DECORATIVE SAND: 2 LB, BLACK COARSE (LOCATED IN FLORAL ACCESSORIES AREA NEAR COLORED GLASS BEADS) |
COAL LOADS- HO SCALE |
2.99 |
|---|---|---|
SCENIC CRAFT SAND: 1 LB, BLACK FINE (LOCATED IN ARTS & CRAFTS AISLES) |
COAL LOADS -N SCALE |
2.00 |
BLACK JEWELRY STRING (NON-ELASTIC): - DANDY LINE BRAND NAME, .20 INCH DIA. - WILD FIRE BRAND NAME, .15 INCH DIA. (JEWELRY FINDINGS DISPLAY) |
CABLING FOR STRUCTURES |
6.00 9.99 |
Thanks Cedarwoodron - Good info! I picked some decorative black ‘gravel’ about the size of coal that would be used for HO steam engines at a dollar store a while ago. It will make perfect coal loads or piles. Got two bottles about 1 1/2 lbs. each for two bucks. Anyone else have any other bargain finds?
Dave
It is amazing what one can find at AC Moore’s and Michaels for model RR.
Keep looking you’ll probably find more things!
Thanks for sahring!
oh, and don’t forget M’s and AC also have 40 and or 50% off coupons in the Sunday paper insert ads, AND AC is also giving away cashregister generated coupons when you cash out!
On the, “Closer to raw materials” side, Michaels’ is my local source for sheet balsa, basswood and acrylic paints.
It’s a long safari to the nearest hobby shop. Michaels’ is in the second-closest shopping center. It’s a safe bet that, when I find a need for the kind of thing listed by the OP, Michaels’ will be the first place I look.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If you create an on line account Michaels will e-mail coupons and sale info.
http://michaels.shoplocal.com/michaels/default.aspx?action=entryflash&
This can save some $s
Happy Railroading
Bob
For sure you can find some really great buys at the craft stores. When the wife wants to go I’m always glad to tag along. She gets a 40% off coupon every week and if she doesn’t use it, I try to.
Larry
I approve! [tup]
It’s also convient to pick up testors professional modelers glue with the needle tip in the black bottle.
Add in chalks (great for weathering) and cheap paint brushes (Pig bristle brushes work great with weathering powder and are super cheap to boot)
I always check out their floral display area for cheap tree armatures.
My local Michaels is disappointing in its selection of acrylic paints. Enamels, yes, but not acrylics. Maybe 20 colors – mostly the kinds you’d paint cars, not trains or miniature figures (which is what I use them for). I have to go the LHS for those (two 1/2 hr away have a fair selection; one an hour away has a great selection).
Nice Find
Thanks for Sharing
I buy floral green (or brown) blocks that are used to plant artifical flowers and grind them up and add either Rit dye or diluted paint to make my own ground foam. It takes experimentation to get the color you want but it is a cheap way to make ground cover and the colors are endless. I have some recipes if anyone is interested. I sent an article about it to MR, but they weren’t interested as they have other articles similar to my technique.
I also buy some artifical greenery (comes in several colors but I use the light brown) that has individual stems and foliage when pulled off and painted, they look like a miniature evergreen tree.
The dried flower section has several selections that make exellent limbs and leaves for tree making when applied to an armature. One of them is purple in color and I have to repaint them green and the limb brown (used to come in natural if you can find it) . Leaving them purple makes an interesting bush.
Sorry, no pics at the moment. But if anyone is interested, I could learn how and post.
Signs and store decorations from Michael’s jewelry finding department.
(The little shells are real shells from a beach in walking distance of my house, to simulate display of shells at a seaside shop like this:)
Round sign with integral post to attach to building front, from Michael’s jewelry stuff. The buzzsaw graphic was from a Missouri Pacific decal…)
That is why they call it an arts and CRAFTS store.
EF-3 Yellowjacket
In the floral area with the pots and stuff they have a product called “pot toppers,” which can be used for ground cover in lieu of static grass. Here is a link describing pot toppers and their use:
http://ardleybridge.fotopic.net/c1501517.html
IIRC, they were featured on one of the Cody’s Office videos a while back.
I found at Michaels , what I thought was a great find. In the floral dept. where they have the foam balls and things, they have battery operated foam cutters.I got the foam cutter, the hot knife, which by the way comes with two different size saw blades and the fine tip hot pencil. I got all three for under $20.00, and that was without any discount.
Sam
Take a look through the jewelry and bead sections. Some of that stuff could be used to make architectural details for older buildings.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Envirotex or India Ink yet!
I also purchase plastic sheets used for knitting that has square holes in them. I cut them to use for chain link fence (angle it- sprayed silver) and regular cut for other fencing needs. The list goes on and on and on…
Dennis
Try the doll house dept. I use doll house lighting for my HO buildings. works great.
Sam
I get good results by blending the gray craft sand with Woodland Scenics ballast. It’s a cheap way to double the volume and still get reasonably good texture.
Lee
I’m a big fan of Michael’s and I’m usually in there at least once a month for supplies.