Talking T Gauge

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

Also, is it possible to make mountains out of StyroFoam, stacking it wedding-cake fashion, or should I just find out on my own?
_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

B 67 · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

It's possible to make mountains out of all sorts of things - including molehills apparently. Cool

_________________
Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

In this case, ant hills might better fit the bill... Rolling Eyes

_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

TBA · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Massachusetts

In another post on this board I posted an architectural-model maker site showing terrain modeled with layers of foam or cardboard, looking like contour maps. It might be quicker to stack and carve thick slabs of foam though.
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Brian Austin

David K Smith · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

I use stacked Foamcore for parts of my Z scale layout.

Unless you're talking about thin foam sheeting, the blue or pink stuff is a bit thick for T. I used it for a large N scale layout.

_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

Neither: StyroFoam, like you find in some packaging, except I have (or now had) sheets of it.
_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

David K Smith · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject:

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

Yes, as I found out yesterday... Rolling Eyes

_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

victorian t gauge · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject:

hahahaha yes!, verrrrry messy... i carved nowa nowa from foam like that. it went EVERYWHERE!!! i had to use the compressor with an air attachment to "de foam" myself. Laughing

TBA · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Massachusetts

Styrofoam does tend to get full of static electricity doesn't it?

Might be an idea to have a shop vac running as you shape it, instead of trying to clean up the aftermath later? Smile

Does anybody use papier-mache these days?
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Brian Austin

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

Three little words...
Hot.
Wire.
Cutter.
Simple, easy and no mess.
You could buy the ridiculously expensive Woodland scenics one. Or you could go down to your local craft shop and buy a cheap battery operated one for a few dollars.

Ian
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I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/

B 67 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:36 am Post subject:

Agreed - a hot wire cutter will eliminate virtually all of the mess.

Headling slightly off topic, my first experience with one of these was at school in 1985. I was in year 12 and was involved in the media section of a solar car project. My task was to make a large sign promoting the project at an exhibition. The letters and school logo were to be cut from polystyrene foam. For this, a large hot wire cutter was made from an old metal-framed desk with a hole cut in it, through which a length of resistance wire about a metre long was threaded to a frame welded to the desk. All well and good. But here's the scary part. It was powered from a variable transformer that had a dial to set from 0 to 240 volts. The ideal cutting temperature was at about 50 volts. Fortunately I worked alone in the room (with all the windows open for much needed ventilation) and in any case, put the transformer where nobody could sneak up behind me and mess with it. In today's safety-conscience environment, this would never be allowed now. Apart from the electrocution risk, the fumes from cutting all that foam would be an issue now as well. I remember I had to take frequent breaks from the room. Laughing

_________________
Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

DJdeTrainman · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 93 Location: New Jersey, USA

2 things: One, I did it already, and two, I did it on my porch, just sweep the "aftermath" out the door Cool

.
_________________
D.J. (Now also Other David, since Mr. Smith was here first)

http://www.trainweb.org/mccann/offer.htm
-Silence is golden...
...but the noise from T gauge must be at least a bronze.

zomer · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:54 am Post subject:

I carved out my hills in my computer room. I just left the mess in there and waited for a bush fire to come along and burn the mess away........problem solved!!!!

I have been looking for a wire cutter for ages but couldnt find one. I might try eBay!!
_________________
Victorian T Gauge Blog
http://www.victorian-tgauge.blogspot.com/

B 67 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:46 am Post subject: