Folks,
Hope everyone is enjoying the summer weekend!!!
A buddy of mine is trying to build an indoor layout 16’ by 8’. He was looking to buy artificial turf to formm the base over the plywood base. The one hobby shops sell for as Model Train Layout Grass Mat are very expensive. I recommeded that he go to Home Depot and try for the artifical turf they sell…now thinking about this I am not too sure…Are we missing anything basic here. Any recommedations would be great! Has anyone done this before…
I guess it all depends on what the goal is and how realistic a look your going for. Grass mats are great, in HO and O maybe G is a little thin looking but to me its far better looking than the astroturf Home Despot sells. What is the goal here? how realistic is the layout going to be? if the goal is to be like the finescale layouts you find in HO or O then astroturf is not going to work, but if this is a non-scale non-sceneried just-fun-to-run type layout then its up to the builder, if he’s happy with the look then thats all that matters.
The indoor layout I am building I plan to paint the plywood green and immediately sprinkle on screened dirt while the paint is wet. Cheap and effective…
Cover part of it with plain burlap, then ‘plant’ lots and lots of artificial xmas trees from 8" to 30"…
David Hill said:Dont forget to "grow" rocks of various size, here and there, too. White glue, full strength, will hold them. If'n it were me, I would use a half and half white glue/ water solution, with a smidge of liquid dish soap to make it "wet" to fully hold down the dirt. Apply it with an eye dropper or turkey baster (if you are in a hurry like me :P )
The indoor layout I am building I plan to paint the plywood green and immediately sprinkle on screened dirt while the paint is wet. Cheap and effective..
BTW, cheap cat litter held down with good old glue/water/detergent solution is the cat’s meow for ballast indoors
I use the grass mat indoors. It doesn’t look very realistic, but it’s a whole lot better than the bare plywood that was under my track for years indoors. My indoor railroad only exists to be a staging / storage yard for the outdoor layout and a place to play when it’s too hot or cold outside. I don’t have any plans to try and make realistic scenery in the future.
I don’t know about Saul, but I got so much area to do.
I know, I’ll have a scenery party. What is you favorite brand of beer? Steaks or chicken on the grill?