Model Railway Scenic Breaks - What Are They & How To Use Them

What is a scenic break on a model railway?

Scenic breaks serve a dual purpose on model railway layouts. Not only do they divide scenic portions of a layout, but they also serve to mask non-scenic areas from view. For instance, a fiddle yard or storage yard may lack scenery and only feature trackwork. However, with the use of a divider positioned between it and the scenic area, the viewer's gaze is effortlessly drawn away from this section, effectively directing their attention to the scenic portion while simultaneously concealing the non-scenic section from view.

Where else can I use a scenic break?

They can be used to further divide the scenic sections on a layout into smaller scenic areas. This is an excellent way to create and give the impression of a more extensive layout, or that the trains have travelled to another part of the country. For example, starting off with a town scene and then using a scenic break, the railway runs into a country scene or even an industrial scene.

Another example is when you don't have room for a big station with long platforms but want still wish to run full-length trains. The solution is to model part or only half of a big station. Installing a scenic break to hide what would be the rest of the station. In reality, on the other side of the scenic break, is actually the rest of the layout or fiddle yard. The example seen below, which is a work in progress, uses the half-station method with a scenic divider.

When modelling a small end-to-end layout, the same method above with the half/part station can be used. There's no need to worry about a full-length train not being able to run on a small micro layout. Adapting the part-train approach will easily get around this issue. For example, an HST only requires one power car and two or three coaches to appear on the scenic section. The HST train enters and leaves the station from the same fiddle yard, the rest of the train is technically off-stage so to speak. Similarly, a loco-hauled train can be operated in the same way, with the loco detaching from the coaches and running around its train. With these techniques, you can create a realistic and functional layout in a smaller space.

What can I use to make a scenic break board?

Options to make a scenic break board include MDF or plywood boards, wood, foamboard or even thick cards like greyboard or cardboard.

Making the scenic break

Making these scenic dividers is easy enough! Simply cut the material to size and mount it on the baseboard. Make sure it stands vertically across the top of the baseboard (or at the ends of the baseboards) and secure it by gluing or screwing it into place. Don't forget to cut a hole big enough for the trains to pass through. End back scene boards, like those found on many of our own baseboards, make perfect scenic dividers too!

Hiding the access hole

The next task is to conceal or make the train access hole less noticeable to those observing the layout. This can be achieved & created in several ways, as follows:

•  Attaching a scenic back scene sheet by glueing it onto the divider with a section of the back scene removed just enough for the train access hole.
• Constructing a road bridge over the track in front of the divider.
• Creating a hillside with a tunnel in front of the divider.
• Making a deep railway cutting that restricts the view.
• Building an embankment that restricts the view.
• Placing buildings or trees strategically to obstruct the view of the train entrance/exit hole.
• Erecting a building such as a loco shed, depot building, or factory building with rail access directly in front of the train entrance/exit hole. This gives the impression that the train has entered inside the building, but in reality, it has passed through a low-relief building and through the scenic divider.
• Hanging flap strips painted the same colour as the back scene over the entrance. These are similar to the clear plastic strips seen at the entrance of cold storage areas in supermarket cold rooms.

Below are a selection of examples from our modelling community showing various forms of scenic breaks.

In this example by Ianp, a bridge & embankment have been built across the access hole at an angle that acts as a view blocker.

In this next example by Paulboy, an embankment with a mainline has been built in front of the scenic divider. The trains on the lower level gain access to the fiddle yard via a tunnel under the main line.

This next example again by Paulboy, shows another form of scenic divider but without a dividing backscene board. Here a raised roadway on bridges & embankments along with carefully positioned trees act as a view blocker divider.

The access hole in the backscene in this image by Ianp, shows how he's blended it into the backscene along with the warehouse in the foreground & the wooded area with overhanging branches carefully conceals the entrance to the fiddle yard.

The classic hillside & tunnel act as a scenic divider by Arboleas Junction. Here the railway runs around a curve to the right. This example allows you to hide those really tight radius curves from view too. Note the rock face above the tunnel which also gives a more natural look to the scene.

Ivy Lane has used two items here, which are the road bridge & engine shed. The engine shed also acts as the view blocker.

Adam Miles with this superb mainline steam in action shot has utilized a road overbridge with a blackened area under the bridge. This scene is actually a diorama with the area under the bridge being the back scene board painted black, which works very well.

Finally our demo layout Dunn Street yard. The low relief depot building acts as a view blocker to the access hole in the back scene board to the right of it. If so required, the back of the depot building could be opened up & the tracks run through into a fiddle yard

The above examples are just a few of what can be achieved by building a layout with scenic breaks & view blockers. Next time you visit a model show, take a look at other examples to help inspire you to create your own scenic breaks.

Keep on shuntin'