8 LAYOUT TIPS FROM A MASTER
Neal envisioned a layout composed of several vignettes, each bearing the name of a different locale in Massachusetts. The names of the communities and their key industry or business were be fictitious, yet each had a basis in reality. They would, in short, be familiar to him. Here are eight of Neal’s insights.
1
Neal made substantial use of extruded foam on the layout. Wherever he thought something substantial was called for, he put more layers of foam on top. Next, he carved the material to shape and put on spackling compound. While that was drying, he sealed the shell with a coat or two of brown latex paint.
2
Neal used different types of brown paint to his advantage. He then brushed on earth tones to cover everything. Ground up cork and foam in various colors and textures filled up the areas.
3
Neal opted for Mod Podge over an acrylic light diffuser to model water. As the final touch, he touched up the waves and ripples to add interest.
4
Neal’s artistic instincts inspired him to avoid commercial trees. His evergreens began with “trunks” cut from cedar shingles and rounded with a rasp. Then Neal glued on furnace filter and attached ground foam with spray-mount adhesive. Deciduous trees started with armatures from Woodland Scenics, over which he stretched poly fiber before covering them with ground foam.
5
Because the layout generally showcases autumn in New England, Neal made certain the colors of the foliage changed dramatically as viewers headed north and west from Cabotport to Fitchfield. In addition, he filled in the break between the scenery and backdrops with furnace filter over which he sprinkled ground foam.
6
Neal gave his model railroad a personality all its own by coming up with a consistent color scheme for its facilities. Platforms were painted green and cream with signs in an identical font. He painted wood structures maroon and cream and then transferred the same hues to trim added to buildings intended to be masonry.
7
Neal created many of his structures from scratch, again to ensure they were unique and fit the locale and purpose of his railroad. Basswood, styrene, and Taskboard (an ultra-light material made of sustainable forestry wood) served as his primary materials.
Evergreen strip styrene worked well for windows and door frames, and Plastruct patterned styrene sheets worked for brick and stone.
8
Paved roads consisted of Masonite and plywood that Neal blended with the surrounding terrain with lightweight spackling compound. He painted the surface black and then dry-brushed an assortment of lighter colors over it.