Cheap Modelling Materials Sources

[LNERW1]

LNERW1 doesn't ask nicely... he asks VERY nicely and gets everyone to do everything for him! I want to get in to O gauge anyway (not right now obviously) so I might buy a kit or four for the future.

[commerlad]

Cheap motor connection wires.........

Go to your local charity shop and get a couple of the old Scart leads take home and strip.

Desoldering braid, can be obtained by stripping old Coax aerial lead.

Scale fuel delivery hose, Thin shoelaces

Caravan thin plastic fly screen works as various in different scales, chain link fence etc, cutting off a single line makes barbed wire. Concrete rebar in N

Old window blinds, The curved metal ones coach and van rooves, the more modern wooden ones lots of thin hardwood.

Fishing line lots of uses just ask your local angler for old part spools.

Dettol makes a good paint stripper but is more forgiving on plastic.

 

 

[LNERW1]

Static grass too expensive? One of the cat people on this forum posted a video (i think on the IRM Catzilla DCC thread) outlining the use of cat hair to make grass. @Broithe or @DJ Dangerous I think.

Large “popsicle” sticks work as uncouplers for tension locks- stick them under the loops and push up the hooks.

Edited December 15, 2024 by LNERW1

[Mol_PMB]

1 minute ago, LNERW1 said:

Static grass too expensive? One of the cat people on this forum posted a video (i think on the IRM Catzilla DCC thread) outlining the use of cat hair to make grass. @Broithe or @DJ Dangerous I think.

Now I have visions of trying to shear a cat using electric hair clippers! I don't think it would appreciate the trim...

[LNERW1]

IIRC it was with cat hair found lying around the house- plenty of course!

[Broithe]

It is a process that is not for the fainthearted...
 

 

[LNERW1]

Tipp-ex could probably be used as some sort of white paint in a pinch. There are three main forms in which you can purchase the stuff, and I can think of at least one use for each.

Pot and sponge/brush: general white paint- you would have to be in quite a pinch in fairness but it isn’t too off-white so it could be passable.

”Shake ‘n’ Squeeze” applicator pen: lining. It is difficult to use precisely but it’s easy enough to learn how to make smaller marks with it. If you had some masking tape on hand it would make neatness a lot easier. You likely wouldn’t need any fancy stuff either as Tipp-ex is fairly viscous and so would probably have trouble getting under tape.

Those little tape-mouse thingies: Lining on platform edges. To be honest that’s the best I can think of. If you found a wagon with the right size planks it could conceivably be used to recolour some planks on a wooden wagon to give the effect of replacement, but that would probably only be useful in larger scales, and let’s face it, if you’re modelling in a scale large enough for this to be viable, money is likely not a problem for you. Or at least it wouldn’t be if you didn’t spend it all on trains.

Now please keep in mind I haven’t tried any of this. I just felt an urgent need to post something and feel somewhat useful, so these are just some thoughts that I’ve had floating around for a while. All the best, LNERW1.

Edited January 27 by LNERW1

[commerlad]

17 hours ago, LNERW1 said:

Tipp-ex could probably be used as some sort of white paint in a pinch. There are three main forms in which you can purchase the stuff, and I can think of at least one use for each.

Pot and sponge/brush: general white paint- you would have to be in quite a pinch in fairness but it isn’t too off-white so it could be passable.

”Shake ‘n’ Squeeze” applicator pen: lining. It is difficult to use precisely but it’s easy enough to learn how to make smaller marks with it. If you had some masking tape on hand it would make neatness a lot easier. You likely wouldn’t need any fancy stuff either as Tipp-ex is fairly viscous and so would probably have trouble getting under tape.

Those little tape-mouse thingies: Lining on platform edges. To be honest that’s the best I can think of. If you found a wagon with the right size planks it could conceivably be used to recolour some planks on a wooden wagon to give the effect of replacement, but that would probably only be useful in larger scales, and let’s face it, if you’re modelling in a scale large enough for this to be viable, money is likely not a problem for you. Or at least it wouldn’t be if you didn’t spend it all on trains.

Now please keep in mind I haven’t tried any of this. I just felt an urgent need to post something and feel somewhat useful, so these are just some thoughts that I’ve had floating around for a while. All the best, LNERW1.

Don't know about paint but the old style stuff does make decent plastic filler.