It's amazing how quickly a few hand fulls of tiny gravel bits and miniature trees and scrubs can transform an otherwise unconvincing tabletop of foam.
As a ballasted the track, I started weathering it as well, using diluted brown and ocre acrylic paint. As I got the hang of it, I decided to begin adding static grass, scrubs etc., to areas adjacent to the track. Otherwise I'd have gravel comingled with the ground cover. So the two steps kinda morphed into a tandem operation. I even got up the courage to paint the stream bed.
By the end of it, I was pretty happy with things, though I still had know idea what I wanted to do at the West end of the layout, where I'd left a black platform of sorts; and an uncovered corner.
Otherwise, from end to end, I was happy with what I had, and ready to take a more focused shot at the scenery.
