Foam as a Foundation
Extruded polystyrene foam (the pink or blue sheets from the hardware store) is the backbone of modern model railroad scenery. It is lightweight, easy to carve, and does not warp. Stack and glue sheets to build up elevation, then shape with a hot wire cutter, rasp, or serrated knife.
Plaster Cloth for Hard Shell
Once your foam shapes are roughed in, cover them with plaster cloth (like Woodland Scenics Plaster Cloth or plaster-impregnated gauze). Dip strips in warm water and drape over crumpled newspaper or cardboard webbing to create a hard shell terrain.
Step-by-Step
- Crumple newspaper and tape it over the foam to create organic shapes between the hard edges.
- Cut plaster cloth into 4″ to 6″ strips.
- Dip each strip in warm water for 3 seconds and apply in overlapping layers.
- Smooth with wet fingers. Two layers is usually enough for a solid shell.
- Let dry completely (4-6 hours) before painting.
Painting the Terrain
Apply a base coat of earth-tone latex paint (raw umber or burnt sienna) thinned slightly with water. This hides the white plaster and provides a base for ground cover. Nobody wants to see a white spot peeking through your scenery.
Always work from the back of the layout forward. This way, scenery at the rear is complete before you reach the foreground details near the fascia.
