NICK DUXFIELD explains how to expand a starter set into a scenic model railway.
So, the Starter Train Set has been bought, the ready made buildings and trees are all laid out, and, with the track on the floor or a printed track mat, trains have been run and fun has been had, but what next?
If you're like us, you'll want your railway to stand out from the rest, for its interest, and admired, for the obvious skill that has gone into its making.
However, right now, you have a layout that, though is quick to set up and put away, is probably looking much like countless other starter layouts. However, we have a downloadable guide 
, "Art Imitating Life", which will show you methods and technques by which you will be able to convert your train set into a model railway to be proud of.
The guide will take you though the early days of planning and sketching, which will help you move from a flat layout to a landscape with hills, valleys, bridges, tunnels, and waterways.
There is advice on how to choose your baseboard, on building up you baseboard, to provide a rolling landscape, and to the laying out of your track.
Our guide gives clarity on how to build realistic looking hills and valleys.
And, building a foundation cover with rock faces and walling.
The guide continues with how to plant your scenic trees, bushes, and hedges to enhance your scenery.
Finally, we demonstrate how to add water effects to your landscape, from building the ground:
To building water effects, such as tumbling water:
And, creating still backwaters:
The Gaugemaster Scenic Guide, "Art Imitating Life", was produced back in 2008. A print out of a PDF copy can be viewed, if you CLICK HERE . However, you can right-click on the link and select Save Link As to download the guide rather than open it in your browser.
The guide is a twenty page, fully detailed, helpful document, which contains many clear illustrations to get you started.
Should you need any more help with your growing interest, then please CONTACT US and we will be glad to help in any way we can. Please also explore other RIGHT LINES articles on GETTING STARTED.