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 Posted - April 23 2015 : 11:18:13 AM
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I was looking at Eric's trolley layout and noticed that he is making his own buildings somewhat. That can eat up large amounts of styrene quickly. As everyone knows, plastic supplies can be expensive. So, one of my tips to save money is to use the plastic, car dealer name license plates that they stick on a new or used car when you get it. Most of us have some type of contact at a car dealership and when I asked about getting a couple of them I was handed a stack. Obviously they also remove any from competing dealers and throw them away. These are great for a lot of things.
One other tip that I picked up a few years ago is to save the little plastic doo-hickey that keeps a bag of bread or buns closed. These are great to cut up for coupler shimming and make a great source for little pieces when you are repairing steps and pilots and things like that. I have made sunshades for diesel cab out of them.
I also found that on a potato bag the plastic thing is a lot thicker and larger making it nice for when a regular closure is too thin or too small.
Randy
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Posted - April 23 2015 : 12:06:34 PM
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GREAT tip Randy - would not of thought of that in a hundred years
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - April 23 2015 : 3:15:42 PM
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| If you can get plastic signs from old advertising from big box stores, those are typically styrene and pretty thick. I have some old Verizon signs from Sprawlmart. They are about 2' x 4'.
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Posted - April 24 2015 : 2:34:01 PM
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Sample credit or membership cards that come in junk mail can be sanded flat and then used for 1950's style billboards. These sometimes come in 2 packs. Use one for the main billboard (after adding your own graphic) and cut up the other one to form the framing and structure for the billboard.
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
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Posted - April 25 2015 : 11:13:07 AM
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That trick about using a credit type card as a billboard is pretty cool.
Randy
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Posted - January 17 2016 : 2:01:11 PM
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Those sample cards are also pretty good as raw plastic material. Same goes for used-up gift cards and expired credit, debit, membership, whatever cards. It's where I've gotten most of my plastic for customizing.
The clear plastic from packaging is good for window glazing and whatnot, as is the cellophane from junk mail envelopes should you need something thinner.
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - January 17 2016 : 3:16:03 PM
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Yep, I find it hard to just throw stuff away.
I have to first look at it from a modelling viewpoint.
Pen barrels, empty refills.
Springs of almost any size.
Try taking apart an ink jet printer some time.
Yikes!
Evan
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