Anyone up for some CHEAP trackside detail?

[loathar]

I think anything you mix with plaster is still going to be effected by physics when you wet it down.The big peices are going to end up on top. I'm going to try making a shaped base out of plaster, brushing a layer of thinned out glue on it, sprinkle on a layer of a talcum like powder, and then air brushing it with the appropriate color.

[selector]

Well, it is certainly worth a try...off layout, natch. I'll try the chalk method and get back.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

So, sand piles? Okay, how would we model them? They'd have to be made of some very fine material that stays where it's at.

How about powdered tempera paints mixed with plaster of paris. Mix different amounts of brown, yellow and plaster to get the color you are looking for, pile it up and mist with water.

[Train 284]

Thats an awesome idea!

[selector]

Loathar and Iginc, I posted a response earlier, but it seems not to have appeared.

I wonder, to capitalize on loathar's suggestion, if rubbing coloured chalk (maybe two colours?) on a grater/zester would produce something like what we are thinking about. Fixing it could be a problem, but the dry effect would be close.

[loathar]

I was going to try that shaping a block of plaster thing and painting it sand colored. Anybody ever try that for an ore car load? I don't feel like paying $8 for two little loads I'm going to cover with ore/ballast anyhow.

[Anonymous]

I have some pictures on the main message board if anybodys wants to see, and my cheap trackside detail is that I used some cat litter as rail bed and it worked great. the pictures are showen some of the cat litter also.

[Anonymous]

for sand what about some pastel chalks? I use them for the grime around where engines sit, flour on the tracks at the plant etc., Though getting a pile might be a challange.

[UP Deano]

boy, i hate to post this, its not even the best example we have on the layout, but its the only pic i have to use as an example. again, sorry about the poor quality.

[selector]

Thanks for the responses. It will be difficult to keep whatever it is we place looking good, and doubly so if we try to fix it, such as with a glue. I understand completely what loathar described. I almost wonder if a mold of plaster of paris could be fashioned into little piles, and then died plaster poured in. Once placed & blended into the ballast, or elsewhere on the suface, it should pass reasonably well. Otherwise, actual dust from the side of your driveway might have the best outcome.

Time to give them a try.

[UP Deano]

just found one CRAP quailty pic of a grade i took last weekend, hate to post it but i will. i"ll also circle the sand. need few mins. to edit and post.

[UP Deano]

selector, we had some FINE N scale ballest left over from one of dads N layouts he had built while i was living in florida(17yrs, have been back in s.wis. for 4yrs.). when i moved back we took on building a new N layuot useing "pinklady"ballest(CNW fans will be familliar with it). anyways the old ballest was a really light sand color. so on the grades, after the "pinklady was dry i put on the outside of the rails ONLY little patches from a quarter inch to one inch spots long going up and down the grades.apply the same as ballest,glue&water. every couple inches put some. the effect was AWSOME! looked real.(the sanders on your engine are there for a reason.) in HO i think it would be even better! i would love to post pics, but my dig.cam stinks(its really cheap& you guys pics look so good.need better cam.). hope this helps.

[loathar]

Sands hard! I just got done doing a sanding station with some SUPER fine sand I made by crushing up some regular sand and sifting it through a VERY fine strainer. Look great when I sifted it ove the plastic sand load, but when I sprayed the scenic cement on it, Physics took over and the fine grains settled to the bottom layer exposing
the larger less desirable looking granuals. I redid it about 5 times before I said good enough, and even than, it wasn't. Any ideas?

[selector]

So, sand piles? Okay, how would we model them? They'd have to be made of some very fine material that stays where it's at.

[UP Deano]

Thanks grande man. one last one, along sidings in the city and if your yard is close to town, scraps of paper(like newspapers and stuff you"ll usally find on the ground and in the weeds. dont remember anyone mentioning that, but if so, sorry, dont want to step on anyone. thanks.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lginc

I noticed nobody has mentioned sand piles along the tracks up and down grades. dad and i (i hate saying that,sounds like i"m a kid.LOL. i"m 40 and live in the same town as my dad,my apartments to small so both layouts are in dads basement.) have done this on the grades and i think it makes for a "cheap" realistic look.

