonly found along the right of way, but I deliberately chose items that aren’t era specific. Some of these are discards from emergency repairs, while others represent materials staged for a future job. I added old wood ties, stacks of fresh ties, sections of rail, a pile of coal, and junk timbers left behind from a past bridge repair.

To finish my diorama, I added fallen limbs and broken branches around the trees, tree stumps, bushes, shrubs, and clumps of weeds to fill in any big gaps in the scene. I also added the mossy vegetation that builds up on the damp roof of the snowshed.

Versatile setting

The finished diorama fits perfectly into my photo booth and gives me a wide range of photo options. With different lighting I can control the feel and mood of the images, and I can change the backgrounds to shift to different locations. I can choose the era by simply selecting the proper rolling stock, so I’m pleased with the diorama’s versatility.

Though I built a photo scene, all of the construction methods I used can easily be adapted to any size layout or module. It didn’t take that long to build, and I had a lot of fun along the way.

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