Model making - a hobby rekindled

Model making has always been a keen interest of mine! 
If you ask my parents, I'm sure they will remember my ever-increasing collection of toilet roll tubes, plastic bottles, sheets of card and "model making" materials that often cluttered up my bedroom...

I recently rekindled my enjoyment of this hobby by "purchasing my son" a train set! (Yeah, ok the real reason was so I could play on it!)

After setting it up a few times, dismantling and rebuilding it, it occurred to me that a single loop of track isn't actually very exciting...
It was then I decided that I needed to start creating scenery to make the layout more interesting!

ROCKS AND ROCKY TUNNEL.

Rocks made from Sponge and paint

I first attempted to create some rocks that I can attach onto a model layout.
My rocks were created using some old sponges (washing up sponges were fine), and some brown poster paint.
These types of rocks are very easy to create.

I started by tearing the sponge into pieces that were the rough shape and size of the rocks I wanted.

I then used them to paint each other using the poster paint. It is actually fairly effective, however I'd recommend you use a base colour first, then add different spots and highlights after the first layer of paint has dried.

Mountain tunnel

After leaving my rocks to dry for a while (I think they took about 2 days to dry fully, as they absorb so much paint), I then created a rough tunnel out of an old cardboard box.

My idea here was to add the rocks to the tunnel and create an interesting tunnel for the trains to pass through.

I used PVA glue on the cardboard, and stuck down some kitchen roll first.
My reasoning was the kitchen roll would provide a better surface to stick the rocks to, however it has actually made the rocks harder to attach.
I stopped working on this tunnel shortly after I got as far as I did in this photo, mainly because my tunnel wasn't working as I had hoped.

METAL BUILDINGS.

Making industrial units

My son had sheets of corrugated cardboard, and I decided that this would make an excellent corrugated metal texture if it was painted correctly.

I decided that using this card would be perfect to make some industrial units.

The construction of these units was easy enough, I simply cut out segments of the card and stuck it to some lightweight cardboard boxes I found.
I then painted these with some metal finish acrylic paints I had, and used a dry brush and a mixture of different paint colours to give the metal a weathered look.

Corrugated industrial shed

I was temped to attach some further details to these units - windows, doors etc.

However, I have still not added these features -
I have found that by omitting these features, I can use these units in several different orientations, making for a model that can be used in different locations, depending on the requirements.

I know the corrugated card isn't in the correct scale for a model railway layout.

Despite this knowledge, I am very happy with the way these have come out, and plan on incorporating them (and more I plan on building at a later stage) in a layout.

My Fiance, Jan also wanted to get involved with making models too, so we visited a local model shop, and purchased some card model buildings, produced by Metcalfe Models.

The first model Jan started building was the Goods shed.

The good thing about the Metcalfe models is they are all built up from flat card, most of which is pre-cut and pre-printed to make it easy to create a detailed model building using only a few tools!

I was very surprised by the quality of these models - considering they are made from card, once they have been constructed, they are actually fairly sturdy!

The other model Jan wanted to build was the Semi-detached houses.
These come in a modular form, so you can design them to make streets and residential areas!

MODEL SCENIC.

I started researching into model making on Youtube, and realised that I wanted to start making more scenic models, based on model railway layouts.

Some interesting videos that helped me decide how to start are by Everard Junction,  Woodlands Scenics, Model Railroader Magazine and a guide on How to make a Diorama by StormtheCastle.

I also joined Darlington Model Railway Club, and became involved in working on a club layout - the
Rookhope Mining company.

I then decided to create my first scenic!

This was created over several weeks, using various different materials...

Read my step-by-step guide to see how I built this.

Do you have any models / scenery / model railway layouts you have built?
Do you have any hints or tips you can share? Leave your comments below!

- TheLittlerich