This is the time when your train set starts to really develop. Instead of a train just running on some track around the floor, with a little imagination and some work, it can be transformed into something of beauty and enjoyment.

Of course there are many variables that have to be considered in order to create a masterpiece worthy of admiration. The amount of space that you will have available without creating a divorce, is obviously the first consideration. If you are one of the lucky ones who has a whole room or cellar in which to set up your track, then you can certainly let your imagination go wild. One person I know has taken over the whole of the garage, leaving the cars to stand outside to face the elements. Such is the passion that some people have for their model trains. I should add, that a very understanding wife is also a most important part of the equation. If you can get her involved with the same passion that you have, you may end up with most of the rooms in the house for the train layout!!

Having solved the problem of how much room is going to be available, the next thing to consider is whether you are able to and capable of creating all the scenery yourself. You will need to determine how much time and money you will have available to invest in the project as it can take up a considerable amount of both once the project gets started. If you have the necessary tools and expertise to design, manufacture and put everything together yourself, then all you need is to get your imagination into gear and set about the initial designing.

In this situation everything is possible. You are able to overcome all normal barriers of distance, by, for example creating the Alps next to the Grand Canyon or even building a bridge over the Atlantic to connect Europe and North America. You will be able to design your own bridges and tunnels, (every layout must have tunnels), as well as towns, villages, farm houses etc. Many of these items can be made to look very authentic if you have some artistic flair with a paint brush.

If you are able to create everything yourself in the same scale then of course it can become a magnificent creation. This is not an easy undertaking when you consider the height of the mountains and the size of houses, human figures, roads etc, but with a lot of foresight and careful planning the creation can become a masterpiece rather than just a work of art.

Most people will not be able to benefit from having a lot of space available or being able to design and build their own scenery. This doesn’t mean that the finished work will be in any way inferior, but it will be more difficult to create the same variety that the previous person can achieve. In this situation, the design will of necessity be more compact and the scope will not be as great. One can always find scenery that would be suitable but it will take time and effort to track down items that will fit into the available space. Hobby and model shops are the ideal places to start looking as well as Ebay, second hand shops and garage sales. One must be careful in selecting items that will be able to fit and blend together whilst also being in proportion to each other.

One thing that is often overlooked is to make sure that however beautiful the train layout and scenery is, you must be able to access all parts of the layout in case a problem develops. For example, it is great having a long tunnel, but if there is a derailment within the tunnel and you can’t get to the train to fix it, then it could require a major effort to take the scenery apart and then put it all together again.

Once the main scenery is in place and the tracks have been laid, you can gradually add all sorts of items to give it more appeal. Actually finishing the scenery is something that never seems to happen as there is always something new that will just fit into this corner, or a few trees that will improve that area. Some things need to be replaced as you can gradually afford to improve the overall appearance of the layout.

The most important thing is that you have designed everything yourself and you can be justly proud of your achievement when your visitors admire all your hard work and comment on the obvious effort that you put into it.