Using scale people ?

[nachoman]

Even though the LPB's sometimes looks silly, a completely vacant town looks worse. Drivers in cars on the roads are a must. But drivers in parked cars makes no sense. Likewise, an engineer in a locomotive that is moving looks right, but an engineer in every locomotive in a diesel consist is incorrect. Same could be said for passenger cars. Seeing them full of passengers while moving is good, but seeing them full of passengers while at a terminal is not so good. It takes some thought to populate a layout in a believable fashion, but having an unpopulated layout feels like the rapture.

Painting people is relatively easy, and somewhat fun, but definitely cheaper than the painted figures. Pick up one of those optivisors or some kind of magnifying lamp if you don't have one already. Then, head down to the craft store and pick up a dozen or more bottles of assorted craft paints (the ones that cost about a buck fifty per bottle) and a teeny brush or two. Then, while watching your favorite sporting event or listening to your favorite radio program, start painting. You will quickly develop your own techniques. If you have train buddies in town, perhaps you can get together and have figure painting parties. I could easily paint 10 during a football game. During the course of a single NFL season, I would have more than I need for my entire layout.