In the Tunnels

[Anonymous]

I was building my model railroad by the books, doing everything Woodland Scenics said. And now, we have a problem. The Subterrain video was created before Woodland Scenics released its Tunnel LIner molds, and thus the video does not say to use them. It also does not say that you need to paint the inside of the tunnel, as I am painfully aware of now. So, I guess I have two options. The first would be to remove the portals, mold some tunnel liners, paint them, and put them in. The other would be to simply fill in around the risers with Hydrocal and airbrush paint into the tunnel. Which sounds better? And what can I do around those curved tunnel walls?

[Anonymous]

I just finished doing the inside of a tunnel, and I pondered a long time about how I wanted to do it. What I ended up doing was really easy and I think looks good as well. The height of the interior of my tunnel is 3.5 inches, so I cut a piece of cardboard about 4.5 inches in height by about 20 inches in length. I then drew two guidelines across it, each 1/2 inch from the top and bottom. I then loaded up the caulk gun with a tube of Liquid Nails and cut the tip of the tube so that the opening was wide, about 1/2 inch. I then squeezed it all over the cardboard and took a popcicle stick and spread it around, leaving it a little rough shaped. After it dried, I painted it with tan paint and immediately sprinkled on some sand while the paint was wet. The result is a tunnel wall with some texture. Using the 1/2 inch guidelines I drew, I bent the top and bottom tabs at 90 degree angles to the wall and inserted the wall in place in the tunnel. It's a tight press fit so I didn't have to fix it in place with anything, although I could have used some glue or something. I posted some pics over in the weekend modeling photos thread if you want to see it. I can take a closer up pic if you're interested in seeing the texture up closer.

[oleirish]

Eddie Landreth
This is a fine lay out,Have you throught of sending pictures to MR mag?The detail is out standing,things you see every day! it is in the 50's looks like,great work!
JIM

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the kind words, Jim. Maybe if I ever get around to getting it finished I'll try sending it in to them. Maybe someday!

I went ahead and took a picture of the tunnel wall that I was talking about above. Here's the pic so you can see what I was talking about.

[dgwinup]

Doesn't the WS system use pieces of styrofoam to build up the scenery? Is that how your mountain was made? If so, you can always 'open up' the mountain by cutting through the foam. Cut out the inside of the tunnels to make room for the tunnel linings and install them. Replace the top of the mountain, either by glueing in place or using some wood skewers as connecting pieces. That way, you can re-open the mountain to clear derailments and clean track. The joint where you cut the mountain can be disguised with scenery.

Sounds like a lot of work until you have had to fish a few derailments out of a tunnel or until you get tired of using your hand to pu***he caboose to get a stalled engine off a piece of dirty track. Don't ask how I know that!

Darrell, underground, but quiet...for now

[ARTHILL]

I used the tunnel liners and they worked ok. Cutting the foam to get them installed would be my way. I have also used painted foam for lines. They are ok unless a real modeler looks inside. If you want it close to nice, it does not really make much difference. If you want it right you go back and fix it. We all do some of each. A portal at a main viewing spot will have people looking in it.

[jwar]

How about glueing crumpled tin foil on the card board, paint the interior black with a bit of grey to repesent sunlight at the front of the tunnel, just behind the portals, havent done this yet, but intending too.