Anyone up for some more cheap trackside detail? Mini Tutorial.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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In a recent thread there was mention of using bolts wrapped with aluminum foil to simulate pipe loads for flat cars. Well, being into cheap, I decided to do some galvanized pipe for use along the tracks. Problem is, pipe is hollow, bolts aren’t! The other day I ran across some threaded hollow rod that was left over from “honeydo” light fixture hanging projects in my toolbox. They’re about the right diameter for large culverts in HO scale so I used them for detail parts. It’s very easy, but here’s how they went together…

First, paint the ends and inside of the rod silver.

Next, cut appropriately sized strips of aluminum foil. I prefer the “heavy duty” variety to resist tears.

A small piece of scotch tape was used to secure the foil to the rod so it could be tightly wrapped. The “dull” side of the foil looks right to simulate a galvanized finish.

Use your fingernail to gently add the “corrugation” to the “pipe”. When finished, touch up any areas that need it with silver paint.

Well, they aren’t perfect but they are easy and cheap to construct. They also add detail!!!

Happy railroading!

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i love the idea grande man love it great job,its like when i thought of the tie crosssing thing
carl.

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grande man, LOOKS GREAT! i think its an awsome idea. the way your layout looks from your photography, hey , ANY tutorial you do, count ME in for a look see. i REALLY enjoy the pictuers you post.[:D] keep the pictures, and tutorials comeing! GREAT WORK! [:D]

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I’ve got another idea for cheap detail!![:D]

It’s not something I can do yet because I don’t have a layout. But it’s an idea.[:)]

TRACK-SIDE GRASS THAT CAN’T BE CUT BY THE MOWER
1: Take some old paint brushes that you won’t be using.
2: Cut the fibers, or bristles, or whatever you call them into 1/4" to 1/2" long strands.
3: Glue them all along the sides of the track roadbed to look like grass that can’t be reached with a mower.
4: Paint the strands green.

If any of you wan’t to try it out to see if it works and it works, then could you post some pictures, please?[angel]

5

Great idea Grande Man,

Here is my Soda Machine Method:

I saw this idea on the N Scale TrainBoard.Com web forums so not my idea but here’s how I created a pile of vending machines for community.

Here are the tools I used:
Small Square, Scale Rulers, Xacto Knife, Tweezer, Clear Parts Cement, Black Permanent Marker

Materials:
Glossy Photo Paper, Strip Styrene correct for your scale and vending machine size

A camera or search the web with Google for “Vending Machines”.

Your computer that has a graphics program installed, I used Photoshop CS.

I first scanned in a scale ruler so I could actually size the vending machine for my scale. I then took the image and copied it into the image of the scale ruler.

I then duplicated the vending machines that would fill a 8.5 X 11 sheet of glossy photo paper.

I then printed this out on my printer using the highest quality settings my printer has.

Next I carefully cut out the soda machine.

I then scored the styrene to the size of the paper vending machine. A Chopper III would be better.

Next used Clear Parts Cement and spread out on the front of the styrene.

Place on the styrene so it’s square. When it has dried, you may want to trim any excess styrene or square the machine.

Next I used a black permanent marker and do top, both sides, bottom and back getting a nice even

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Way cool! Great scenic item! Anyone got copies of the NASCAR machines out there? I want a Dale Earnhardt Sr machine!

Rotor

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Dave,

Very nice. Easy and cheap.

Grande, I can’t seem to see the photos you post. What format are you using? Probably my old computer. Your idea sounds interesting. Would like to see it.

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Awesome, David! I need to do some “retro” versions. Ya’ll keep the ideas coming…

Trainnut, not sure why you can’t see the pics. Picture Trail was down for a short time last night. Maybe they are still having some problems. Try right clicking on them and then select “view image”. That may work.

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I am going to take my digital camera out and get some “better” shots as I am not real happy with the fine detail of the images I took from the web. They are usually at 72 DPI which is fine for looking at on a computer, but leave a lot to be desired when printing. With many printers have 2000+ dpi capability and many digital cameras with similar if not higher megapixels/dpi I would think you could get a real looking anything you want. I have seen the Earnhardt machine at the grocery store up the street. I think I will grab a couple of shots. When I do Rotor, I well blast a PM to you and get you a picture. I want to get some newspaper vending machines, signage, billboards etc. Depending on what you are replicating, I would try different paper types, glossy, matte, or even plain copier paper. I did my centerbeam lumber loads similar to the vending machines.

Thanks for the compliments, but thank Eric aka Grande Man for those great detail shots of his railroad, the ties, welded rail etc. I really wish MR would create a Clinics Section so we could all start dedicated areas for use to share and exchange, so much great stuff and ideas get lost in the noise in the General Discussion area.

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Thanks for the positive comments! I post pics because I enjoy looking at everyone’s MR pics. This is a “visual” hobby. I hope everyone will keep/begin posting their pics and ideas. That’s what makes these forums such a great asset to the hobby.