Many of you probably do this also but I find that anytime we are about to throw something in the trash my first thought is…hey, can I use this in the train room. I end up collecting all kinds of strange stuff like various containers, pieces of plastic, wood, foam, etc., and all kinds of things. If anyone happens to see some of this stuff they’re going to think I’m some kind of eccentric weirdo, but, some of these things sure come in handy at times.
Jerry
Jerry,
I really know what you mean. I have found myself searching through odd items at the hardware store, just to locate some obscure piece for detail part.
Yep! I agree totally with you on this one. I especially appreciate the fact that many model railroaders are adept at recycling all kinds of items that many people just throw out in the trash.
For example, I am currently collecting empty cardboard milk cartons. I rinse them out then cut the top off, rise again, and dry them thoroughly. I then use them for storage containers of various items such as separated wood screws, drywall screws, paint brushes, scrap pieces of scale lumber, small electrical terminals. The great thing about them too is that nine of them will fit quite nicely into a plastic milk crate, and are great for stacking when moving around the layout.
Jerry,
As hard as it may be to do it, at some point you will have to decide what to keep and what to dispose of. The alternative to ridding yourself of the clutter is to be inundated with clutter. It could get so bad that your train activities could be negatively affected. You may not be able to reach your layout!
I speak from experience. I am still trying to rid my train room of excess items that were put there “temporarily”. It has been a slow process. The only way I have had any success is to use the “two-year rule”: if it hasn’t been used in two years, you don’t need it! Get rid of it!
Yes, there will be times when you think, “I had one of those and I threw it out!” So what? Go get another one! You don’t need to store something for years “just in case”. Free yourself now so you can get back to enjoying your hobby!
Darrell, quiet…for now
You seem to be a perfectly normal model railroader (assuming that “normal model railroader” isn’t an oxymoron.) Among the barnacles that have attached themselves to the good ship Tomikawa Maru are:
And that’s just what I can think of off the top of my head.
About half a century ago, when MRR was running a cartoon strip called, “The Silver Plate Road,” its hero, Mr Van(derbilt?) incurred his wife’s wrath by interrupting the Easter Parade to rescue a piece of potential handrail stock from a trash can. At about the same time, a model railroader was overheard to say of another, “He’s really new. He doesn’t even have a junk box.”
My only advice is to try to keep the junk sufficiently organized that you can find that special item when you need it.
Chuck
Oh yah! Im just like the rest of you guys. I find myself constantly evaluating objects for some purpose useful in modeling. Especially since I started scratch building… to funny LOL
I hear yo ubrother. If you havent used it in a year fill the trash can that is what I do.
Otherwise I cant find anything with all the piles of stuff around!
What a mess I had moving taking down my layout and packing my shop for a move earlier this year. I packed everything and finally went through it and threw out most of the junk. Wire, boxes, cartons, containers, boxes filled with sprues, crap and more crap. Won’t do that again. I’m focusing on what will go on my new layout - Nothing else (I hope).
I hear ya…Every time we go up into the mountains, desert, ocean I slowley wonder off looking at various shrubs, twigs, lichen, forrest floor goodies like logs and such and best of all sage brush (fantistic trees).
This has happened so much my wife can see an almost comatose glassy eyed stare and the gears turning,(wow I could use that I think, better grab it just in case.). Usually what snaps be back to the non-trai9n word is “honey if you like hot meals and sleeping indoors…LETS GO!!”
OK I hear rhe guys saying …If ya dont use it in…(I cant go on with that statement…gives me chest pains.) I guess what Im trying to say is that Im no great guru of modeling, but I can get ten pounds in a five pound bag…problem is…I now only buy ten pound bags. And yes I let the garbage man take the garbage once a week…except for the good stuff. LOL…John
Most of the time, if I save it, I never need it. If I toss it, I need it in 2 weeks.