Commission: Kenny Hill layout…

Welcome to Kenny Hill, Australia, HO scale and the latest and last commission build of 2025 whilst also holding the accolade of largest cameo box layout I’ve constructed..

Whilst operational straight forward the scene features a hump backed gradient, rising from each end to a summit just left of centre. Getting the balance of a visible hump yet one that even small locomotives could manage a short train on, in just 6ft was solved through trial and error. The road bed supported on various pillars until it worked and then all glued in place. The road too, follows a similar profile, both of these were added before moving on to the scenic work.

Inspired by Chris’s work using reclaimed materials where possible the scenic base was roughed out in old cardboard boxes and infilled with screwed up brown paper - before encasing it with plaster bandage and smoothed and sculpted with filler. Painted in the same emulsion I used in the hall, this was given a layer of yellow grass Woodland Scenics scatter. Once dry this formed a base for the 2/4/6mm static grass chosen for its yellow brown shades. Further variation added with more 4/6mm fibres over matt lacquer, and bushes and growth added with Woodland Scenics ‘underbrush’ coarse foam and conifer green foliage.

Track is ‘just’ reliable Peco Code 75, sleepers and rails painted by hand, then ballasted with Woodland Scenics fine cinders. A little dark, but I’m told, reminiscent of the ballast on the prototpe. A drybrush of the same emulsion used as an earth shade lightened things a touch and tied the scenery together.

Trees were so distinctively part of the landscape, yet unique in shape to these British eyes - they were scratchbuilt usimg twisted copper wire for armatures, trunks encased I’m PVA before a filler based bark mix, painting and using Woodland Scenics poly-fiber and ground foam for a light and airy canopy. 

Despire my Dad’s skill (and the hours I used to sit on a stool and watch him) converting filler into believable cuttings and rock forms, I still find this aspect daunting. The sandstone cutting featured in the prototype photos was used as inspiration, and whilst far from perfect I hope I’ve managed to capture a little of both the shape and shades of the rock materials. 

Kenny Hill was collected on Saturday and safely taken across the country to its forever home - somehow fitting in the back of my customers Seat Ibiza! It is always a little wrench to see part of me departing, but equally, I have a sense of peace with these creations heading off to good homes with lovely people. I have one commission layojt pencilled in already for 2026, if you’d like to work with me on the design process to develop your own dream layout that I could perhaps create for you, then get in touch and we can make a start in the new year, for now then, let’s enjoy seeing the caboose / van of the CN local on Prince Edward Island (!) descend the undulating track bed out of view for the last time. More soon…

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