Detail is the key to the most realistic model train layouts. That detail can be found in the scenery, locomotives, rolling stock, or even in historical realism. All of these things are important, but without people, your layouts will still look flat and lifeless. Take a look at model railroad magazines or at the photos and videos you can find on the internet and the most realistic ones will all be populated with people doing something relevant to the scene. You should seriously consider making people a part of your model railroad scenery.
People can help make your scene more realistic and interesting if done correctly. One thing to consider is what your scene is trying to convey. If it is an industrial building, the people are going to be dressed differently and be doing different things than if those people are waiting at a train station. Another consideration is historical accuracy. If your scene shows a day at the beach in 1920, you are not going to find a lot of bikini clad bathing beauties if you want your scene to be realistic. Also think about grouping your people. A single person may get lost in your scene depending on its size and scale, but a small group will remain noticeable. If you do use just one figure, place them in a spot that makes sense for just one person, like entering a bathroom, sitting on a park bench, or fishing by a stream.
In addition to the figures, your model railroad supplies will also need to include glue and paint for those figures. You may need sandpaper to help make the bases flatter since many plastic molds leave the bottoms of the figures feet less than flat. Glossy paint or flat paint can be used, but I think that flat paint is more realistic. When was the last time you saw a shiny person walking around!? Good old Elmers white glue can be used to keep your people in place. You may need to find a way to support them until the glue sets, but that is usually only an hour or so.
Pay attention as you walk around in your daily life and notice where people congregate and what they do when they are there. Are all of the people waiting for a bus facing the same direction or are they talking and interacting with each other? Do they stand close together or far apart? Are they standing in some sort of pattern or is their position random? As you take note of these things, transfer those attributes to the people in your scene and you will be surprised at how much more realistic they appear.
The addition of people to your model railroad supplies and to your model train layout can be one of the most fun parts of the hobby. Looking in your local hobby shop or at the swap meet for the perfect person in the perfect pose can become like a treasure hunt. Finding those personalities that fit, can be very satisfying and will also make people wonder why your layout looks so much more realistic than theirs. So go forth and multiply!
Henry Michael is a model train enthusiast who enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others to help them get the most out of this exciting hobby. For more information on model railroad supplies, visit my website at http://www.modeltrainenthusiast.com/ and learn how easy it is for you to get involved with model railroading. It will help you to avoid mistakes that most beginners make. If you are more experienced, it will give you a different perspective on things you maybe doing or would like to do.