My structures have concrete footings to keep them straight. What do I do with my 100 plus animals, farm things, and people? I don't want to have to spend an hour or 2 setting up. Any advice would be appreciated.
What I have seen is a metal rod, cut nail or such, that is glued with CA inserted into a drilled hole in a figures leg or such. That way each figure can be stuck into the ground securely.
Have fun with your trains
I drill a #55 hole in the foot of the figure and cut the head off an escutcheon pin. Push the point end into the figure’s foot with long nose pliers; many times this is enough to seat the pin, or you can glue it.
For solid flat surfaces I put a dab of Museum Putty on one or both feet of the figure and pose it on the surface. Museum Putty is available at art and craft stores.
Have fun, Rob
I use a dab of e6000 glue on the botten of my figures. when i want to move them I use a sharp blade to pry them up.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
I have used 3 different methods with some success and a "lesson learned" (read as 'failure'). For figures that will never be moved, (i.e. passengers aboard the train, cunductors etc) a bit of liquid nails works well. (these can never be rpainted without hard work). For movable figures on solid surfaces (Rocks and cinderbolck caps) a bit of museum putty works great. easy to reposition or repaint when needed. For figures in the dirt, I started with common nails, cut the head off, drill hole in the leg, glue the nail in. Common nails have a tendancy to rust, as rust expands the leg explodes after about 3~4 years (lesson learned), I went to my nearby Welding Supplies Store and got a package of fine diameter brass welding rods. Rather expensive, but since it will not rust (like steel nails) there has been no more legs lost to rust expansion. I also have holes drilled in my bridge to hold the rail maintenance crew when they need to be on the bridge. I cut the rods so that they are about 3 inches long, (1/2 inch in the leg and 2 1/2 inch in the ground, and they stay put.
Tom Trigg
In the same light, I use a daub of silicon sealant and a piece of 12 guage copper wire. Seems to work well and allows for removal to repaint or relocating.
Thanks to all. Unfortunately if I have to secure each item separately it will really take forever. Do you all leave your buildings, people and what not outside all the time?
Yes everything but the trains remain outside year around. This means repainting now and than, but makes preping to run trains a whole lot easier.
jhsimpson62 Yes everything but the trains remain outside year around. This means repainting now and than, but makes preping to run trains a whole lot easier.
same here
ttrigg jhsimpson62: Yes everything but the trains remain outside year around. This means repainting now and than, but makes preping to run trains a whole lot easier. same here
jhsimpson62: Yes everything but the trains remain outside year around. This means repainting now and than, but makes preping to run trains a whole lot easier.
Me three
Our layout is at our summer home. We bring everything in but the track works for the winter as the snow can get up to 5 feet at a time. Yes it does take some time to set out the buildings although the foundations are much like yours - masonry. For people and animals we use a hot glue gun and two inch nails with big heads.
We have the kids who live around us and our grandchildren place the people and animals. It's never the same which makes it even more fun. We still don't have a full set of baseball players so the kids make do. Last year the right fielder was a lady in a long dress holding onto her hat!
Whatever you do - have fun. That's what its all about.
Rex
I usually leave my buildings, people, animals, auto, etc out from early April until after Christmas. We usually have snow before I bring things in and so I have to wait for a thaw before I do that. If it wasn't for going out and using a wedge snow plow and following it around with a camera I would leave things out all year. But I get careless and step on things and break them when they are under the snow.
Bob
Try stainless steel 8p or 10p nails used for barnboard siding ot deeks. The nails are the length of a 8p or 10p nail but of lighter gage. They have a small head about 18 inch diameter
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