The Mogollon Railroad

[nachoman]

I've also heard that desert scenery goes faster than Eastern forests or NW pines & firs. True?

Probably, at least it takes less time to get from plywood (or foam) to a basic, believable scene. In woodlands, the scene looks obviously wrong until multitudes of trees are planted. In a desert, one could simply spread dirt and sand and a few sparse plants and immediately have a plausible landscape. More detailed plants and a greater number of plants can be added later, but it doesn't take long to capture the basic feel of a barren desert. The downside is that rocks are more visible in deserts, meaning mountainous areas may require more time. Likewise, the lack of backdrop-hiding trees may mean that one must take more time creating a believable backdrop.