inside layout train tunnels

What I have used is 15lb. felt roofing paper otherwise know as tar paper.  What I did was measure my width cut it and then crumble it into a ball then walk on it.  Unravel it and then staple it to the sides of the interior of the tunnel.  Looks like real rock that is black. Works for me. 

if you have a camera car then the interiors should be nice; otherwise who cares!!

My personal preference is for the interiors to be finished to the distance you can see into the tunnel.   You can even add humorous scenes in little nooks and crannies inside.   Since most tunnels are made of foam what I've always done is to lay down the foam on a gravel lot or driveway and stand on it and rock back and forth - the indentations made look like natural rock when paint is added.   My friend and fellow forumite Owen Sturm, who departed this life far too early,  suggested this to me years ago and it works great. 

-Greg

I cared at the entrances, for some distance inward. Seeing raw plywood at the mouths, from the viewing aisles, would have been a detraction, as far as I was concerned....

FrankM, Moon Township, USA,  layout

I use black foam core for 12-24 inches (sides & roof), and then rock castings made with Brandon's  cast satin to wrap around the sides and roof for first 8 inches into the entrance.  My goal is to avoid seeing layout structure when casually looking into the tunnel.  Looks very real.

One of my winter projects will be to correct an oversight my leaving the tunnel interior unfinished.  Because of the angle to the room anyone looking can see straight through the 3 foot length to the other side but the raw interior takes away from the scene.

Crumple up aluminum foil. open up, and paint it flat black.. install using hot melt glue!

My tunnel portal built with Celotex.

Steve

Steve

ScottM posted:

I use black foam core for 12-24 inches (sides & roof), and then rock castings made with Brandon's  cast satin to wrap around the sides and roof for first 8 inches into the entrance.  My goal is to avoid seeing layout structure when casually looking into the tunnel.  Looks very real.

Sorry but I must ask, what is Brandon's cast satin, used to wrap side and ceiling of tunnel. I'm interested Scott!

a description of Brandons and where to obtain?

Thanks ,  John d.

Scott I'm interested in your process used for the entrance to tunnels. What an where is Brandon's cast satin!

I think ScottM meant Bragdon Enterprises scenery products. 

Sorry for the slow response,  I did mean Bragdon Enterprises and never realized the typo until now.

Bragdon carries a number of rock molds. For the tunnel interiors,  I select molds without a lot of heavy features in order to avoid interference with engines and rolling stock. 

The use of cast satin along with his molds allows the rock shape to be pressed/formed into place before it hardens.

The rocks are then painted with artist gesso followed by tempera powder. Bragdon provides a more thorough description on his website.

Scott 

Woodlands Scenic, also, has tunnel liners HO. I did some modifications to make them work O.   Castings done with hydrocal.  Click on the underlined phrase to link. 

I appreciate your replies Mike & Scott! Your a big help!

looked up Bragdon this morning.

John d.