Tools, tips and tricks
Inter mountain SD45t-2. ditch lights want to add them. N scale
Scooped 3 of these off Ebay for cheap. They run well and I would like to replace the stadard LED on them to a better one and add ditch lights. Can it be done? The head light comes on when running forward and the rear ligts only when running backward. Should they be on all the time or leave as is?
LED suggestions?
Ditch lights. Guess I'll have to drill new holes for them, but what can I use for LED's? Has anyone done his before? I"m going to run them on a table layout so DC will be the power supply.
Suggestions?
A handy painting tip...
After once again knocking over a open bottle of paint with the back of my hand, spilling paint across EVERYTHING on my workbench... I finally decided to come up with something to hold the paint up out of the way, but still readily at hand. The results have been quite useful, so I thought some of you might also find it of interest...
Tip: Pin cushion to save your fingers
Has this ever happen to you? - you reach into a box of push pins or T-pins and OUCH! you get stuck! Well, it's happened to me a number of times. A few days ago when after an especially nasty experience (I rammed a push pin up under my fingernail!) I thought that there must be a better way. I thought "why not use a pin cushion?" I grabbed a scrap piece of 2" foam and stuck it with push pins and t-pins along with my small drill bit and file. Now I can work without drawing blood - what a concept!
Tip: Glue application bottle for applying thinned white glue
I thought that I would share this tip on a bottle that I use to apply thinned (25% glue / 75% water) white glue to ballast. I purchased a squeeze bottle from Hobby Lobby and screwed on an inflation needle used to inflate balls and such. The result is a tip with a very small hole that allows for precise application of the glue without washing away the ballast. With the capacity of the bottle I don't have to "reload" like when using an eye dropper or pipette. When it's not in use I seal the tip with a tooth pick.
Lesson learned: Backdrop
I am building a switching layout in three 4-foot sections so that it could be taken apart and moved if necessary. This is the first time I have built a backdrop, so it was a bit of a learning experience. I used the usual 1/8 inch hardboard in 24" x 48" pieces mounted on 1" x 2" lumber.
Cheap model bulilding assembly jig
I've been thinking of buying one of those steel trays with magnets for holding structures together while gluing but the other day my son-in-law was dumping an old tower pc. I took off the sides, hammered flat a couple of tabs and now have two large, flat sheets of steel. Adding some cheap Pound store magnets has given me an economical alternative. Money saved to spend on better stuff!
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