How to Create a Mountain With a Tunnel for a Model Railroad Layout

Rather than going out and buying a mountain with a tunnel for your model railway, make your own customized mountain. A homemade mountain with a tunnel will save you money and will perfectly fit the theme of your railroad -- such as winter scene, autumn harvest or desert landscape.

Instructions

1

Determine how big the inside of the tunnel needs to be for your trains to run through it smoothly.

2

Sketch a plan for the mountain, including measurements from Step 1 and the location on the track where the mountain will go.

3

Bend chicken wire into the shape of the interior of the tunnel. Cover it with plastic wrap.

4

Rip newspapers into approximately 1-inch-wide strips.

5

Soak the paper strips in a watered-down plaster slurry.

6

Cover the chicken-wire form completely with the plaster-soaked paper strips.

7

Mold modeling plaster over the form, shaping it into a mountain. Allow it to dry completely.

8

Paint the mountain to match your railway's theme. Add grass, trees, rocks, pebbles, dirt, fake snow or even small plastic animals.

9

Paint the interior of the tunnel black or dark brown.

10

Cover the entire finished product with acrylic finish for protection.