Welcome aboard!
Like others, I generally don't find it necessary to secure my buildings to the base. But, I frequently have other "mushy" scenery right up to the structure walls, so they don't go anywhere. On thing I really try to avoid is "light leaks" under the walls of a structure. Very unrealistic.
You might want to try a product called Aileen's Tacky Glue. You can get it at places like Michaels or A.C. Moore craft supply stores. You get a decent-sized bottle for a couple of dollars. (Craft stores, incidentally, are one of those secret gems of modelling. They have cheap paint, brushes, balsa wood, Envirotex for water features, etc.) Anyway, tacky glue will hold well but also release when needed. I find it perfect for attaching figures to my layout. They stay put, but when I want to move them, I can do so without leaving their feet behind.
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I see no one mentioned studs such as cut off finishing nails on the bottom of the structure that match holes in the layout,or vise versa. Then use loose ground cover materials aound the foundation.
Eric97123 I got with a little bit of Elmers glue. It holds the buildings secure from vibration and such but not to hard to come off it need be.
I got with a little bit of Elmers glue. It holds the buildings secure from vibration and such but not to hard to come off it need be.
Good advice if the structures are plastic. Elmer's will not bond with styrene. It will hold plastic structures in place but they can be easily broker free from the dried Elmer's if desired. On the other hand, I wouldn't do that with wood structures especially if the base is also wood. Elmer's forms a strong bond with wood and it would be very difficult to remove them from the layout. With hydrocal structures, I use Elmer's sparingly to hold them in place. One drop in each corner. I can use a razor saw to free them if necessary. I've done that with one such structure which I someday hope to add interior lighting to be for now, I just want it secured in place.
I use a thin bead of white glue. It holds the structure in place yet it can be easily popped loose in the future.
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richhotrainAllegheny2-6-6-6 Generally I don't like to secure structures down unless they are large building or a complex of some sort that I've built and sceniced in the work shop and then just put it on it's own set of risers. I don't like doing it for a simple thing like if you have lights in the structure how do you change one out if it burns out when the building is glued down? If you have to use anything I would say maybe a little dab of non-hardening caulk or a little bit of straight white glue. I am with Allegheny on this one. I never secure my structures. No reason to do so, they never move on their own.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Generally I don't like to secure structures down unless they are large building or a complex of some sort that I've built and sceniced in the work shop and then just put it on it's own set of risers. I don't like doing it for a simple thing like if you have lights in the structure how do you change one out if it burns out when the building is glued down? If you have to use anything I would say maybe a little dab of non-hardening caulk or a little bit of straight white glue.
Generally I don't like to secure structures down unless they are large building or a complex of some sort that I've built and sceniced in the work shop and then just put it on it's own set of risers. I don't like doing it for a simple thing like if you have lights in the structure how do you change one out if it burns out when the building is glued down? If you have to use anything I would say maybe a little dab of non-hardening caulk or a little bit of straight white glue.
I am with Allegheny on this one. I never secure my structures. No reason to do so, they never move on their own.
Rich:
You are getting at the point of my original question posted early on. Why secure structures at all? I have at least three dozen structures of all sizes and none is fastened down and they never move around on their own as you point out. In fact, I have a cabinet full of buildings that I switch out at will just as I rotate locomotives and rolling stock to give a different "look" to things and make operations more interesting.
John Timm
Hi!
On my last layout (HO), I used a lot of ways to secure structures - ranging from "nothing" to hot glue.
My opinion is, if the structure is out of harms way, and there is no apparent reason to secure it, then don't. I do sprinkle some ground cover around the foundation, however, to give it a "stuck in the ground" effect.
If you really want it to stick, no matter what, use some hot glue. HOWEVER, note two things before you attempt this. The first is, hot glue can really mess up structure material (i.e. plastic, cardboard, etc). So, find a spot that this possibility won't matter. Second, and I can attest to this, what you attach with hot glue can be a bear to remove.
I like the idea of caulk, and will probably use it on my "under construction" layout.
Good Luck!
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I read a posting here once that the poster did not secure his structures for several reasons one of which was if he ever tired of a structure or wanted a different look he could rearrange building to change a scene. Not that this was my sole purpose but It made me thing about detailing or some might say super detailing. You build a structure and your happy with the way it turned out "for now" so at a later date you maybe put an interior in it or some exterior or interior lighting etc. How many of constantly keep adding little details to what some may see as a "finished" layout...lol silly people that falls right in line with the "it's never finished concept.
Alton Junction
Hi,
I model in Nscale and all my structures are build on a small piece of 1/3" thick plywood, so I can add details around the building, like barrels or some scenery materials which need to be very close, or on the models.
The plywood base is painted before I add the structure on it so I avoid wrapping.
It simplier to superdetail on the benchwork the structure especialy in Nscale.
My layout scenery is a junction between all these small plywood base.
I didn't glue any base to the layout, but screw them whith one of two screw depending how great is the base.
I hide the head screw and hole by scenery materials, from a barrel, vegetation or some ground.
I have a small book where I made a sketch of all the bases; the place of the screws are notified whith some details.
So if a day I want to remove one of the structure, I just need to unscrew the base.
The joining scenery of the layout is glued down and glue very slightly the base, You have no problems to carefuly remove the structure whith it's base. The structure and details will be safe.
Use a very rigid plywood and first quality one for the base, nothing could'nt wrap in the time.
Good luck.
Marc
Craig North Carolina
MarkS I want to secure my structures to my layout, but I also want to be able to remove them so I can add interior detail and lighting in the future. Any suggestions?
I want to secure my structures to my layout, but I also want to be able to remove them so I can add interior detail and lighting in the future. Any suggestions?
Mark,
Is there any particular reason you want or need to secure the structures?
little bit of latex caulk!