Re: Tunnel building help needed

I can help with some tips.

Are you using TMCC? If so you will want to solder a wire to the chicken wire frame that you can use to ground the structure to help with signal transmission inside the tunnel.

There are many different methods:
1. Plaster of paris/hydrocal - you can use the woodland scenic stuff sold in hobby stores or hydrocal soaked paper strips. I have used the woodland scenics with success. You need to put balls of newspaper under the wire shell to support it before you start. If you use this method it will get heavy and be subject to chipping if moved. This is a build it and leave it alone technique. Mods are available to make rock castings.

2. Geodesic foam - there are a lot of demos for this stuff I have seen at shows and on the web. Works really nice and creates a really light yet durable shell that you could make portable. Molds are available to make rock castings.

3. Extruded foam layering. This is the pink or blue foam used to insulate houses and is usually the layer just inside the Tyvek wrap on the perimeter walls. It comes in different thicknesses. You need a hot wire foam cutter for this. This is also a method that could me made portable but I don't think it is as durable as the geodesic foam. Does not require the wire structure under it.

4. Ceiling/acoustic tile layers. Similar to the extruded foam but you don't need the hot wire cutter and it is heavier. Break pieces off with ragged edges and make those edged the exposed side of the tunnel. Does not require the wire structure under it. Can create a lot of dust.

5. Combine two or more of these methods for different parts and different looks for the tunnel.

All of these are easy to do yourself. Look on youtube for model railroad scenery and see what you find.

From: "don448@aol.com" <don448@aol.com>
To: ttat-members@aoot.com
Sent: Wed, February 24, 2010 1:43:38 PM
Subject: Tunnel building help needed


Is anyone out there able to help me finish up my train tunnel/mountain?  I built a good structure, it made of chicken wire and foam, but have no artistic skill at all in making it look like a mountain.  I'd be willing to pay someone for help -  and even more if they did it for me!!  Don Newman, don448@aol.com



-----Original Message-----

From: kreavis@austin.rr.com

To: ttat-members@aoot.com

Sent: Wed, Feb 24, 2010 10:20 am

Subject: RE: Welcome to new member.

Thank you for the warm welcome!  We really appreciated all the help and 
encouragement we received at the work day.  My son Tucker has been running toy 
trains for about 3 years now and he is SO excited to be finally using "real" 
trains.  We are looking forward to the NB show and the opportunity to run our 
train on a larger track.

~Kimberly Reavis

---- Michael Graziano <mgraziano@austin.rr.com> wrote: 
> Also, please let Kimberly know if you have any unwanted but usable O27 track
> lying around to expand their Marx set beyond just a small circle.  
>
 
>  
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Mike
> 
>  
> 
> From: ttat-members-owner@aoot.com [mailto:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com] On
> Behalf Of Michael Graziano
> Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:10 AM
> To: ttat-members@aoot.com
> Subject: Welcome to new member.
> 
>  
> 
> Everyone,
> 
>  
> 
> Please welcome Kimberly Reavis and her two sons Tucker (5) and Mason (3) to
> the club.  They joined us at the work day event on Saturday, and brought
> along their Marx O-Gauge starter set.   A little soldering and a little oil,
> and it was running like it was brand new.  
> 
>  
> 
> Kimberly, we hope the boys can make the New Braunfels show next month.  Good
> luck with #3.  
> 
>  
> 
> -Michael
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 

------
TTAT members reflector.