The Creative Assist Thread.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Got this Idea from another hobby thread I stumbled upon and it was good for a chuckle, so I immediately thought of you lot and some of the creative assist I have seen here over the years. In the words of Scotty from Star Trek it’s “THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB!” But not always in the model railroading comunity.[swg][(-D]

I’ll offer up a couple.

After caulking down the track with these handy dandy track holders, the mighty C & O 2-10-4 awaits its owner to drink him to freedom.

I had to weigh down the spout while I applied many coats of glue to stiffen the lines in place. I used the right tools for the job.

Lets see your creativity and while your at it, how about some home made tool or gadgets you made to help get the job done.

2

This is one of my favorites. Needle Noise and Rubber Band Holder.

Same pliers holding a SMD 603 LED for soldering wires to it.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

3

I use that method a lot too.

Dave

4

Another great help is surgical clamps (Hemostat).

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

5

Probably the most used hobby tool I have is my 50 year old Panavice.

About ten years ago I drilled a ¼” hole in the knob and installed a hex shaft so that I could open and close the jaws with my 4 volt cordless drill.

Mel

My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

Bakersfield, California

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

6

For holding LEDs, I took a paint edge guide and screwed it to a scrap piece of hardwood. Works like a charm especially if you need to do a lot of them.

7

BB by Bear, on Flickr

Her-in-doors clothes pegs and hair drier have been useful aids for the Bear, (Caution: be careful when using the hair drier, styrene goes from pliable to molten mess rather quickly!) …

IMG_0331 by Bear, on Flickr

…and if the Bear is going to use tinned goods as weights, the contents are of an edible, not liquid, nature!

IMG_0333 by Bear, on Flickr

Cheers, the Bear.[:)]

8

How could the Bear leave off mentioning the creative use of Lego bricks under those beans?

–Randy

9

[#offtopic] He was too busy deciding which brand of beans is better. Baked beans make NZ an even more desireable vacation destination.

John

10

Not those English style baked beans [:P]

–Randy

11

wooden dowels, steel fishing leaders, paper clips and clothes pins make manual turnout controls…

Terry

12

Two of my favourite tools are made from pieces of cedar shakes and sewing needles. I use them to apply glue (usually CA) in tiny amounts. One has the needle with the pointy end sticking out for very small amounts. The other has the needle with the eye pointing out and the tip ground off to form a ‘Y’ shaped fork, which allows for slightly larger amounts of glue.

This is the one with the pointy end:

This is the ‘Y’ version:

Eventually the dried glue will build up on the tip but it is easy to remove with a file or an open flame (don’t inhale!)

Dave

13

“How could the Bear leave off mentioning the creative use of Lego bricks under those beans?**”

It was late, Randy. [:-^]

As the basic Lego brick is square, Forum member mcfunkeymonkey described how he used them, made to the size required, as a square when assembling square structures, such as buildings.
I’ve used his idea and it works well, however if bonding styrene, be sparing with the MEK else the Lego becomes an unintended structural reinforcement![banghead]

Is there any other sort worth eating??!! Surely not the twice as much sugar added variety!![+o(]

Cheers, the Bear.[:)]