Using grass matts and gravel mats

I am a scenery novice, but I don't see where setting the buildings on the mats would be a big problem? Also, setting the buildings on the mat and cutting around them doesn't seem like it would be any more trouble than cutting around anything else? 

Having all your buildings installed and cutting the mats to fit around those seems like it would be some what more difficult, but still doable by someone with some degree of modeling skills. Might be some (or many) small cut and fit pieces.

(Says one who has yet to do any real scenery on his layout. Many of these things seem much easier before they are actually attempted. )

taylorra:

I have done it both ways (overlay and cut to fit) and both work just fine with overlay the easier way to go. It just boils down to how much mat one can afford to waste cost wise. On one layout I covered the entire table top with grass and sand mats giving me a good starting point for adding extra scenery.

If you are using Woodland Scenics mats then since the material (grass / gravel etc) is attached to ?vinyl? it is easy to add scenery product (more grass , bushes, ground cover etc. using the usual glue products. I have even applied static grass with no issues. 

I have never tried paper based mats so am not sure how this type of mat acts when adding extra scenery.

Joe

 I'm not going too nuts on topography.

I was going to glue my mat down, but didn't.

  Upon fitting mat sheets, I liked the small rolling waves of turf I saw -vs- perfect flatlands.

Loose sand and twiggy debris moves into the low areas over time for a natural look. At least till you have a deep pile, then I vacuum from a few inches away, sprinkle a pinch on high grounds, and let it repeat.(only three or four times a year, normally I'm cleaning anyhow when I notice)  

 Structures? Like on a photo collage on cut to fits, lineup must stay perfect. Easiest to wait and set things on top. 

 I wouldn't layer mats though I have seen it, as each seam needs to be covered or blended.

I think that blending is what others are "complaining" of in cut to fits.

 Scenery mat is a shortcut.

A good one! But a shortcut plain & simple.

Don't expect what it cant provide. 

Adding onto a mat is the way to go for me. Rubbing can remove a lot of texture quick allowing new texture to not "ride the top" of the old.