The Layout > Introduction | The Track | The Scenery

R1 'Lady Eowyn' passing through the Bywater Junction.

Some sections of scenery are still being created, and a few areas are still quite sparse. The underlying structure giving shape to the scenery includes wood, polystyrene, papier-mâché and plaster. Materials used in the visual scenery are typical of the range on offer in most model shops, although some objects such as trees and signals are hand-made because of their cost. For example, trees are constructed from dried Sedum branches coated in glue and covered in scenery powder. Although they can look slightly odd this may be attributed to the unusual flora of Middle Earth! Also, an entire forest can be created for the minimal cost of the glue and powder.

No.6 'Frodo' crosses a tressle bridge on the South Shire.

A glue/water mixture is used for fixing fine scenery powder and 'flock' in place. Five to ten parts of water are added to every one part of general purpose glue (the concentration varies depending on the size of the particles to be glued) and washing-up liquid is mixed in to help break down the surface tension of the liquid.

In some uses, such as fixing ballast, a number of applications of diluted glue are made, with the first application more diluted than the others and the treated area being allowed to dry between applications.

View of Staddle village and station.

Lighting has also been added during the construction of the scenery, including road and building lights and signals. When complete it is expected that most buildings will have individual rooms that can be lit, and the main stations will have working light signals.

Many of the older buildings have been 'rebuilt' which became necessary due to cumulative damage received over many years. During the repairs the buildings had floors and internal walls added to create individual rooms and to strengthen the structures. In rooms with light bulbs fitted the walls were painted and objects such as tables and chairs glued in place. Care was taken to insulate dark, unlit rooms from neighbouring lit rooms to prevent buildings acquiring an unrealistic glowing effect. Black paint and tin foil was used for this process.