“Hi Al.
I bought this sound toy for $1 and free shipping ebay.I recorded sound I changed the activation switch to a super sensitive switch and put it under a track to test.Train went over and blew the horn.Cheap sound toy and can record up to 20 seconds.children in a school, yard traffic you place around your set.” — Kim.
A superb idea – thank you Kim! Now click here to get one for a dollar or two on the ‘ebay cheat sheet’..
“Al,
I enjoy seeing the info you share, but I have never shared my layout with you so here are some pics.
This is a 4×8 that has been in the works for 10 or so years, I now have it in a loft that is 16×20 and I am building a new layout and this 4×8 will not work into it well at all so I will be dismanteling it in the next few weeks to get started on the new one so I thought I would share some of it with you.
Thanks,
Frank,
Salina Kansas”
I thought it a superb layout. Let me know what you thought below!
All the best,
Al
(There are hundreds and hundreds of posts to enjoy and learn from – but the only way you’ll get to see them all is by being on the newsletter).
“Alastair
If your scenery cracks and shrinks try Cornice Adhesive. Comes as a powder, only needs mixing with water. You can add cement or grout colours without affecting it. Will readily stick to itself, so you can add another section of scenery a month later without a join appearing. Needs a support base. I use fly wire. Probably the most expensive of the plaster powders available. But will store well in a dry place. Been using it since the 1970′s and swear by it.”
— Alan
“For ballast, I have used Parakeet gravel by hartz. you can get it in petsmart or others. I used this because you get fine and course grains and its Really cheap.”
— Chris
“If you want to simulate a light colored dirt area,such as playground or shore area, I used contact paper that is made from cork it just peels off and you can stick it to the board and dress it up with scattered weeds or grass,etc….I also used it for workyards in rural areas..
Thanks”
— Nick
“To make realistic trees I use thin wire which I twist together and branch out for the limbs and branches. Spray paint them to the colour I want and apply foliage made from coloured paper hole punches! For Pine trees I use green brillo scouring pads that I cut into circles and stack onto wooden scuers. The styrefome insulation is great!”
— Keith
“Don’t be overly ambitious with space. A good operating layout with some of the desired activities/complexities removed will be a lot more enjoyable to operate than a layout that is crammed with everything at the expense of tight curves and sharp grade transitions which invariably lead to frustrating derailments or constant uncouplings.”
— John
“Hi Al
Enjoy your notes very much. I live in the USA and have been modelling since 1948. I notice in one of the tips that a person has used felt paper for roads. I tried this many years ago and looks nice, but eventually if he is in a heated space the felt paper will give off fumes from the tar. It not a pleasant smell, plus you have to remove the felt paper and start all over on your roads.
I use A440 sandpaper (or the fine grit available) and paint it grey as roads look black but ashphalt is usually grey when it is dry.
Best regards
Emerson”
Best
Al
PS Keep ’em coming!