That's a good point. It's also common to see sand piles in yards where locos sit. That would add some good detail.

[UP Deano]

I noticed nobody has mentioned sand piles along the tracks up and down grades. dad and i (i hate saying that,sounds like i"m a kid.LOL. i"m 40 and live in the same town as my dad,my apartments to small so both layouts are in dads basement.) have done this on the grades and i think it makes for a "cheap" realistic look.

[loathar]

I went to Wall Mart and bought some of that netting material for dresses. (boy did I get some strange looks from the woman working there. Then some even stranger looks when I told them I was making chain link fence for my train. Oh well) It turned out pretty good. I tried my computer ribbon corregated fence idea and it looks really good. I don't have a digital camera, so I have to fini***he roll of film before I can post any pics.Whats a descent digital camera for close ups cost?

[Tilden]

You can use individual ties for the old, removed ties, "weather",(read damage) them accordingly. New ties are usually laid out in strapped bundles, (I think nine to a bundle). I've taken ties and stained them a creasote color and bundled them, (tied them with thread). They can be laid by the track to indicate future maintenance. Every once in a while the bundles break open, since they are dropped off. You can model a split open bundle by breaking open one end and spreading the ties a bit or open both straps and spread out two or three ties along the right of way. The bundles also make a good load for a maintenance of way flat. And don't forget the rail. strips of weathered rail can be layed by the track to model future welded rail or replacement rail. Small touches but quite prototypical.

[Anonymous]

also bambo skewers(50 or so at walmart for 1.00) make great poles or round bridge timbers

[Anonymous]

I use ear cleaner swabs(after trimming the ends) for vent pipes, downspouts, and even freight car loads. Also old natural twine, cut into 1inch pieces, folded over and shoved into a hole makes a really good bunching of tall grass. I've also used electrical tape for tarpaper roofs( no painting needed,just weather and spray with Dullcote). Also coffee grounds & cat liter(screened& unused?) are nice and cheap additions to your scenery boxes.

[JohnT14808]

I haven't seen it yet so here goes.....After you fini***hat great scratch built wooden trestle, don't throw away the trimmings from the dowels or strip bass wood....scatter it around one end of the bridge and leave it as debris from the construction crew.

[Anonymous]

It'sot cheap, it's frugal, btw I use typing paper,colored with black,green or red magic markers for tar paper roof patches. For older patches, color one side and turn it over,just enough color comes thru for a nice faded touch.Break up tooth picks to look like broken lumber,palets, etc, around buildings and the like.Cut up newspaper to scale size,this doesn't have to be exact, draw some fine black lines and blots, crumple and you have litter.

[Train 284]

Good idea and the results look awesome!

[Anonymous]

"CHEAP" IS TACKY----- USE COST EFFECTIVE

[trainnut57]

Cheap is good. We LOVE cheap. I use short sections of rail from unusable flex track sections to dot along the right-of-way and in some sidings. I knew I kept those scraps for something.

[xdford]

Rather than spend time describing my work, you can find a few cheap examples of my work on http://www.xdford.digitalzones.com and check out the ersatz ground signals and the further projects... You'll find a trackside hut made out of yoghurt containers as well as batery and relay boxes made out of styrene offcuts... which could just as easily have been margarine and yoghurt containers... Hope you enjoy them!

[Anonymous]

agree with Prairieshortline, don't save on the real stuff, but the more you save on senery, the more [2c]money you have for more trains[^][^]
Are the ear cleaners in the US also hollow, they are better for pipe in stacks, plus they come in different colours![}:)] Just chop the ends of after use.
Down under[swg]

[Anonymous]

.[:p][:p] Don't knock your suggestion, I like it. I have always felt that model railroaders are cheap on everything except engines, cars and turnouts. I'm off to get some ties