Injury20

Hey all, another little update from my project. So I have added grass over the top of my tunnel and then had a play with a bit of foliage, this didn't stick very well using PVA so will look at this tonight as most of it fell off, may have to get the glue gun out I have also cut the base to size for the mine and the mountain to built on at the back of the layout, you can see approx where the tunnel portals are going to be placed where the track will disappear into the mountain, and the removal section to the front of the picture below. I'm leaning towards a 009 gauge using flexi track for the mine so I can have a nice tight curve dropping through the foam board and mountain. I don't know much about this gauge could anybody point me in the direction of some track plans so I can get an idea of radius's etc. It will need to be able to take a small loco and 2 or 3 coal wagons. The area I have to play with for the mine track is approx 60cm x 60cm, this could be extended to 110cm x 60cm if I use the area just in front of the incline raisers you can see in the middle of the above picture. It would be great if I can do do a loop of some sort and not just a single line going back and forth. Love to hear some ideas for this, thanks all

I have had a go at grass this evening, here are some pictures of where have got to so far. I definitely need a better spray bottle for layering as what I used seem to just flatten the previous when I applied the glue. I am very pleased with how the little rocks look in front of the tunnel peeping out the grass I have been watching lots of youtube videos but none seem to say if you have to wait between layers for it dry. Can anybody tell me if once you have the first layer you can apply more glue and start on the next please or do you need to let it dry first?? thanks

Thanks for the tips on the dowels, I will make sure they are not to tight. I could use both your ideas Bee & 37, use the grass flap on the top of the hill and with a stone wall to cover the front edge. a monument is certainly something I never thought of and would be fun to try and scratch build something too. thanks all

Whilst the above weathering was drying, and after following advise from here I made a start on the removable section of scenery for the end of tunnel area. So if any problems I will be able to reach the end of the tunnel and the track that will be hidden under the mine. I wasn't sure how to go about this but after speaking with a lovely bloke called Mike at a model train shop in Droitwich he suggested using dowels into the base board to locate the section. So I found some bits of wood and started on the supports, drilled holes in the board and fitted some dowels to the 4 supports Finally I attached a piece thin hardboard to the top of the frame before gluing an offcut of polystyrene to it ready for moulding the rest of the hill. I'm thinking about some sort of small building being attached to the top edge secured to the wooden frame so it can be used as a sort of handle to lift it up, Any thoughts on what building it could be and ideas for hiding the scenery joins folks??

I have now finished adding the ballast around the front of the tunnel and along the first stage of the incline, weathered the track etc and now ready for the first bit of grass and foliage to this area now my static grass applicator has arrived. This will be this evening project after the footy.

Hi all, my latest update to my build, So after a few practises I decided on the technique highlighted in red below for panting the rockface at the side of my incline. After it dried I real didn't like how it looked I thought it came out stripy and un natural and for the last week I have been trying other ideas/techniques on some un used moulds and finally went with the below option which is much darker. So much happier with this 2nd effort, today's job will be to ballast the incline and then try my first bit of grass cover around the tunnel entrance. I have also ordered a static grass applicator which should turn up to play with today

I'm Stuck, help..... So, this is where I am and now looking for as much help, tips and ideas as possible please. The two tunnel portals are placed approximately where I want them. The below picture shows a highlighted red area. This is going to made into a hillside sloping up towards the track. This is where I think I will need a lift out piece of scenery, I don't know how to do this and disguise the joins could any of you experienced folk give me some suggestions please. Here is a view from the front of the layout, The red section will hopefully form another mountain of some sort, maybe with snow top peaks, happy to take ideas what I could put here please. The blue section is where I would like to build my coal mine scene that supplies the layout, As this is a raised area I could go down from the surface with shafts and tunnels etc. One of my thoughts would be to use maybe 'N' gauge here for coal wagons/shunter etc which wouldn't be connected to the main track. Would this be a good idea or would the smaller scale make it look odd?? I would also like to have some sort of features and movement here other than the trains, again looking for ideas that could work? Oh and I still can't think of a name for my layout, ahhhhh... Thanks in advance and i'm looking forward to your ideas

Progress below on the incline and 1st stage of raised area, I built up above the tunnel using old bits of polystrene to get a general shape and cutting with a hot wire. then used a couple of layers of plaster bandage. Cut out made for track up to planned coal mine below (only temp needs a lot more work here yet) you can see below how i finished the back of the tunnel and glued random bits on top this is where I have got to now with the rockface moulds attached and a few loose rocks and boulders ready for painting once dried out properly

I have attempted my first go at paint rock faces this evening, I have a number of moulds and attached them to the incline to the 2nd level. The below are practice goes with a rockface not yet used. Firstly dabbed some watered down sand colour in random spots Then did the same with light grey and then a darker grey Finally added some black into the deeper cracks Will add some scatter and foliage when on the layout, Thank you youtube, don't know how i would do this without it.. oh and below is a pic of one that didn't work to well

Thanks Les, good idea with the track rubber... Re: the signal light you mentioned, I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of what they may of looked liked at the time/era and would it be mounted roof of tunnel or fitted in between the two lines at ground level?? thanks in advance

Now tunnel is complete, time to have a go at ballast and weathering track, ideally place to start as it will be mostly covered by the tunnel if it doesn't go to well... 1st section done using the popular method of laying ballast before damping and adding 50/50 pva solution. 2nd piece done, need more practise to get this right, and I should have painted the board first in earthy brown colour instead of cutting in afterwards, which I will do going forward Using my new airbrush I have attempted weathering the tracks, started with the rails first before adding some colour to the ballast and sleepers. Finished with a narrow line of black to resemble oil and muck. Quite pleased with this but need more practise. Tunnel just placed in position for now whilst I start planning hillside etc above, I will be adding some greenery and loose boulders to the front ..

@Going spare In my next couple of updates it will show the other end of the tunnel where i plan to make some sort of removable section, I will be asking for hints and tips so keep an eye open for when it gets added.

I carried the tunnel all way round the bend so if you get down at eye level I'm hoping it looks more realistic. I contemplating putting some sort of lighting in there. As my era is steam I'm unsure if there would have been??

After completing the portal I started on the tunnel itself, Using a large tube that all my track was delivered in I noticed it was almost the same size diameter as the portal so I cut the bottom off and began the scenic's. Firstly using pva I stuck scrunched paper to the inside and then painted a water mix of plaster paris to the inside Once dry I gave it a coat of watered down brown paint Again after it dried I then gave it a second coat of darker brown I then dry brushed some white highlights and with my airbrush added black soot marks on the roof entrance Already to attach to layout once the ballast is done

Thanks 96RAF, still decided on a layout name but will let you know so you can change it for me.. I have jumped straight in with the tunnel at the front of my layout so I can start on 2nd level of track etc. So after watching a number of youtube videos, below is my progress at my very first attempt of painting/weathering scenic's with the tunnel portal. Before I then painted in a sandy colour for the base and highlighted a number of stones I then did a grey wash over the top Once dried I used a white wash over the top and then cleaned it to leave a mortor effect Finally with my new air brush (loved this gadget) I added some smoke effects Pretty happy with this for a first attempt then i moved onto the tunnel itself....