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Annoying String From Hot Glue-Possible Use for Modeling?

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Annoying String From Hot Glue-Possible Use for Modeling?
Posted by Trainman440 on Monday, September 5, 2016 10:25 PM

Hi, 

I was just working with hot glue the other day and thought: Hey, couldn't the annoying thing string be used as rope/spider webs on a layout?

 

Has anyone ever tried this before?

Charles

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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

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Posted by gmpullman on Monday, September 5, 2016 10:50 PM

The closest thing I can think of similar to what you mention is back in the day when modelers were looking for plugs to close off the holes in car roofs they would heat a piece of sprue and slightly pull it to make a taper. Perfect way to get the diameter of rod you needed.

Scale spider webs? Wow, that's detail oriented!

I notice under the tip of my glue gun are little "plops"...  Scale cow pies?

Have Fun! Ed

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Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 8:40 AM

I've used them to create fishing line, on a couple of figures I have of fisherman, standing in a river.  The picture I took, the line doesn't show up very well, but up close, in person, it's easy to see.

Mike.

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Posted by Steven Otte on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 9:03 AM

I have a hard enough time keeping prototype spider webs off my layout. Laugh

--
Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editor
sotte@kalmbach.com

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 9:32 AM

When was at the stage of hot gluing my cardboard sub-scenery, the little strings from hot glue was the bain of my life.  I honestly couldn't think of any use for them other than get them out of the way.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by doctorwayne on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 2:30 PM

Trainman440

Hi, 

I was just working with hot glue the other day and thought: Hey, couldn't the annoying thing string be used as rope/spider webs on a layout?

Has anyone ever tried this before?

Charles

 
I had a friend scratchbuild these for my layout:
 
 
 
I think that he/she was living in the engine shops at the time, just across the tracks from the first photo. Stick out tongue
 
Some similar stuff, which you might wish to be seen isn't always visible, like this scratchbuilt Tite-Lock farm fencing:
 
 
 
Unless you're looking for it, it's not all that visible in person, either.  Because of that, the other 12' of it needed for a scene nearby was never built, and that pretty well let me off the hook for building another 30' or 40' (actual feet) of it planned for other areas, too.  Split rail, dry stone walls, and hedges, along with 3-strand wire fences will be easier to do and, except for the latter, more visible.
 
Wayne
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Posted by gmpullman on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 3:39 PM

This could easily turn into a "Show Me Your Layout's Web Site" thread!

I can brush away the webs easily. It is the little, tan "droppings" that are a nuisance to clean up!

Regards, Ed

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Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 8:39 PM

Good one, Ed.  Yea, I don't need to model cobwebs, as I spend a couple of sessions cleaning up, during the late fall, after a long summer.  The first train I run through my long hidden track, the loco is draped with them.

Mike

 

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Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, September 8, 2016 8:36 PM

Those strings are just annoying!  I read that you let go of the glue gun trigger before pulling the glue away to prevent the strings.  That does work for me.  Pulling away with the gun creates the glue strings, so pushing the glue a bit into the object prevents the strings from forming (for me at least).

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2016 7:08 AM

I just use liquid nails....no strings attached!! Big Smile  Also it doesnt melt any foam.   That having been said, I dont think liquid nails works for cardboard scenery supports.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 9, 2016 7:17 AM

Trainman440

Hi, 

I was just working with hot glue the other day and thought: Hey, couldn't the annoying thing string be used as rope/spider webs on a layout?

 

Has anyone ever tried this before?

Charles

 

 
What scale?
 
3 to 1 ?

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