A great reminder that decorating your model railroad doesn't have to be an expensive affair: Sometimes, the cheapest options can work just as well, if not better.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

I absolutely love this channel. Just sayin!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

I'll be 53 this year and super new to the hobby. When I got started it's sort of overwhelming and confusing all at the same time. I love watching this types of videos it helps to explain part of the confusing processes that go with it. Also all of the trains I have bought are really old so the DC side still blows my mind. Thanks for a great video.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks! You fit right into my target audience. There is much about the hobby that is "common knowledge" UNLESS you're a beginner or have been away for 10+ years. Then the terminology alone can be a nightmare. "The E unit on my E unit is stuck, but the E unit on my F unit is fine!" "Can you switch the switch that switches the switch for me?"

@jrlewis3198

3 ай бұрын

Yeah what you said lol 😂😂

Great tips, glad you’re back in the saddle!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Now those are Toy Train tips and tricks.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

:-)

I stopped at an Orthodontist’s office, and asked to buy a bag of rubber bands. They tossed me a bag for free. They are the perfect size for couplers.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Wonderful!

@SOU6900

3 ай бұрын

🤣 well now I guess I have a use for all the ones I still have from back when I had braces.

@ldever3

3 ай бұрын

@@SOU6900 When I have an uncoupling issue, I pull the car to “bring to the orthodontist”. Everybody here knows what I mean, but new people look at me like I’m crazy.

Mike, great to hear your voice is back and you are feeling better. These are some good tips I love looking around the Dollar Tree for things I can get to use on the layout.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much

Awesome stuff! I think I've used those elastics for a traction tire on a small steamer.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Cool!

Marx guy here, instead of stickers to replace jewel lights, paint white on with a toothpick. It works for me.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing the tip!

Welcome back Mike and I'm glad you're feeling better! Great tips there, especially on the marker jewels! I'd been buying Swarovski crystals, then generic Michael's, but as far as cheap goes those Dollar Tree crystals got 'em beat! I'll remember those! Great tip with the LED bulbs as well, I'll look into those! Thanks for posting!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

How ingenious! I LOVE “backyard” improvements where a layout sports realism using ordinary components. Great job, Mike! 🎉🚂

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

classification lights, the clear gems can be tinted with a Red or Green sharpie also. Great video 🚆

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

More awesome tips and tricks, thanks! Glad your voice is back.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Me, too!

Most interesting video! Thx

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

So glad your feeling better, thanks for the tips! Happy Railroading

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Nice stuff. I would think that you could paint the coupler adapter black and maybe cut away some of the center section to make them appear smaller and a bit less bulky. I like the jewels from the craft store. Many post-war steamers have missing or damaged marker jewels. Nice tips.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

This was a prototype, so it's just the color of filament I had in the printer. However, I found with my old design that bright colors were best so I could FIND the adapters when I needed them! :-)

Cool informative vid Mike! God bless

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

with a small ammount of air dry clay your small pvc pipe could be a barrel or container

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

excellent!

Glad to hear that you're feeling better, man!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Great video! I've been using dental rubber bands for problem couplers for a while now. I will make up some of your 3D printed Marks couplers (ver 2.0) and demo on my channel as well! Thanks! Now I have to hit the Dollar store tomorrow! Glad your voice is back!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Great tips!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Glad you are on the mend. Great tips. Who knew Dollar tree was a lionel parts supplier. Silicone wrist bands are excellent drum belts for lionel mechanical steam tenders.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

That's a good one!

Thanks Mike. Great tips. Now if only you could come up with a good solution for coupling some of the Menards cars with the plastic couplers without slamming the cars together. I've compared them with the Lionel couplers and discovered that the Menards couplers have a design flaw and aren't made with slight protrusion on the knuckles to close completely before bottoming out. It's only by kenetic energy that they close. I use the small pvc pipe caps glued together to make oil and propane tanks and the larger single 3 and 4" caps make good petroleum storage tanks once sanded and painted and weathered to look like tanks. The left over sprus from plastic model kits, especially the ones with rounded corners make for convincing pipes once painted. I save and repurpose everything. I even use the clear plastic from packaging for window glass for models that don't come with the glass for windows. I've become a model train hoarder. Tell your wife saving things to use on your layout is just part of the hobby and it's the sickness thing she signed up for in her vows and at least it keeps you out of the bars at night😊. Happy rails

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Great tips!!!

Wow thanks for the great video. I never new what those boxes of vinyl were for at the Dollar Tree, lol.

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

I didn't either until we got a Cricut. My son makes and sells customized drink tumblers for his friends.

Good! no more creepy AI computer voice!

You can mention to your wife that that piece of 'trash' (40" of 1/2" CPVC pipe) would cost us $2.90 CAD to buy up here in the great White North!. Ten feet of 1/2" pipe will set up us back $8.70 CAD, ten feet of 3/4" runs $17.52(!) CAD. At prices like these, there's no such thing as 'trash', 'scrap' or 'useless'...ya gotta save everything...! And thanks for the tip about the jewels - we don't have Dollar Tree here, but do have Dollar Store and $Ama outlets. I'll check the next time I'm in town to see what they've got. Given the prices for everything, Model Railroaders have got to start thinking like the Pioneers of the hobby did back in the 40's...Don't Do Without, Make Do...!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Wow! And I thought US inflation was out of control!

Would you have any tips on how to create such a "conversion coupler" from link to knuckle (or vice versa) for American Flyer trains?

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Well, I would need a couple of Flyer pieces to use as Guinea pigs.

What! You dont have a copper pipe/PVC cutter? Makes a squar cut. 😊

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

Nope.

Great tips! Thanks!

@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks

3 ай бұрын

You're so welcome!