Realistic Scenery from Aluminum Flashing!

by Geoff Green

I have developed a new approach to model railway scenery. Strong, light, pliable, realistic in appearance, inexpensive, transportable and easy.

Components needed:

* 0.3mm aluminum flashing – comes in 10 meter rolls @ $14.00 for 15cm width or $27.00 for 30 cm width.

* Any of the new texture paints - especially the Dura Max dark granite spray paint. Ebay has a large range at lesser prices. Texture paints by brush or roller are also now on the market.

* Extruded foam sheets: usually comes in 4 x 2 feet @$10.00 or $20.00 dependent on thickness.

*Optional components: Doubled sided tape – pop rivets.

Tools needed: Scissors – hammer – any rock fragment -other metal implements that come to hand.

Application:

Provide a base for the layout – trestle tables for example.

Start with hills or mountains. Cut the desired length of flashing. Go to your nearest rough bark tree. Place the flashing up against the tree and either mould by hand or bash away with a hammer. Hit as hard as you can - the aluminum won't split. Add further rock detail by pressing real fragments onto the flashing.








Spray etch primer. I don't bother but there may be long term issues if you don't so I put this in anyway. Spray primer – for my favourite granite I use matte black. When dry spray, roll or paint with texture paint.

Place painted hills/mountains/ rocks etc, on table.

Make flat surfaces use 0.3 flashing (or 0.5 flashing for greater rigidity) or the foam cut to size. Paint flat surfaces. Apply ground cover.

Lock it all together if you wish with rivets or tape.

That's it.

Forget plaster.

I call this type of construction “Monocoque Scenery Construction.”


Regards,
Geoff Green

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