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Tunnels

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Rolesville, NC
  • 15,416 posts
Posted by ChiefEagles on Sunday, March 31, 2013 7:52 PM

Buckeye Riveter

When I have worked for the NS we liked to use rock.

Sorry I couldn't help myself.  Ashamed

Railhed....that really looks great.Thumbs Up

He was a contractor.  The Great NS would not hire such a person. Whistling

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Saturday, March 30, 2013 4:36 PM

When I have worked for the NS we liked to use rock.

Sorry I couldn't help myself.  Ashamed

Railhed....that really looks great.Thumbs Up

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 169 posts
Posted by railhead53 on Friday, March 29, 2013 7:53 PM

To create a mountain I like to use fiberglass window screen (I use to use metal window screen until I read that the metal window screen could interfere/disrupt the TMCC signal) stapled to support risers to create the ground contour.  I glue and sometimes screw the support risers wherever necessary to adequately support the screen and create the desired contours.  Over the fiberglass window screen I apply a layer of plaster cloth.  Depending on the size of the mountain, if it is large, I may apply a second layer of plaster cloth.  In any case, after the plaster cloth is dry I will coat the mountain surface with a relatively thin layer of plaster to give the mountain added strength.  The plaster layer also gives me a hard surface upon which I can "plant" trees a little later down the line.  Once the coat of plaster has set/dried I will begin developing any rock work or rock faces that will be apart of the mountain.  To do that I either use rock castings or carve fresh (soft) plaster applied to the surface of the mountain.

These photos are of a rock face created from plaster.  In this instance I used rock castings and subsequently carved and chiseled to get the effect I was looking for.  The second photo shows the rock work after it had been painted, stained with India Ink and some landscaping materials applied.

 

 

    

If you want to have a tunnel liner that goes over the track under your mountain you should build and install it first, prior to building the mountain.  I did not do that on a  large mountain I built and installing one later proved to be a challenge.  You can read about that experience on my website blog.  I can tell you that I learned about how to make a realistic looking rock tunnel liner using polyurethane foam and polymer casting resin by viewing Eric Seigel's tutorial on building a tunnel liner.  It is certainly a process, but I feel the results were worth the effort.

On his website "Eric's Trains" also has a tutorial about making mountains using the polyurethane foam, fiberglass window screen and polymer casting resin.  I have not used the process to build a mountain, but have thought I would when the need for another large mountain arises.

These are just a couple more techniques you can try.   Have fun!   SmileBo

 

 

You can visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com   Thanks!

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • 8,050 posts
Posted by fifedog on Thursday, March 28, 2013 11:10 AM

I like cardboard box strips, used in a lattice pattern, for the shell.  You can work quickly with a hot glue gun.  For interiors, broken pieces of ceiling tiles create a nice effect.

  • Member since
    December 2012
  • 51 posts
Tunnels
Posted by guitarman1994 on Thursday, March 28, 2013 9:52 AM

Howdy all,

What is the best material to make a tunnel/mountain out of?

Thanks,

Brody

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