Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
General Discussion (Model Railroader)
»
Big Plans on a Shoestring
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
For rolling stock, buy used. Athearn is still affordable, usually in the under-$10 (US) category. <br /> <br />Lumber for benchwork? Try hanging around the local dump. I've picked up most of my 1X4s there (they started life as 1X8s and 1X6s). I've also gotten loads of beadboard (messy but free). For roadbed I bought Owens-Corning 1/4" fan-fold insulation. Cut to size, paint it brown, lay cemented track, ballast. <br /> <br />For trees, get out in the fall after the weeds have dried down. <br /> <br />Get a cheap blender and make your own ground foam. Buy green paint at the hardware store from the "oops" cans (where they didn't blend the color to the right shade; every store has them). I got a gallon of brown latex for $2. Chop the foam to small pieces with scissors, the soak with paint. Wring it out, let it dry thoroughly (a few days). This makes the foam chop up easier in the blender. Now you can chop it in the blender to the degree of fineness you need. You'll have a mixed batch. Screen it to segregate by size. It takes time, but for about $7 (US) you can make over a quart of the stuff. <br /> <br />
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up