Javis Countryside Scenics are suitable for Model Railway landscapes and dioramas for a realistic and textured effect. Any model railway layout is not complete without landscaping. Here are some ideas to help you scenic your layout: Ballasting around the track requires a lot of care and some preparation before embarking on the task: before starting, mix together varying sizes and colours of track ballast mix together enough adhesive to cover the area you are ballasting - the best formula is a 50/50 combination of water and PVA glue, with a few drops of washing-up liquid spread the dry ballast around the area you want to cover, ensuring you do not cover any moving parts, including points, which could become stuck in position with an eye dropper, spread the glue mix over the ballast, making sure it covers all the ballast allow to dry and vacuum off any loose ballast Scatter can replicate soils, grassland and other natural land cover when applied correctly on your layout - this can be done in a similar way to ballasting: mix together different colours of scatter paint a small area with a suitable base colour and sprinkle on the scatter mix while still wet, covering all the painted area (this is best done with a kitchen sieve or tea-strainer) allow to dry, and vacuum off all loose scatter Smooth landscape surfaces like roads and lawns can be created with ready coloured and textured mat that can be cut to shape and glued in place with PVA glue. Trees can be easily 'planted' on your layout simply by drilling a hole in the baseboard, adding a drop of glue and putting the tree's trunk in the hole. Trees with bases can simply be glued directly to the baseboard. Lichen can simulate many types of bushy vegetation. To do this, separate the tufts, tease them into the desired shape and glue in place. Creating rocky outcrops is easily done with cork bark. It can be cut to shape with a craft knife and glued in place with PVA wood glue. If necessary, scatter can also be added, using the method above. Modelling Rock is plaster impregnated fabric that you can use to form the natural contours of your layout, like hills and mounds. The fabric is laid wet over a framework, usually fine wire netting, and sets hard when dry. To form the framework: at regular intervals in the area you wish to form the hill, glue wooden battens to the baseboard fix a chicken wire mesh over the battens using a staple gun, and secure to the baseboard in the same way, cutting to shape using a pair of wire cutters cover the framework in the modelling rock, coating in scatter (as shown above) while wet to form your hill or mound.

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