Model Train Journal

The prewar-inspired tunnel project continues. I finished with the touch-up of the paper covering and gave the whole thing a mottled paint job using a few spray-bombs found in the shop:



I used a bit of Kilz primer to paint the wooden top and adjoining bits which resulted in some softening of the papier-mâché. Ugh, I thought I'd ruined it, but a blast of spray enamel primer seemed to stiffen it back up. I'm hopeful that the coat of Mod Podge that will get applied for the glittering process will further harden the surface.

Painting and glittering the two buildings next, then the overall glitter application, I think. Lastly, the vellum windows/doors get installed, the roofs mounted, then a bit of touch-up. Hoping to be done with this thing, one way or another, by the end of the week.

Okay, stick a fork in it, it's done (at least as far as I'm concerned). What a freakin' mess this project turned out to be:



I'll be vacuuming up glitter for months.

Short of cleaning off the last of the mess on the permanent layout in the basement, this is the last project going into the holidays. Hopefully it works as intended.

The four-year-old we take to school a couple days a week arrived this AM just as I was cementing in the vellum window glazing. "Hey Mr. Paul, are you making that for Christmas?", he asked. "Sure am, buddy, how'd you know?". "'Cause it's got snow all over it!". Smart kid

On to the next (read January).

Thank you for the idea of using the corrugated cardboard for stone blocks.

That came out really nice. No one else has one. I assume the hole in the top is for a Christmas tree?

RBH29 wrote:That came out really nice. No one else has one. I assume the hole in the top is for a Christmas tree?

Thanks, and Bingo! The wife has a small four-footer that should work nicely. I ordered a small rechargeable LED for the interior to back-light the house windows...we'll see if that works.

J. S. Bach wrote:Thank you for the idea of using the corrugated cardboard for stone blocks.

Yup, the thin-corrugated-as-stonework idea was hatched by Howard Lamey in his castle-tunnel project which I put my own spin on back in the bowels of the pandemic. The only trick is making sure to fill the exposed edges of the corrugated with paint or other suitable material. Paint with a bit of grit added to it seemed to work for that, especially if you're trying to replicate mortar joints.

Not sure how well this would work for a scale representation, as I would think the block bits might need to be a bit smaller. Probably could dress up a retaining wall fairly well, too. Certainly one of Howard's more ingenious ideas, though.

Another method to try is to use pieces cut from cardboard egg cartons. They have a nice, textured "stone" surface on the inside. You can also dampen them to bend them for use on curved surfaces such as the walls of round stone towers. No need to fill in the edges like you do with corrugated cardboard.

Never would have occurred to me...thanks for the tip.

+1

Attached is the video where I first learned about using egg cartons. Some of the dungeon terrain makers for table top gaming on YouTube have come up with some very innovative methods. Apparently, doll house makers have been using egg cartons for years.

Healey, you might want to share the method with Howard Lamey if he isn't already familiar with it. I hope the video link works. If it doesn't, try searching for "No Foam? No Problem! EGG CARTON BRICKS" on YouTube.

Richard

https://youtu.be/qtNUqVpjbsg

I will do that, Richard. I exchanged emails with him last night; he was hunkered down for thirty-six hours or so as Nicole passed over him in northern Florida. No damage other than the loss of a canvas canopy.

Thanks for the video link. I'm on the road today, so I'll check it out this weekend.

Frisco Northern 4500 photographed at the Route 66 Historical Village in November 2020, wired for Christmas lights:



Built in 1942 by Baldwin to pull the Frisco's Meteor, running between St. Louis and Oklahoma City.

Photo by Carol Highsmith, courtesy of the Library of Congress.