Just a question, has anyone ever modelled a mine, and I mean, underground tracks, not just the buildings.
My intention is to show a cutaway view of the mine, with a glass plate in front to protect the model. Does anyone have any thoughts, comments, suggestions ?
Great idea, especially if you're thinking of a cut-away of scenery that extends to the ceiling. Are you planning to use low-profile, very-narrow-gauge equipment, or something closer to standard
gauge? I've seen both prototypes, but haven't modelled either, yet. The former was very common, the latter rarely used, primarily in hard-rock mines. The two dioramas I've seen were pretty simple --
more like Ant Farms -- and left out a number of details that could have made the scenes spectacular. Both used plexiglas or plastic panels instead of glass.
Whichever you're planning, here are some things to consider:
Steam and diesel motive power is out for two reasons -- ventilation of exhaust gases and, for coal mines, the potential for igniting methane and coal dust. That leaves animal (including humans) or
electric power to move the mine cars, or perhaps some kind of cable arrangement.
All underground mines have some kind of ventilation system and a means to keep the workings dry. You'll have the opportunity to model ventilation shafts as well as pumps and piping to remove
groundwater. Drainage can also be handled passively by maintaining a constant downslope out of the mine, towards the mine entrance, using "gutters" carved into the floor of the access tunnels (along
the sides of the track).
Ventilation is usually provided by vertical or angled shafts extending to the surface, where large fans operate continuously to suck air out. Fresh air could be supplied to the mine by separate
shafts, or you could rely on fresh air coming in along the railroad access tunnel if you don't want to model separate shafts.
Don't forget support timbers or steel, if it's warranted -- definitely in mines following thin coal seems in layered rock, maybe not needed in precious-metal mines in hard rock. Many mines are
divided into sections that are isolated from one another by large, thick doors. You wouldn't need these along the rail tunnel, but thay'd be a nice detail for working areas of the mine.
Underground processing equipment is minimal, but huge; a large crusher can be fed from a stope (large funnel-shaped opening in hard-rock mines) to just above the track tunnel. The crushed rock is
held in hoppers (some just open areas carved in the rock) from which ore jennies are loaded. In coal mines, you could have several active seams at different levels from which the coal is extracted
and transported by gravity (ie. it's dumped) down through a large shaft to track level for loading.
*Everything* underground is covered with dust, generally dark gray or black in coal mines and gray or dark tan tan in others. Colors are subdued everywhere. Lighting is sparse but adequate along
access tunnels; working faces and processing or loading areas are locally well-lit. Electric cables strung at a low level along the wall of the tunnel would be a nice detail.
A disappointment in the dioramas I've seen was the lack of scenicking of the rock or rock layers being mined; that is, the area between the mine access tunnel or workings and the ground surface was a
plywood panel painted black. Sure it's quick to construct, but visually boring. Modelling that area, even if it's just painted appropriately, could be used to place the mine in its context. For
example, one could show a gold-bearing dike that the miners will soon encounter as they continue along the working face, or a vein that they just missed.
Whew! Sorry this got so long. Shouldn't ask a geologist any questions about mines. Have fun!
John Monrad