New Junction EP18 - Tunnel portals

If you have not already got one, consider a dehumidifier because it will reduce the moisture in the air which will help dry the build and also keep the room damp free plus reduce the need for heating in the room - I use a Maeco one and it is amazing the difference it makes without needing to crank up the heating to remove that damp feeling

I love plaster bandage… takes me right back to railway modelmaking with my Dad back in the 70’s 😊

with that small section in front of the tunnel portals that you said about not putting anything in cause of having to move the portals; if you constantly have to move the portals cause of layout transformation, you could always make a small section of the hill for there, attach 2 dowel rods to the bottom and drill 2 holes so that you can remove it at anytime. i would recommend a small built up area on layout part that you can decorate with like a bush to hide any imperfection that is caused from the removable piece. always enjoy watching the videos and seeing the progress you make!

Was good to briefly see you at GETS! Great progress … lovely to see LuLu again … and I like the cheeky sneaky product placement of the Accurascale Nova box under the layout! 😜 One tip … maybe worthwhile investing in a dehumidifier? They really help reduce damp, stabilises items such as card kits and MDF etc, but also can help reduce drying times! Very useful especially during this time of year 👍

I use the black and decker dehumidifier where I store my collection just to be on the safe side my flat is dry but still have to empty it out every 10 days it will help mate ,the layout is going to be awesome I hope you do a 3D model of lulu to go on there running through the fields bless her a big woof to lulu a virtual handshake from me bud and all the best to you and family Mark 😊😊🐕‍🦺🫱🏼🫲🏼

Great update mate. I leave a minimum of 5 days drying for the sculpture mould...or 10 days if you livve in Cornwall like me lol

You give me inspiration Richard. Im about to start track laying on my garage build but seeing how you have cracked on gives me the confidence to do the same! Just hope it turns out even half as good!

Captivating. Thanks for sharing and well done on the progress. Thanks for sharing your exploits and very inspirational for a new model railway builder like me.

Amazing layout Richard. Something I saw on another channel that very few seem to know is rubbing the plaster cloth once laid smooths out and removes all the weave! This gives a smooth, undulating finished surface and therefore no real need for all that sculptamold. 👍

Richard I can't believe your waiting for material from USA to complete and then waiting for time to dry. Try using the polly filler you used for your roads, dob it on and then paint it over bandage material with 2"/3" really wet paint brush. You will have a hard shell as soon as it drys and it will dry really fast. Faster and way cheaper.

Great work, Richard. Sadly, whoever told you to dye the sculptamold forgot to tell you to go a much darker hue/shade, because the putty itself will lighten it. You definitely do use a lot more paint, because you are technically painting every cubic millimeter, and not just the surface. It has its benefits (no touch up repairs on chips, less work on rock facings when doing them) and drawbacks (cost). So, it was cool to see you try it and give it a bash! Cheers

Nice work Richard and some good progress. Looking forward to your next video. All the best. Mark.

Looking great. Glad you're eventually getting lines 3 and 4 finished on the mainline. Your progress with New Garden Junction and New New Junction have been a great inspiration to my building initially of the 7mm setup in my parents' back garden (which will be stripped out when I go up for christmas, so I can reuse the track for my 7mm loft layout) and of the TT:120 layout ("Birdforth") that I'm currently working on (almost finished laying and wiring the track, so not too long until I need to erect backscenes and think about what exactly do I want as scenery). I said I'd watch this tonight...

Great video nice to see lulu as well.the layout is coming along nicely now thanks for the update

Great video as always Richard, love the hillside rising below and above the railway. I'm looking forward to seeing your process for painting your tunnels in the near future. Keep up the good work as always James

Superb how to and information on new items...looking great... Jim

Hi Richard, All that plastering and painting with the coaches sitting there in splatter distance was giving me palpitations lol. It looks really good though and I agree, it's probably alot cheaper and easier to just repair any chips (if they occur). The rail joiner mate are really useful, I got a set myself and as saved me from abit of cursing whilst working on the fiddleyard :) Cheers, Michael

Can I suggest adding the paint with the warm water when dipping the splaster cloth. I found the water absorbs the colour and it hiddes the white. Thus add the colòur to scupture mold with pva will bond the colour better. Just a suggestion.great layout.

That's a lot of meatloaf you've got there Richard!

Looking good! The land form looks entirely natural with the railway cutting through. Too many layouts look like the railway came first with the landscape being built up around it. I agree with you about the paint / Sculptamold - but I’ll probably try it for myself on my next layout now that I know about it. Great video.