Using Flowers & Flowering Foliage On A Layout

CB&Q E-8's On Upper Level Of "Original" JJJ&E  High In The Monterrey Mountains

 This article was published in the November/December 2007 Issue Of  N Scale Magazine.

When we look at scenery around us in real life, we often take things for granted. We see flowers and flowering foliage, but when it comes to adding these wonders of nature on our layouts, they are often missing. Adding flowers and flowering foliage in various places on a layout creates a warm touch that is often overlooked.

Adding flowers track side is a very easy project to do. It will enhance the look of your layout with this very subtle touch. Most modeler's don't think of using flowers or flowering foliage on a layout, yet this is a part of the real world.

There are three ways to use flowers/flowering foliage on a layout. The first method is to simply paint flowers on foam underbrush with a small very fine 18/0 sable brush.

The second method is to buy commercial products especially made for model railroaders. Woodland Scenics makes many of these products as does Scenic Express.

A third way to use flowers or flowering trees on a layout is to buy dried floral displays from a craft store/flower shop and trim the floral display into trees that are appropriately sized for an N scale layout.

I will discuss these three methods of using flower/flowering foliage on a layout.

If you decide to make your own flowers, it's really very easy to do and doesn't take much time. For this project you'll need the following supplies: a very fine 18/0 sable brush, Various shades of primary acrylic color paints, some foam underbrush or clumps and some white craft glue. Take some foam clumps/underbrush and glue them in various track side positions, next to rock formations or adjacent to buildings with some white craft glue. I use Aileen's Craft Glue and/or Craft Bond white glue.

After the glue is dry ( wait 24 hours ), and the foam underbrush/clumps are firmly in place, take an 18/0 very fine sable brush and dip the brush tip in some acrylic paint. You don't need much paint on the brush tip. You can choose any color paint you want for the flower color. There is a full spectrum of  colors to choose from, as nature is very forgiving and there is no limit to your creativity or imagination.

 Now paint the tips of the clump foam foliage with the tip of the brush. You might have to paint the tips of the foam underbrush several times to get the full effect of flowers on the underbrush/clumps.
Take your time and work carefully. That's all there is to beautifying your layout with flowers. You can add as many flowers to your foam underbrush/clumps/bushes as you wish.
 

Photo  # 1  Denver & Rio Grande # 3802 "Challenger"  On Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E High In The Monterrey Mountains

 I used violet and yellow for the flowers in the photo's in this tutorial. In Photo # 1, you can see clumps of purple flowers adjacent to the rock formations, as a Denver & Rio Grande "Challenger" approaches the summit in the Monterrey Mountains on the "Original" JJJ&E. This definitely adds an additional scenic touch to this photo. The flowers are in the scene, But aren't the focal point which is the Denver & Rio Grande "Challenger" and the rock formations in the background.

Photo  # 2  Closeup Photo Of CB&Q E-8's On Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E With The Monterrey Mountains In the Background

In Photo # 2, you see a close-up of the purple flowers adjacent to the mainline track in the Monterrey Mountains of the "Original" JJJ&E. Even though this is a small flower display, your eye notices the flowers as being  a part of the total picture.

 In Photo  # 2A, the purple and yellow wild flowers can be seen along the mainline high in the Monterrey Mountains on the upper level of the layout.

Photo  # 2A  Purple And Yellow Wild Flowers Adjacent To The Mainline In The Monterrey Mountains

Photo  # 3  Yellow Wild Flowers Adjacent The Bumpers On Sidings Of The San Marino Switching Yard

  In Photo  # 3, you see yellow wild flowers adjacent to the bumpers of two sidings of the San Marino Switching Yard on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E. The flowers don't have to stand out and shout "Here I Am". They are just part of the total scene as they are in the real world. In many cases, these bright patches of color would go unnoticed unless they were brought to your immediate attention.

Photo  # 4 Wild Flowers Adjacent to The Mainline On The Upper Level Of The "Original" JJJ&E

Photo # 4 shows a bright yellow display of  wild flowers adjacent to the mainline track, on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E near the town of San Marino.

