Jimmy, a $17 keyboard vacuum is really REALLY useful. I use the Honkyob brand cheap and 'bad' keyboard vacuum. Its low power is absolutely perfect for reclaiming static grass, ballast, or any other N scale particle material one is glueing down. It's just powerful enough to take the unglued material without removing anything tacked down by damping with glue or water. Its like a magic wand when doing static grass. Allowing me to see what is going to stay attached immediately and apply more to get the right effect without unglued material confusing my impression of how it will look when dry. I clean it out before using specific materials and they are reclaimed in a pure form that I can immediately reuse. Its making all my materials last a ridiculously long time, wasting almost nothing. It is worth it for how much one can save in materials alone, the time savings and ability to detail and clean up areas easily is a bonus. I have a 2.5gallon shop vac which is the smallest, but it will suck up materials freshly glued down with scenic cement etc. The lower power vacuum, actually fairly weak and gutless for any normal mess, is perfect for the diorama modeller. This is the one I bought, batteries last a long time and charge quickly. www.amazon.com/Cleaner-Collection-Cleaning-Keyboard-Cigarette/dp/B0761JHZ27?th=1
we buy boxed salad at Aldi's. The construction of the box is such that the lid is readily separated from the container when we're through with the salad. The clear plastic gives the appearance of old time window glass. Use it all the time when scratchbuilding structures!
The dollar store sells card holders for hockey or baseball cards. You separate the 2 sides and you have clear material for windows. Thanks for the tips Jimmy!
I've been using blister packs for years for windows. Once the brushes wear out you can use the bristles for static grass after painting 'em. I use my Dremel tool a lot! Heat guns work great to shrink heat shrink.
I bought a small drill chuck from Wish in China for $2.00 plus $2.00 postage and use it in my battery screwdriver that has a maximum 150 Rpm so makes it ideal for drilling with number drills below 1mm. Love your videos on budget RR I live in New Zealand and model American in N scale.
hi Jimmy... i have been using different variations of the "for sale" signs for 4 years..good replacement for evergreen & plastruct..all the other stuff you showed also make great substitutes...great video..thx for sharing... cuz
Great tips and tricks Jimmy thank you, i keep a lot of packaging and boxes from my parcels, even breakfast cereal boxes are a great source for card stock.
Great video, tons of useful information! The cookie tin is also a great industrial storage tank or silo. Simply wrapped in white paper, or even a print of a texture for whatever material its supposed to be.
I just came across your videos,a few days ago.Enjoy the tpis for budget railroading.Not everything has to be bought at the hobby store or online.One thing i would say when using any tools think eye safety.Great Video,Happy Model Railroading.🚂😊
Good tips. I have also found the car dealership tags are a good source for styrene plastic an is a bit thicker than for sale signs. The small down side is the size depending on how big a piece you need.
Great video jimmy. I use my rotary a lot. Cuts track like butter. I use the clear plastic and for sale signs. Another item I use to make my roads and concrete pads from is craft foam. It’s about $.35 per sheet at Walmart. Great stuff and easy to paint and score lines and cracks in. Also those blister packs can be made into flatcar loads if you paint and tarp them! Thanks for sharing sharing buddy. 😃👍
Microbrushes are so useful for so many things... Hobby Lobby sells a pack of 10 for $3.99. You can get a pack of 400 from Amazon for around $10. Various sizes and no shipping charge if you have Prime.
Thanks all good hints, I found a good source for will no to good on shipping but the price on some items can be cheap is WISH. AND DONT FORGET THE 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby....thanks for sharing....Jack
Using an old hair dryer is probably a bit safer than a heat gun. I have both the hose type and the stylist types and both direct a warming fast/slow stream of air to the project. Not good for heat shrinking.
Nice video, but all the safety warnings are tedious. Knife is sharp, don't cut yourself. Heat gun is hot. Microbrush can put your eye out. I know you have to do it, we've let the inmates take over the asylum.
Jimmy, a $17 keyboard vacuum is really REALLY useful. I use the Honkyob brand cheap and 'bad' keyboard vacuum. Its low power is absolutely perfect for reclaiming static grass, ballast, or any other N scale particle material one is glueing down. It's just powerful enough to take the unglued material without removing anything tacked down by damping with glue or water. Its like a magic wand when doing static grass. Allowing me to see what is going to stay attached immediately and apply more to get the right effect without unglued material confusing my impression of how it will look when dry. I clean it out before using specific materials and they are reclaimed in a pure form that I can immediately reuse. Its making all my materials last a ridiculously long time, wasting almost nothing. It is worth it for how much one can save in materials alone, the time savings and ability to detail and clean up areas easily is a bonus. I have a 2.5gallon shop vac which is the smallest, but it will suck up materials freshly glued down with scenic cement etc. The lower power vacuum, actually fairly weak and gutless for any normal mess, is perfect for the diorama modeller. This is the one I bought, batteries last a long time and charge quickly. www.amazon.com/Cleaner-Collection-Cleaning-Keyboard-Cigarette/dp/B0761JHZ27?th=1
Those are some great ideas!
