John has very kindly sent in some tips for readers. WE have published a couple before, but they are certainly worth repeating:

“Before buying expensive secenery items look around for cheap alternatives like for instance, some cheap bulk spices make interesting grass and leaves for trees like parsley flakes. Go to the dollor store and buy some cheap skewers cut them and paint them brown they make excellent old telegraph poles. Wind a piece of small wire around a dowel rod and that makes an excellent hose for a lawn scene. Coffee grounds dried out make excellent dirt, rocks in your own driveway make some very interesting rock scenes, and old ceiling tile glued together make excellent strata for a mountain areas, the list can go on. With a little bit of imagination and inginuity you can make realistic scenes without breaking the bank and make the hobby even a bit more interesting.”