Large Scale Central

Tricks/recycling

General Discussion
#62

Okay, here are some along the more “serious” modeling side. Turning the LGB European brake hoses into North American style brake hoses. Needed: razor saw, rod stock, a drill bit the same size as the rod stock, and flat silver, steel, or gun metal colored paint.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/BkeHos01.jpg)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/BkeHos02.jpg)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/BkeHos03.jpg)

Some mechanical pencil lead refill containers can make credible mileposts.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/Milepost.jpg)

A cream cup from most fast food joints, an aluminum bottle cap, some wire, and some paints will yield a plausable trash can. (You may want to glue some BBs or a sinker inside to keep it from blowing away.)

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/davemeashey/Trashcan.jpg)

My $0.02, David Meashey

#63

I like the trash can Dave. :slight_smile:

#64

Here’s one for Halloween: at the clearance I picked up “Glow in the Dark Nail Polish”. It works well for safety markers, and for the liquid Irium leaking from the tank cars!

#65

Great ideas. They always say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But who’s keeping track anyways!

#66

Those little allen keys with the blue handles that come with aristo track works great for removing balast ect… from switches. Just stick it in the ground by each switch. You never have to look for a small tool to remove balast ect…

#67
Shawn said:
Those little allen keys with the blue handles that come with aristo track works great for removing balast ect.. from switches. Just stick it in the ground by each switch. You never have to look for a small tool to remove balast ect....
Never thought of leaving them out there. Good idea. I usually carry an assortment of tools; a cheap paintbrush cut very short, a small screwdriver, and several of those Aristo blue hex drivers. The little blue tools work good as brakes too when switching on a grade.
#68

The little Aristo drivers do rust, but are very usable for many things.

#69

If you use insulin like me for diabetes or know someone who does here’s one. Use the caps on the insulin bottles. I use a cap for the stove pipe top, a little 1/4-inch dowel and a little black paint. Now my buildings stay “warm” in the winter!

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/doug_arnold/_forumfiles/stove.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/doug_arnold/_forumfiles/stove1.JPG)

#70

Was going back over some old post and found this on tips. Started to laf at… Steve Featherkile post.

" May 10, 2010 10:52:14 MST Reply | Quote

I found that dried blood makes a wonderful substitute for rust when weathering your stuff. Don’t ask…

~I always wake up with a smile on Mondays…just so I can get that unpleasant task over with for the week.~ "

Steve…What is really bad is when you been working on something for a few hr’s. and find out some odd weathering really looks good. Then you look down and see where it came from. Gosh… that was me.

#71
Ken Brunt said:
Richard Smith said:
And don't forget, in conclusion since this thread appears about done... Old martini glasses make excellent containers for holding mixed paints, handy handle too. Silver cocktail shakers for mixing paint. Caviar tins for parts containers. Gold coins from Uncle's collection make great medallions on buildings and come in various sizes. Silver ingots can be melted down to cast many small parts. Cuban cigars placed inside smokestacks, lit and provided with an airflow, can provide a half hour of fine smelling smoke for industries. Hundred year old cognac makes a great paint thinner. Small rubies and emeralds are swell lenses for traffic lights.

No matter what your station in life you can always find a way to save…
:wink: :smiley: :slight_smile:

Seriously though, a great bunch of very useful ideas in this thread.


Damn, and all this time I been throwing that stuff away…iffen I’d only known…:wink:

…
Yes like other things… Rolex watches for bell towers, Golden ear rings for screw jack, Big thick cured filetmignon mixed in blender with some eggnog for food to grow moss in hot summers of calif.
Dimonds for Eng. head and marker lights.
IFEN WE ONLY KNOW’EN Darn …oh crap sniff…

YA RIGHT…LAF. Couldn’t resist…

#72

A slightly cheaper container for parts. Use on of those KFC containers they use for side orders.

#73

I’ve been meaning to add this one to the list… Every time the family goes to the dentist, we always leave with a new toothbrush for each of us and a travel tube of toothpaste. After collecting a lot of them, and then recently cleaning out the closet (and getting rid of those with expired dates), I’ve used the plastic insert in the tubes of toothpaste for street lights…(you could also use the toothbrush for cleaning)

(http://www.largescaleonline.com/eimages/lsolpics/Team_Member_Pics/dimiterie/Tips_and_Tricks/528122664_480x640.jpg)

#74

Now, I really like that tip Matt.

And William, your statement (Great ideas. They always say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But who’s keeping track anyways!) gets my answer of , if you’re not keeping track, then by all means send it my way :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

#75

well, that is interesting! i always used the metal of the tubes (for doorhinges and similar stuff), but i never looked up their throats.

#76

I just shortened a section of track lighting for a shop project and pulled the three leftover copper strips out. The will make great stirrup steps. Material is .015 thick by .150 wide. A touch heavy in both directions, but I don’t think I will see anyone checking with a caliper…:slight_smile:

Bob C.

#77

But who cuts up a tube of toothpaste to see if there is something inside worth using?

#78

Jim Schneider said:

But who cuts up a tube of toothpaste to see if there is something inside worth using?

a real scratch builder, i suppose.

#79

Here’s an engine shed made of sign board when I was out of work.

http://www.largescalecentral.com/albums/view/11855

not sure how to add pics yet.

#80

Click on thumbnail to expand the photo, then “Right Click” on the expanded photo and select “Copy Image Location” Paste that url, which ends with .jpg into your thread.

(http://www.largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/8d/a9/01/1a6e5_af1f.jpg)

Remove everything after .jpg so it doesn’t show in your post.

Good looking building.

Click on quote for this post to see just what I mean.

#81

Thank you Steve!