Adding A Tunnel to a TrakMat Layout

[Disco21]

Hi all

We bought the mixed freight DCC set which came with the TrakMat R8217.

The little one really wants a tunnel and I am just wondering where this could go? .... I was looking at the bottom left, or bottom right of the trackmat on the curve, unless anyone else has any better ideas?

Would I just buy a ready made tunnel, or are these easy to made/model?

[TK421]

Hello there

Looking at the track mat I reckon the best place to put the tunnel would be the bottom right hand corner if you where to at the matt from the level crossing side. There are ready made tunnels put this tend to be single track and rather ugly and unrealistic. Making your own tunnel wouldn't be very hard and you'd get a more satisfying result. There are different methods to tunnel making but i'd suggest creating the basic shape with polystyrene and then covering with something like mod-rock or for something cheaper cover with a massive batch of polyfiller to form the shape.

As the tunnel is on the corner use your longest piece of rolling stock to check for clearance in the same method you would do when laying flexi track or building your own station. If that method is not for you I'm sure others would more than willing to suggest alternative methods.

[AlanBrady]

You should have a look -here- for some ideas (or one anyway) on tunnel building.

Assuming that -this- is the trackmat you have, then I'd think anywhere on the left (top or bottom or both) would work. TK, sorry if that's what you said. Obviously it depends on which way round you look at it.

Alan.

[TK421]

your right alan i've got my left and rights muddled up woops I meant left as well, d'oh

[Disco21]

You should have a look -here- for some ideas (or one anyway) on tunnel building.

Assuming that -this- is the trackmat you have, then I'd think anywhere on the left (top or bottom or both) would work. TK, sorry if that's what you said. Obviously it depends on which way round you look at it.

Alan.

Yip Alan, thats the one.

So a left hang tunnel would work best in your opinion? I'll get to looking at plans/diagrams etc and hopefully have this in place for Christmas Day. If you can give anymore pointers, what would be great? Would you build yourself (and if so want type of wood, would you use!), or would you by pre-design tunnels?