Model Railroader’s Best of Scenery is a new 164-page special issue. Build the best scenery yet with the most up-to-date techniques from today’s best builders including Mike Danneman, Pelle Søeborg, David Popp, Cody Grivno, Steve Otte, Gerry Leone, Paul Dolkos, and many more! This comprehensive collection includes 33 detailed projects to make your layout more realistic. Plus, profiles of three exceptional layouts!

SCENERY FROM THE EXPERTS

Model Railroader's Best of Scenery

17 TIPS TO CREATE AUTHENTIC SCENES • Use details selectively for more realism

Paint effective backdrops • Learn great techniques for making your own clouds and landscapes

CHOOSING YOUR PAINTS AND BRUSHES

BIG SKY, LITTLE TROUBLE • An airless sprayer can make painting backdrops easier

LIGHT UP A BIG-CITY SKYLINE • Use LEDs to illuminate photo backdrop buildings from the inside out

Rio Grande in the ROCKIES • Follow Mike Danneman’s N scale Moffat Road main line through spectacular mountain scenery

HOW MIKE MODELS SNOW

USE LAYERED FOLIAGE to enhance your scenery • Multiple applications of trees, grass, shrubbery, and other foliage textures add depth and realism

How to model an ALFALFA FIELD • Didn’t get it right the first time? Tear it out and start over!

ADD A CORNFIELD TO YOUR LAYOUT • Get rid of the artificial turf. These injection-molded plastic corn strips feature realistic detail

CREATING MIRROR MAGIC • Using mirrors on streams, structures, streets, roads, and roadbeds can make layouts seem larger

Build a portable BRANCH LINE • Part 1: Benchwork and foam scenery for our HO scale branch line

Build a portable BRANCH LINE • Part 2: We add rocks, rivers, buried track, and a lot of trees to our Thin Branch project

How to plan and build an urban scene • Design and construction tips for a transition-era working-class district

WEATHER A BRICK STRUCTURE • This technique produces brick walls with a well-aged feel

Build a trestle over a dry wash • A wood trestle adds interest to the HO scale Eagle Mountain RR layout

COMPOSING A REALISTIC BRIDGE SCENE • Learn the expert tricks used to bring Green River to life on the Daneburg Sub

How to model A RUSTY AUTO JUNKYARD • Paint, weathering powders, and more make a realistic trackside scene

Revitalize an aging scene • A laser-cut wood structure takes center stage in this scene

How to weather wood structures • Simulating aged wood is an important part of realistic model building

Add storefront details • Photos of real stores make effective signs, awnings, and window displays

TURNING PHOTOS INTO AWNINGS

Modeling Miami’s Downtown Spur • An urban light-industrial setting provides plenty of switching

MODELING MIAMI’S STRUCTURES

Build an N scale cattle yard • Practice new techniques by building a diorama

How to build retaining walls • This quick project adds visual interest

GOOD FENCES make good scenery • Wood kits can help divide scenes and make cramped areas seem larger

How to model tall grass easily • Modern static grass mats offer variety and ease of use

How to make trees from a natural kit • SuperTrees are a realistic, versatile, and inexpensive scenery option

Windswept trees from natural materials • Twisted trunks and caspia branches capture a rugged look

Make conifers the quick and easy way • Air filter conifers are a simple weekend project

TREES THAT BEND without breaking • Concealed coil springs help trees mounted along the edge of a layout cope with pesky elbows

Model realistic rapids • Cool water scenery is fun with some simple commercial products

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