Trains.com

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!

A model railroader does his bit

1768 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
A model railroader does his bit
Posted by dknelson on Monday, April 13, 2020 6:24 PM

During World War I there was a slogan and a series of posters to "Do Your Bit."  Small things a civilian could do to help the effort.  Saving food.  Planting a victory garden.  Not driving the car, to save much needed rubber and gasoline.  That sort of thing.  

I just learned of a model railroader who has totally dedicated his high quality 3D printer to making medical masks.  He says he can make about 40 a day including attaching the fabric which he is purchasing.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Monday, April 13, 2020 7:03 PM

One of our fellow forum members, A D&H fan, is contributing some PPE work using a 3D printer. Bow

My wife is somewhere north of 300 hand-sewn masks and she's still at it tonight.

In a time of need it is great to know we can pull ourselves up by the boot-straps.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Monday, April 13, 2020 7:22 PM

A friend of mine named Jeff Adam owns Motrak Models.  They make HO scale laser cut wood models, normally.  Well, he's been making plastic laser cut S-hooks for those that wear facemasks (the ones that wrap around the backs of the ears).  If you wear those kinds of facemasks too long, they can do skin damage around the ears and become very painful.  His S-hooks connect the ear straps to each other around the back of the head, relieving the pressure and eliminating the pain of wearing this type of facemask.

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Chicago, IL
  • 306 posts
Posted by Eilif on Monday, April 13, 2020 8:49 PM

Paul3

A friend of mine named Jeff Adam owns Motrak Models.  They make HO scale laser cut wood models, normally.  Well, he's been making plastic laser cut S-hooks for those that wear facemasks (the ones that wrap around the backs of the ears).  If you wear those kinds of facemasks too long, they can do skin damage around the ears and become very painful.  His S-hooks connect the ear straps to each other around the back of the head, relieving the pressure and eliminating the pain of wearing this type of facemask.

Thanks for the heads up!  Just ordered a batch for my wife and her co-workers.

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, April 13, 2020 9:02 PM

Our daughter has been making masks from the beginning.  She still works from home, as an IT tech for the huge school district she works for, and making masks.

She discovered that the Filtrete brand furnace filters 1500  has the same, if not better PPM filtering as the N95.  They have a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of 15.

She makes mask with a pocket, to insert a piece of the furnace filter into.  She says the hardest part, is getting the furnace filter apart.

Last count was 400 masks. Surprise

Mike.

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Northern California
  • 163 posts
Posted by softail86mark on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 8:18 PM

Wow. You folks are awesome. 

I'm stuck in a "skilled nursing facility" since a right leg amputation and a carotid artery cleaning, following a series of un detected strokes.

Haven't had access to my trains for 2 months.

I want to say a HUGE thank you to all who are "doing their bit" for those of us who need it the most...

Mark C.

Oroville, Calif 

WP Lives

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 8:56 PM

Mark those are several big hits.  We all pray that you will be able to go home soon. Angel

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Northern California
  • 163 posts
Posted by softail86mark on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 9:04 PM
Thank you, Henry. I can't thank all the people involved enough, you guys have kept me entertained for 8 weeks now. Thank you all, so very much. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

WP Lives

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Friday, April 17, 2020 11:31 AM

I have printed about 115 face shield bands so far, and will be shipping them downstate soon.

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • From: Sacramento, California
  • 98 posts
Posted by L. Zhou on Friday, April 17, 2020 11:39 AM

I'm working with my robotics group to make disposable face shields using sunglass frames without the lenses and transparent film. Clipped on around the frame, it works. We donated twenty to a local senior center the other day.

Of course, this isn't a subsitute for a proper face shield, but with what we are up against, something is always better then nothing.

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

-

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!

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!