Photo  # 5  Overhead View Of Yellow Wild Flowers Adjacent To The Bumpers On Sidings Of The San Marino Switching Yard

Looking at Photo # 5, you have an overhead view of the yellow wild flowers adjacent to the bumpers of the sidings in the San Marino Switching Yard. This technique is really easy to do and wild flowers can be "planted" anywhere on a layout. Again, the flowers are part of the total scenery effect, but would go unnoticed by a person casually viewing the layout.

 Photo  # 5A  is a panoramic view of the Switching Yard on the upper level of the layout. The yellow wild flowers  can be seen adjacent to the sidings of the Switching Yard.

Photo  # 5A Another View Of  Wild Flowers Adjacent To Sidings Of Switching Yard

Photo  # 6  Yellow Wild Flowers Adjacent To Jackson Transfer Company

In Photo # 6, you can see some yellow wild flowers adjacent to the Jackson Transfer building in the distance, where crates and boxes are awaiting shipment. You also have another view of the wild flowers adjacent to the sidings in the San Marino Switching Yard. Again, these are subtle touches that you as a modeler can add to your layout scenes without much effort or cost.

The second method of adding flowers/flowering foliage is to purchase commercial products made especially for model railroading. The photo's below show this method of using flowers/flowering foliage. You can trim the commercial products into different sized trees and bushes. They can be placed in many different locations on a layout. Woodland Scenics & Scenic Express make many of these products and their use can be seen in Photo # 7, # 8, # 9 and #10.

Photo # 7  Flowering Shrubs Adjacent To The Fish Pier And water

In Photo # 7, you can see bright areas of flowering shrubs adjacent to the water near the Fish Pier. There is water in this scene and flowering foliage is abundant in this area. The scene is completed when this type of foliage is added to the scene. The flowering foliage has been "planted" next to aging detail parts ( a decaying and rusting boat and fishing equipment). This definitely adds some color to the scene. The double track mainline near the San Marino Tunnel can be seen in the distance.

Photo  # 8  Flowering  Foliage Growing Between The Rock Formations On The Long Grade To San Marino

Photo # 8 shows many different forms of flowering foliage on the long upgrade of the mainline to the town of San Marino on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E. The foliage is placed adjacent to and growing in between the rock formations in the Monterrey Mountains. This is a very long 2%  grade leading to the town of San Marino on the upper level of the layout. Some of the foliage has dried out and this was accomplished by using Woodland Scenic Fine Foliage mix. Woodland Scenics different packages of fine foliage mix that you can use for this type of display. These include a fall mix, a dead foliage mix as well as dark green, medium green and light green mixes.

Photo  # 9  Flowering Bushes Above A Rock Ledge

Photo  # 10  Flowering Trees Adjacent To The San Marino Tunnel

Photo's # 9 & #10 also show different uses for flowering foliage. You can see  the placement of yellow bushes above a rock ledge in Photo # 9 adjacent to two oil tank, or flowering trees beside the San Marino Tunnel in Photo # 10. Again the flowering trees and bushes accent each scen, but aren't the main focal point of each scene.

The third method of adding flowers/foliage to your layout is to buy dry floral displays in a craft store or flowering shop. You can then transform any dried floral display into appropriately sized flowering N scale trees. Again, this is easy to do and you can make many different flowering trees from different dried floral arrangements.

You can make many individual trees from one of these dried floral arrangements with proper pruning of the individual trees.. After shaping the trees, you can paint the branches and tree trucks with some dark UP Gray. Then you can dry brush the branches and trucks with some Rail Tie Brown. This will give each tree a very realistic look. In Photo's #11, # 12 and # 13, you see examples of using this method of using flowering trees adjacent to the engine holding tracks in the turntable area of the "original" JJJ&E.

Photo  # 11  Flowering Trees Adjacent To Holding Track Near The Turntable

Photo  # 12   Flowering Trees Adjacent To Holding Track Near The Turntable

Photo  # 13  Flowering Trees Adjacent To Holding Track Near The Turntable

A fourth method of making trees on a layout is used weeds found in nature such as Ragweed. Some of those trees can be seen in the background of  Photo's  # 12 & #13. This technique will not be discussed in this tutorial.

In conclusion, using any one of the above techniques I discussed will add subtle touches of colorful flowers and foliage on your layout. This techniques will complete and enhances different scenes on your layout.

You should give one or all of these techniques a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the results. You will definitely add subtle splashes of color throughout your layout.


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