Tony’s been in touch with his toothpick bridge design:
“Hi, my name is tony and I thought you might like these pics.
I have been modeling n-scale for 35 years. I saw your tip about using sedum for trees.
This scene is the Bailey Logging Company, it is on the Green River and Meristein Valley Railroad.
I used sedum for almost all of the trees on the hill when I built it three years ago.
If you are iterested the trestle is built from round toothpics cut to scale lengths between 8 and 20 feet then I nic them up with my modeling knife and painted them.
The sedum I use is autumn joy. After it blooms the stems turn woody. They have to be cut back each year in the late fall.
After I cut them I spray them flat clear enamal.
Then I dip in a mix of white glue and water and then toss them in woodland scenics course turf. I use dark and medium green.
I keep a large container mixed up and I just add an entire container of one of the shades when it starts to get low. This causes the collor of the conapy to vary for each tree.
I place the trees on the layout when they are wet this allows some of the foliage to fall around the base and create undergrowth.
After they have dried for a couple of hours I spray them with a heavy coating of the cheapest hairspray I can find. The dollar store has plenty!
I also keep an eye out all summer for sedum.
If you stop by someones house and ask them they typicaly will let you cut for them and hull it away.
Thanks again,
Tony”
Tony’s bridge reminds me of Greg’s trestle bridge (which you can see in the middle of his post).
And Bob has put together a wonderful ‘how to’ on Trestle bridges. I’d love to see a toothpick bridge version.
Next, some more tips:
“Hi Al
I have used many of the tips in your newsletters.
Just thought I would give something back.
I have a top tip for you to create hedging on the 00 railway layout. It’s my idea and not copied from anywhere else.
I did a lot of experimenting and came up with this:
If you take some polystyrene packing about ¾ inch thick and cut it into ¼ inch or less strips, this will form the basis of the hedge.
Using the finest artists brush and some Humbrol paint thinners, or Cellulose thinners, or as a last resort nail varnish remover
Carefully, with not too much thinners, just touch both sides of the upper edges of the styrene at ¼ inch intervals along its length, you will see the top dissolve irregularly.
When it is dry, cover one side of the strip with PVA and sprinkle it with brown grass, do the same on the other side and leave to dry.
Cover the irregular top with PVA, pushing it into the holes with the brush tip and sprinkle two shades of green grass at intervals along its length.
You will now have a hedge at little cost and much more realistic than the bought stuff.
I suppose if you substitute ballast for grass you can achieve a stone wall effect also, using this method.
I use wood working glue to fix it down and on curves I hold it in place with dressmaking pins, until set overnight.
You can disguise the joints in situ using the same method.
Steve”
“I found a great way to keep the truck screws from comming loose. Take a toothpick and put a very small dab of rubber cement on the threads of the bolster…making sure not to get any on the face of the bolster where the truck makes contact. Tighten the screw appropriately. The screw will not come loose…but yet stays soft anought the the schre can be removed without any problems.
Robert”
“Hi Al,
I though that i would share with you how I made my chain link fences. I first draw a template on paper and placed it under a piece of tempered glass. I then cut some .033 mm and .040 mm brass wire. I taped them on the glass using skinny masking tape.
I then solder them and remove the tape. Next I cut some Tull ( also known as bridal veil ), stretch it over the now soldered wired and tape it to the glass. I glue the Tull with Cyanoacrylate to the wire.
If you wish to had some barb wire just cut the posts 3 scale feet longer and glue some sewing tread on the extensions ( again using CY glue).
I spray paint the whole thing using Krylon Paint ( a paint that is good for wood, metal, plastic, etc.)
Michel”
A huge thank you to Tony for sharing his tooth pick bridge design. A wonderful narrative too.
If it’s given you a hankering to start building, don’t forget the Silly Discount bundle on the printable buildings is still available for the moment. It’s just $29.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you poke boredom in the eye and join in the fun, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
