How to Build Scenes for Your Ho Scale Model Train Layout

Mix up a batch of modeling plaster with water to create a thick plaster substance. Spread the plaster with the paint scraper to form roads. For accuracy, roads with one lane in each direction should be about three inches wide or an inch and a half per lane. Make any sidewalks in a similar fashion. Sidewalks should be about a half-inch wide.

Paint a watered-down mixture of white glue where you want to place grass or dirt areas. Sprinkle green ground cover in various shades over the areas where you want to represent grass. Sprinkle brown ground cover in areas where you wish to place gardens or other dirt areas, such as construction sites.

Fill mountain molds with the same plaster used in Step 1 to create mountains. When the plaster dries, typically after one to two days, peel away the rubber mold. You can reuse the mold to make more mountains if needed. Paint the mountains in brown for a more realistic look. Use white on the top if you want snow-covered mountains.

Use tree bases that can be purchased at hobby stores to create your own trees. The bases are usually flat when you buy them. Twist some of the branches to the side to create a three-dimensional tree. Glue clumps of green ground cover onto the branches to create leaves for the tree. If your scene takes place in fall, use orange, red, brown and yellow groundcover to create fall leaves. Make bushes by gluing the ground cover clumps directly to the ground.

Select buildings that best reflect the scene you want to achieve. For instance, choose tall store, apartment and office buildings for a downtown scene. For a farm, choose a barn, farmhouse and silo. Houses in different styles create subdivisions.

Cut into the base of your layout with a razor blade to create a bed for a river or lake. Paint the area you cut out blue to give the water color. Fill the bed with clear liquid plastic to create the water. When the plastic is close to being dry, create waves on the surface with the edge of a ruler.

Add any additional touches to make your scenes more realistic. This includes adding model people and animals, traffic lights, railroad signals, vehicles and street lights. Be creative to give your HO scale model railroad a look of its own. For instance, in a city setting, paint grafitti markings onto buildings and train cars to add character.

Use small sticks and stones from your yard or the local park to create logs and rocks on your layout. The actual size of the sticks and stones does not matter.

Paint a background that fits your scene. For instance, out in the country, paint the sky blue with white clouds. Near the bottom, paint green hills of varying sizes and shades. Add trees and bushes to the background. For a city, paint tall buildings in the background.