I have a bunch of these just laying around. Seems like they could be used for something on a model railroad but can’t think of anything right off except maybe a N scale turntable. Anybody have any ideas?
A 1:1 discotheque?
Not so much the discs them selves, but I have Disassembled a few “dead” CD Roms for the parts inside. many miniature screws, and usually 3 small motors in each one. Now they are small motors, usually 5 volt. But you can install them where a normal motor wont or cant go, and with a decoder you can limit the voltage and speed of the unit. 
My Hustler A&B units each have motors from CD roms on top of Athearn 6 wheel trucks,. free motors are cool!
Over a decade ago, I tried to cement 30 or so AOL disks together to form a cylindrical base for a small stand to hold keys and stuff - I tried various types of glues, cements, and expoys, with no success - any adhesive I tried on those CD had the lasting property of warm spit. Maybe you can find some adhesive that actually works, I couldn’t back then.
If you do find a workable glue, well those disks are 12cm in diameter, maybe you could use them as the base of a large fountain in a park or public space, with a central large statue over the spindle hole? Mirror side up, coat with matte medium or something to mimic shallow pool of water, brickor cement retaining wall along the outer edge?
I use the lid of the packaging that I get my CD-Rs in as a mixing bowl for scuptamold in small quantities.
The discs themselves could in some circumstances be used as shims such as under sub-roadbed.
A little late now but I probably could have used an old disc as the template for the curved cul de sac – not the spacious kind with houses all around the curve but the tight kind just slightly broader than the road itself.
Dave Nelson
Chutton,
The fountain idea is a good one. It won’t put much of a dent in my pile (how many fountains does one want or can fit on a layout) but the glassy surface is perfect for water and the hole in the middle can be covered with the fountain or statue. How about cutting them up for windows on a modern office building with the mirrored glass windows and little to no framing? The fact that a poster said he could not find a glue that would work on the material would cause a problem with adhering them to anything. What are the discs actually made of?
The first thing that came to mind for me was flying saucers.[:D] With a whole stack of CDs and some creativity, you could have a whole alien invasion!
I can’t believe some of you guys are actually serious about this… [:S]
Silicone Caulk will work on ANTHING!
But you have given the LION ideas. Him has lots of these, and when him has dead HDDs him takes them apart and salvages the magnets and the disks. At least the FBI will not be able to get my data off of them, and the magnets are good everywhere around the layout.
Hang s disk above your layout and line up people on the streets and rooftops pointing up at it. You can be the first to have a UFO on your layout.
Mostly we get UFOs for lunch. We call them unidentified frying objects!
ROAR
Pirate,
Some of us who don’t buy everything RTR or in kits like the challenge of finding uses for everyday objects and throw-a-ways on our layouts. To brainstorm and come up with modeling uses for mundane objects is not just a frivolous adventure. I have gained many great ideas on how to use things I would not ordinarily think about (ie. old computer ribbon connectors for corrugated metal, weeds and sagebrush for tree armatures, musical greetings cards with flashing lights for emergency vehicle lighting, etc.) My layout will now have a city park as described in the March 2013 MR with a “DVD” fountain in the center of it.
Or skeet! [:O][(-D]
I have to agree with the LION here! I took apart a hard drive and removed the magnets from the pick-up arm and held on to them for no real reason other than they were so STRONG! (Rare earth?)
So, a few weeks later I found that I had to do another total reset on a BLI QSI decoder and the supplied magnet was not strong enough to trip the reed switch through the tender shell.
HDD magnet to the rescue! I just parked that beast over the coal pile and that did the trick…
I’m always collecting “useless” junk and looking for a way to “re-purpose” it.
As for dead CDs here’s a thought. I might drill some holes in one and push LEDs through so the reflective surface will help illuminate buildings. It would be easy to wire the LEDs from the back then stick the disk to the ceiling with foam tape. Worth a try and it would be non conductive rather than using foil…
Ed
Some of us don’t have much and therefore look for ways to reuse stuff.
I’ve been using them for coasters on the computer desk for years.
Wayne
Here’s a motor from an old floppy drive. The metal tab on the black plastic part engages with the threaded rod to move the plastic piece back and forth. You could use this to animate something on a layout. Although I think you’re going to need some sort of driver for the stepper motor. Not sure if it would be more trouble than it’s worth.
Steve S
This is an N scale turntable I made awhile back with old CD and case…
You all have a good one…Jerry
Hi Ed,
That’s a good idea. The reflective surface would be good for getting more light inside your structure. Plus the solid nature of the disc would prevent light leakage through some structures.
Derek
Thanks to all who submitted ideas. I think I will experiment this weekend with making a “water wall.” Here in Houston we have several of these around town. They are a tall wall with a thin sheet of water cascading down the face. By using the DVD’s cut in rectangular sections and stacked together for the wall and building it in the horizontal position like you would a stream. Then add the gloss medium on the surface with maybe narrow streams of hot glue. Highlight with some white paint and install it vertically. Worth an experiment anyway.
This is a track guard that I used an old CD case for…
You all have a great day…Jerry
You could run a DVD or several through a kitchen blender, then use the remains to detail an enterprise that deals in glass cullet and scrap mirrors. Gondolas, loaded and empty, portable conveyor belts, receiving building for loaded trucks…
Just make sure your little workers are wearing boots with armored soles…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)