Burlap
Hard-Shell Scenery
BY ROBERT YODLOWSKI
Photos by Joe Brugger
WITH A 300-FOOT MAINLINE AND A LINEAR TRACK PLAN
on benchwork averaging about 18 inches wide, the Willamette
Model Railroad Club needs to create about 450 square feet of
hilly, tree-laden Oregon Cascades scenery.
After investigating a couple of scenery support alternatives, we
decided to use burlap “painted” with plaster.
Burlap is fairly inexpensive, is sold in natural tan earth tones,
cuts easily, and drapes smoothly when hot-glued over a lattice
of corrugated cardboard strips.
The grade that works well is available at fabric and craft stores
like Jo-Ann Fabrics. The price varies significantly depend-
ing if there is a sale going on. We were lucky and bought
an initial 10 yards for about $20 when it was on a 40% off
Fabric, cardboard,
hot glue, scissors and
plaster are cheap
and easy
See this layout
at the Portland
NMRA Convention
in August 2015
