It never fails. You go to see a friend's new model train layout. He fires it up and the next thing you realize you are enjoying the lights and the sounds coming from the set. The working crossing guards, lights and all are awesome. There is only one problem that you can see at all. When the train approaches the tunnel the whole mystique is lost. Inside the tunnel you can see nothing but bare wires, mesh and naked braces that look as if they have been scavenged from goodness knows where.
So, why can't the illusion of realism carry all the way through the tunnel? Wouldn't it be nice to actually hear the sounds of the train whistle coming from the tunnel. It gets quieter and quieter as it goes further in and then it begins to grow in volume as it starts to come out the other side. You would love to be able to peek into the tunnel as the train is coming through and see the lights playing off the solid walls. This would make the illusion complete.
What is it that can help you to reach this level of realism? Well, for one you could use a tunnel liner that can be poured. This will allow you to shape it to your custom tunnel shape and size. These are available from many different sources so one should not be hard to find. To get ready to install one of these liners you will first cast a couple moldings. A couple of these will be all you will need to make and you will soon be in business. If you do not want to go through the trouble of lining the entire tunnel then you really only have to worry about lining the entire thing.
The only part of your tunnel that will need to be lined is the inside section that is visible. This will save you a good deal of trouble. After you have made your castings you will need to install them onto your model railroad track. Make sure that you attach them securely so that they are not able to pull loose after your train runs through them a few times. Once you have them installed you should then paint them to match the scene that you are depicting. If it is a granite mountain then you could paint your "rock face" to match it. This will help it to maintain the illusion of realism.
When you do your first run through the tunnel you will notice that the tunnel liners affect the sound that comes out. It will dampen the sound as it enters the tunnel and then will help it to build as it comes out the other side. By adding special touches such as these tunnel liners you can create exactly the amount of realism that you are going for. So, what will it be? Do you just ignore the so called small things or do you help to complete the illusion? Happy conducting!
Model Train Layout Software
Model railroading enthusiasts enjoy only one thing more then showing off their pride and joy: seeing other prototypes and displays that they can then go back home to compete with! Fortunately since showing off is inherent to all of us getting a chance to see some truly spectacular displays is not that hard, and in many cases involves only a short journey as there are literally hundreds of museums across the country that displays tens of thousands of locomotives, cars and scenes between them.
Most museums do charge a fee for admittance, but it normally is quite small (averaging $6) and proceeds typically go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the models and facilities. A few sites are run by private organizations while others are run by a state or municipality but they all have one thing in common: people who love trains and railroad modeling are involved! There is hardly a state in the United States that doesn't have at least one major museum or showcase for the Model Railroader and all are worth visiting, but some are worth making a trip to see even if you are only marginally interested. A partial list of some of the more famous destinations that are sure to thrill both enthusiast and family alike follow:
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum - Partially available 'online' the museum is a tax exempt non-profit educational entity that was incorporated in 1980 in affiliation with the San Diego Model Railroad Club; the La Mesa Model Railroad Club; and the San Diego Society of N-Scale. Over 27,000 sq. ft. of display space makes this the largest indoor display in the world with two of the largest layouts in HO and N scale in the world as well.
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul Minneapolis features model panoramas of the 1930's, 40's and 50's and has been operating since 1984.
South Florida Railway Museum This museum is designed primarily to educate the public about the history of railroads in southern Florida but includes several very nice layouts, including a large N scale and a Hon3 model.
Smokey Mountain Trains Located in Bryson City North Carolina this wonderful site houses many of the layouts once available from the Harmar Station museum in Marietta, OH and is a great vacation destination for the model train enthusiast.
The Museum of Science and Industry located in Chicago Illinois also has a wonderful Model Train exhibit called The Great Train Story which boasts as having a 3,500 sq. foot layout that shows the winding journey from Chicago to Seattle through the Midwest, the Rockies, and the Cascades.
The Clovis Depot Located in Clovis New Mexico in an old train station depot which has been rebuilt to its original condition this site was registered with the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
So crank up that old locomotive and head out to one of these or any of the other hundreds of exciting museums dedicated to this wonderful hobby of ours. Full steam ahead " the past is waiting!
Both Victor Epand & Bill Murphy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Victor Epand has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Trucks and Interest. Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for
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