Editing Rail transport modelling (section)

== Landscaping ==
[[File:SimpleH0.JPG|thumb|left|A simple H0 (1:87) scale model railroad, consisting of three interconnected modules, each 70 x 100 cm in size. It has two concentric ovals of track and a few switches to sidetracks. It makes no pretension of being a copy of "real life". Using low-cost landscaping parts, house kits and rolling stock, it was built for a total of only a few hundred dollars.]]
[[File:H0e layout.png|thumb|A [[H0e scale]] layout, {{convert|47|x|32|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} in size]]
[[File:Virginia Farmlands Rwy 2 SW8 @ Doorstown 6-17-2007.JPG|thumb|The landscape in this [[N scale]] town includes weathered buildings and tall uncut grass.]]

Some modellers pay attention to [[landscaping]] their layout, creating a fantasy world or modelling an actual location, often historic. Landscaping is termed "scenery building" or "scenicking".

Constructing scenery involves preparing a sub-terrain using a wide variety of building materials, including (but not limited to) screen wire, a lattice of [[Paperboard|cardboard]] strips, or carved stacks of expanded [[polystyrene]] (styrofoam) sheets. A scenery base is applied over the sub-terrain; typical base include casting plaster, [[plaster of Paris]], hybrid paper-pulp ([[papier-mâché]]) or a lightweight foam/fiberglass/bubblewrap composite as in Geodesic Foam Scenery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bragdonent.com/gfguide.htm |title=Bragdon Enterprises – Geo Foam Instructions |publisher=Bragdonent.com |access-date=2012-05-05}}</ref>

{{anchor|scatter (modelling)}}
The scenery base is covered with substitutes for ground cover, which may be [[Static grass|Static Grass]] or '''scatter'''.  ''Scatter'' or ''flock'' is a substance used in the building of dioramas and model railways to simulate the effect of grass, poppies, fireweed, track ballast and other scenic ground cover. Scatter used to simulate [[track ballast]] is usually fine-grained ground [[granite]].  Scatter which simulates coloured grass is usually tinted [[sawdust]], [[Woodchips|wood chips]] or ground [[foam]].  Foam or natural [[lichen]] or commercial '''scatter''' materials can be used to simulate shrubbery.  An alternative to scatter, for grass, is [[static grass]] which uses static electricity to make its simulated grass actually stand up.

Buildings and structures can be purchased as kits, or built from cardboard, [[balsa wood]], [[basswood]], other soft woods, [[paper]], or polystyrene or other plastic. Trees can be fabricated from materials such as Western [[sagebrush]], [[candytuft]], and caspia, to which [[adhesive]] and model foliage are applied; or they can be bought ready-made from specialist manufacturers. Water can be simulated using polyester casting [[resin]], [[polyurethane]], or rippled glass. Rocks can be cast in plaster or in plastic with a foam backing. Castings can be painted with stains to give colouring and shadows.