Generally anything "new" someone comes up with ends up being something John Allen thought of back in the '40's.
I wrote an RMC article back in 1983 about building a layout where you could rotate time periods on a set formula...that is, you would model say 1925 for six months, then rotate to 1940 for six months, then 1955, then back to 1925.
Some people had layouts where they had like two steam engine and two diesels; if they used the steam engines, it was 1920, if they used the diesels it was 1980. But I don't think anyone was doing a scheduled rotation of time periods where they changed automobiles, buildings, people, etc. before that.
Since then I've come across a few folks in MR or RMC or other places who are doing the rotation deal. I guess that was one claim for model railroad fame...kinda like being the "Moonlight Graham" of model railroaders??
Dave-the-Train ... how about sharing any similar moments of brilliance? What jaw droppingly obvious more simple ways ...
... how about sharing any similar moments of brilliance? What jaw droppingly obvious more simple ways ...
If I stumbled onto something considered "brilliant" many jaws would drop!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
i have found all manner of useful stuff including giant cardboard sheets for shipping containers in the dumpster behind the local furniture store. sometimes they throw out pieces of thin plywood and hardboard that are used as re-enforcing in packaging
one day the President of our little bank drove by and when he saw me later, he asked if i had taken up dumpster diving as a hobby or out of necessity.
i told him not to worry until he saw me in the one behind the Subway Sandwich Shop. then he would know i had fallen on hard times.
grizlump
I recently "put by" a whole load of clear plastic shop display price holders that have magnetic strips on the back. Letting them go to Landfill in a dumpster was just too much of a waste, I knew they would be useful somewhere/sometime.
Then I got a whole load of E&C Shops coal gons that need loading. AHAH! I thought. (It happens occasionally: I'm okay after a lay-down in a darkened room) I can take the magnetic strips off and put them under the false loads to make it easier to lift them out. Sheer genius!
I just suddenly thought... No don't take the strips off and glue them to new material to carry the "load"... just cut the clear plastic to size and glue the load to that...
Okay. you may well be thinking "DUH"! ... but how about sharing any similar moments of brilliance? What jaw droppingly obvious more simple ways of doing a job have other people stumbled on?
(Apart from not loading one's self (and subsequently one's own dumpster) with way too much "useful one day" stuff in the first place).