New layout for beginner

[argee]

Hi  I'm new on here and this is my first posting.
I'm starting from scratch on a 5'0" x 2'6" board.  I've found a split level layout plan on Google which I like, however I've no idea how to set about the track and split level.  The last time I did a layout like this I used chicken wire covered by papier mashier (sorry about the spelling) but I guess there are more up to date methods of doing this.  I'm just looking to do a double loop with country type layout, nothing too fancy to start with.  Can you help, advise on this please.

[Donkey]

Hi argee  and welcome. You could try looking in the General Category »
N Gauge Tutorials section for information. Some helpful information there. Good luck with your layout 

Marty

[Lawrence]

Hi argee and welcome to the forum.  There is no problem using chicken wire but as an alternative, Woodland Scenics do graduated risers in a kit or you can make your own with polyfoam or polystyrene and you can always just use bits of plywood cut to shape and size.

Have a browse through the layout construction thread and see what methods our members have used

[scotsoft]

Welcome argee,

Scrunched up newspaper stuck down with sticky tape then covered in paper maché is quite good for hills and you can use watercolour paints to give a base colour - and it is cheap 

[galway]

Welcome argee 

[Alex]

Hello

[Mustermark]

Welcome

I'm going for fine mesh wire and plaster cloth for much of my sloping scenery.  Will have to be careful not to get it on the carpet.

[Newportnobby]

Hi Argee
Rather than chicken mesh I have used aviary mesh before because it is a finer mesh. I then made up a sloppy mixture of a well known filler, dunked sheets of paper kitchen towel into it and spread them on the mesh. It makes a good hard surface to emulsion then use scatter. Use 2 or 3 layers of towel. It will then accept drilled holes for fencing, trees etc

[Pengi]

Might be worth comparing prices for plaster cloth with local Art shop. Surprisingly, the Art shop was much cheaper than a train shop.

[Mustermark]

I agree with you there Pendy.  I got a huge roll online way cheaper than the stuff packaged for train scenery.  It was about 20 quid for 150ft x 6".

[tim-pelican]

Even within the hobby area, there seems to be a lot of variation in price.  Modroc seems to come in a bit less than half the price of the Woodland Scenics stuff, albeit in slightly narrower rolls.  Guess which one Hobbycraft sell on retail parks everywhere, and which one I need to journey into the wilderness to find a model shop for?

(I guess that's a damning statement on the price of retail locations round here.  There are no model shops in town centres, just industrial estates in the arse-end of nowhere.  Oh, and in the middle of a housing estate right behind the prison.  Go figure.)

[edwin_m]

If by a split level you mean it has some tracks above the level of the baseboard itself, then most techniques intended to build sloping scenery will not give a level or strong enough foundation for tracks.  Under the area where the high level tracks will be, you need a sort of mini-baseboard which could be a piece of plywood cut to shape and supported by other bits of wood.  If you make the scenery out of insulation board or polystyrene you could provide a level surface with that, but you'd need to think about how you fix the track down and add any wiring or other items you need below track level.  I believe contact with polystyrene degrades electric wires! 

[Mustermark]

edwin - you are right that the trackbed needs to be solid.  Not mesh and plaster or papier mache! Woodland scenics sell the polystyrene elevations and slopes that are suitable.  I had assumed the wire and paper would be just for the scenery!

[argee]

Many thanks for all your replies.  I can see staight away the help on here is going to be invaluable.