When Model Railroading NOTHING Is Never Off limits when model Railroading.
we buy boxed salad at Aldi's. The construction of the box is such that the lid is readily separated from the container when we're through with the salad. The clear plastic gives the appearance of old time window glass. Use it all the time when scratchbuilding structures!
Plastic carry-out boxes for windows and pringles containers are useful when wiped with damp paper towel.
wifey buys boxed spinach and aragula mix from Aldi's. Incredible source of clear plastic and lots of it.
The dollar store sells card holders for hockey or baseball cards. You separate the 2 sides and you have clear material for windows. Thanks for the tips Jimmy!
Hans Fehlow Thank you!
Great tips. For sale signs are great. If they are not strong enough for your construction, use spay adhesive to double the thickness.
Hey, Jimmy. Good tips. You can get micro brushes in bulk cheap on Amazon.
Thanks Ron! I'm glad I have prime!
If you go to Walmart they carry dremal tools as well as a battery powered rotory tool with flex shaft
I've been using blister packs for years for windows. Once the brushes wear out you can use the bristles for static grass after painting 'em. I use my Dremel tool a lot! Heat guns work great to shrink heat shrink.
I bought a small drill chuck from Wish in China for $2.00 plus $2.00 postage and use it in my battery screwdriver that has a maximum 150 Rpm so makes it ideal for drilling with number drills below 1mm. Love your videos on budget RR I live in New Zealand and model American in N scale.
Those disposable chip brushes. You can get a box for around 7 bucks at Harbor Freight. Way cheaper than Home Depot or Lowes.
hi Jimmy... i have been using different variations of the "for sale" signs for 4 years..good replacement for evergreen & plastruct..all the other stuff you showed also make great substitutes...great video..thx for sharing... cuz
bnsf6951 Thank you Vinny!
Great tips and tricks Jimmy thank you, i keep a lot of packaging and boxes from my parcels, even breakfast cereal boxes are a great source for card stock.
Thank you!
Cereal boxes are great for tunnels and building walls for stuff.
Twizted Mowers Thank you!
Great video, tons of useful information! The cookie tin is also a great industrial storage tank or silo. Simply wrapped in white paper, or even a print of a texture for whatever material its supposed to be.
I just came across your videos,a few days ago.Enjoy the tpis for budget railroading.Not everything has to be bought at the hobby store or online.One thing i would say when using any tools think eye safety.Great Video,Happy Model Railroading.🚂😊
Bob Sturgis Thank you!
flush cuts. i think is the tool i use the most. then the dremel
Good tips. I have also found the car dealership tags are a good source for styrene plastic an is a bit thicker than for sale signs. The small down side is the size depending on how big a piece you need.
Great video jimmy. I use my rotary a lot. Cuts track like butter. I use the clear plastic and for sale signs. Another item I use to make my roads and concrete pads from is craft foam. It’s about
$.35 per sheet at Walmart. Great stuff and easy to paint and score lines and cracks in. Also those blister packs can be made into flatcar loads if you paint and tarp them! Thanks for sharing sharing buddy. 😃👍
The Crooked River & Eastern RR Thank you!
Yet, another great video, Jimmy.
Rick Gould Thank you!
Sweet!!, gotta go out and buy some signs!!! Excellent video
Warbonnet Trains Thank you!
CD jewel (pack of 10 empty) cases make a great source of thick clear styrene.
TimberSurf Thank you!
Microbrushes are so useful for so many things... Hobby Lobby sells a pack of 10 for $3.99. You can get a pack of 400 from Amazon for around $10. Various sizes and no shipping charge if you have Prime.
Paul Streu Thank you!
All great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Steven Robinson Thank you!
I have become a hoarder thanks to you. Thanks a lot. 😆😂
😂😂😂
Thank you Jimmy. This is a very helpful video. You are the best... Wilmer-IHVRR
Indian Head Valley RR Thank you!
At plastic distributors you can buy 4x8' sheets of styrene .020, .030, 040 for less than $30.
Big Daddy Thank you!
Thanks all good hints, I found a good source for will no to good on shipping but the price on some items can be cheap is WISH. AND DONT FORGET THE 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby....thanks for sharing....Jack
Awesome tips, thanks you
Joe G Thank you!
Using an old hair dryer is probably a bit safer than a heat gun. I have both the hose type and the stylist types and both direct a warming fast/slow stream of air to the project. Not good for heat shrinking.
Can I know how much is space is required for setting up the layout like yours? Great and helpful video by the way.
MY layout is 2 80" x 30" hollow core doors in an L shape. So 110" by 80"
I find my soldering iron gets used a far amount. A 40 watt Weller goes for $20 on Amazon and seems adequate for my purposes
a blow dryer on steroids. that was a good one.. but yep, so so so correct
Nice video, but all the safety warnings are tedious. Knife is sharp, don't cut yourself. Heat gun is hot. Microbrush can put your eye out. I know you have to do it, we've let the inmates take over the asylum.
Turn off the music and talk ! It is too distracting.