Another thing I want to know is how many days, weeks or months does it take to set up these Christmas layouts?
Here is my only fear in using cotton or snow blankets: You have to be careful it does not get up from the track and tangled in the wheels of engines or cars. Been here done that (one was the holiday Celebrations stuff you show). What brand / type track are you using.
For mountain - stacking Styrofoam is fastest and most realistic. Can be painted and stored easily.
@Yojimbo posted:I would suggest white, tightly woven felt, a la a pool table. It’s durable, easy to decorate and less threads and stray material getting into the engine.
@CurtisH posted:Here is my only fear in using cotton or snow blankets: You have to be careful it does not get up from the track and tangled in the wheels of engines or cars. Been here done that (one was the holiday Celebrations stuff you show). What brand / type track are you using.
For mountain - stacking Styrofoam is fastest and most realistic. Can be painted and stored easily.
I use thick felt, about 1/8" thick, not flannel. Any of the cotton blankets I've use over the years have been terrible in terms of getting into running gear and axle bearings. Also, trees and people aren't all that stable on cotton.
In the picture, you can see some felt being laid over the stryofoam.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
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Does FastTrack interfere with the snow blankets?
Kwisor,
That is a beautiful layout in your video. Thanks for sharing.
@onetrackmind posted:Does FastTrack interfere with the snow blankets?
There's a version of the fluffy stuff that has metal flakes in it and it will mess with FasTrack power -- ask me how I know. I've had no problem using the same stuff without the flakes on my Christmas layout using FasTrack. However, the other problem, flakes or not, is if you want to screw down the track. If that stuff is directly under the track, it will catch on the screw and start to twist and tear along with it. So the other thing I've learned to do is use the track as a template to cut out the fabric so there's none on the underside.
@onetrackmind posted:Does FastTrack interfere with the snow blankets?
No sure what you mean by snow blanket, but with cotton the track can 'settle' unevenly, it's just too soft. Cotton is okay as long as you don't run trains and expect people and trees to remain standing.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
I took inspiration from kstrains' video about the progress he made on his 2014 layout. According to the user, he used cotton rolls from his local Walmart. My layout should be less complex in design and will incorporate Lego Modular Buildings instead of Department 56 buildings.
@onetrackmind posted:Another thing I want to know is how many days, weeks or months does it take to set up these Christmas layouts?
When my kids were small = I was very healthy Jan. - Nov. = then used a bunch of sick days between the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade & Xmas to build a floor living room Xmas display. Diagnosis was "Train Addiction! Symptoms were: sore knees, leg cramps, tender hands & fingers, etc. This was in the 70's. One memorable Xmas Day all the neighborhood kids that had opened their electronic goodies were at the front door waiting to to see the trains.
@onetrackmind posted:I took inspiration from kstrains' video about the progress he made on his 2014 layout. According to the user, he used cotton rolls from his local Walmart. My layout should be less complex in design and will incorporate Lego Modular Buildings instead of Department 56 buildings.
Very nice, thanks for sharing.
Tom Stoltz
@Moonman posted:Stacking 2" foam insulation board, gluing and then cutting and carving to shape will provide a tunnel unit that can used and stored each season.
My dad suggested me by using plywood and L-shaped brackets for the backdrop and tunnel walls.
I cut mine from styrofoam.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
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I am planning to use the Lionel 6-12896 tunnel portals for my layout. What materials would you recommend as an easier alternative to Styrofoam?
I am going use Buffalo Snow blanket for my upgraded layout this year.
@onetrackmind posted:I am going use Buffalo Snow blanket for my upgraded layout this year.
Had to look it up, not being familiar with it. Definitely pricey. It also looks like cotton. From too much experience, I have found cotton and trains don’t mix – running gear and axles. However, it does seem like lot of people here like it...
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
So does Buffalo Snow cause damage to Lionel Fastrack? If so, what material is a much safer alternative for it? White felt, perhaps?
No damage from Buffalo Snow products that I’ve experienced. The thinner rolls like I purchased from Michael’s below works well with Lionel FasTrack and is thin enough to stay away from running gears and axels. I do use a white sheet as a base and lay the rolls over before placing the track.
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@rjsmithindy posted:No damage from Buffalo Snow products that I’ve experienced. The thinner rolls like I purchased from Michael’s below works well with Lionel FasTrack and is thin enough to stay away from running gears and axels. I do use a white sheet as a base and lay the rolls over before placing the track.
Does the 45 by 99 in. blanket work with the track?
Is it okay to use just cardboard for the tunnel walls as an easier alternative?
