How can I attach the buildings to my layout and still be able to remove them, if necessary? The layout must be able to be set on end at times, so the buildings must be secure. It is a 3’x6’ N-Gauge layout.
Thank You…
Earl
Hmmmm… that’s tricky. I’m not sure how, normally you either attach them, or have them be loose.
Depending on the surface material, I would seriously consider acrylic latex caulk. Maybe silicon caulk if the material is not extruded polystyrene. Gorilla glue will do it no matter what you have.
Have you considered fixing only footings or basements to the layout, and simply topping them with their mated structures which can travel or be stored more safely elsewhere?
VELCRO?[:-^]
Build a narrow foundation for the structure out of styrene that is glued to the layout. The foundation would have tabs that stick up along the walls of the structure to lock in place with friction. You can remove the structures when you want, but they are affixed otherwise. This also allows you to lanscape to the edge of the structure so there are not any gaps when you put the structure back.
Something I do is to place the building where you want it on the layout,then use wood or plastic strips to tightly outline the structure. I then remove the structure and apply the scenery up to and over the outline,but not into where the building will be seated. Now you can place or remove the building as needed and there are no gaps showing beneath the foundation.If you are concerned about glueing the building while applying the strips around the foundation,you could use plastic wrap on the bottom of the building to prevent the glue from adhearing.I’ve found that this method also allows for a snug fit if you place the strips close enough.
Tom
Tom
I was going to ask a similar question. I was thinking about small dowel pins in the corners to keep the buildings in place. I don’t think that would work for resting a layout on in side though.
I was wondering how many people glue theirs down or just let them sit loose?
I seat them in a bead of white glue. It holds them in place but I can still easily pull them up if the need arises. To put them back down, I just moisten the glue and seat the structure back down on it.
I think the velcro idea is good or you could attach small magnets to the buildings and metal strips or other magnets to the layout. I just got some “super” strong circle magnets at Wal-Mart in the crafts area. They are so strong, I had a hard time pulling them apart![:O]
Rubber cement may also work!
I was planning on doing this exact thing using leftover sprue from kits. It should work just fine in my estimation. Any thoughts??
Similar to foundation, I use 2X 1/16 brass tubing inserted into the foam or plywood. I then drill a tight 1/16" hole in 2 places in the bottom of the piece/foundation (I actually usually do this FIRST…)… then test… Maybe coat the brass tubing with some of that paintable electrical tape/rubber stuff for more friction and you should be able to lay on its side…
Brian
I like the idea of using sprues or brass tubing as kind of locating pins to hold the structure in place by friction because it’s easy and won’t be seen from the outside. However, I’m not clear about what the OP needs. If he needs to remove the structures only occasionally, the friction method will work fine. If they have to be removed a lot (like the layout is portable and needs to get transported to shows), I’d try Velco. The friction method will get loose eventually but Velcro will allow you to attach and detach the structure a lot of times if it’s applied correctly.
If the sprues or whatever are long enough, it should be OK. But if they are short and the layout is tilted on the end and tips a little over halfway - look out below![:O][:(]
Here is something that I thought of, Suppose you were to come up through the bottom with a couple of screws and into a piece of styrene glued onto the inside of the structure. This might work OK for the thinner layouts but on the layouts that have been built up with foam the screws would have to be longer. I don’t know if this would work but it might be an idea to think about. Mike
My friend Art actually Bolts his down to the layout with 1/4 inch bolts thru the floor of the building
with a wing nut under the layout
Which I think is over kill but Art is an engineer LOL
As others, I recommend having a foundation that stays on the layout and having the buildings be removable. That way you can have scenery come right up to the building footprint without any cracks, etc. Keep in mind that the “building” usually overhangs the foundation and also comes down over it a bit. Basically, you’ll have a fake concrete (I’d suggest styrene) plug that the building fits down on.
As for holding the buildings on while you tip the layout sideways, perhaps magnets??? The bolt-down idea sounds pretty good, too, if you don’t want to take them off too often.
Ed
Oh duh! Why didn’t I think of that?!?![banghead]
Good idea!
I use rubber cement. It holds very well and is easy to remove by running a wide blade Xacto knife betwwen the building and the surface it is attched to. No damage to either surface.
I was thinking of, but with bolts smaller than 1/4 - perhaps 1/8"?