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Hi once again,
Announcing the modeltrainsuppliesonline

Newsletter Update
From now on the newsletter you receive will be only a few lines long. It will direct all subscribers via a link to the newsletter page on our website.
Plan here is to avoid problems where clients junk our email or don’t show pictures or other links correctly.
Also it means less for you to read, and you only need to visit the site and view the newsletter if you are really interested in the offerings this time.
Oh yes.
And there will be a NEW bonus each time from now on. A free tool or other bonus will be offered to my subscribers in each newsletter. You will have to read it, though, to take advantage of this magnificent offer.

VIDEO UPLOADER
June issue will include a little website that assists you in uploading the model railroad videos that you wish to share with the rest of the world, (and why wouldn’t you? They are so good.) You can do this for up to 12 video share sites at the same time. Once only. Sites like, AOL, myspace, howlspace, metacafe and so on.

So how good is that?

Well, what are you waiting for? Head off over there and subscribe.
http://modeltrainsuppliesonline.com/index.html

Inventory Program
But the freebies don’t stop there. You get a FREE inventory program when you subscribe as well. That means you will be able to keep track of all your rolling stock and items of scenery and, I don’t know, everything relating to your model railway hobby. That has to be worth it without anything else.

So go on Subscribe and get started right now.

If you are already subscribed check your email and the junk folder for information about how to access this exciting information.

’til next time.

Colin

You might remember I said that we would publish articles of interest here from time to time.

Today I found this one. It is fantastic. Well done Michael.

Unfortunately his web address at the bottom of the article was not complete, so we cannot tell you how to find more of his stuff, but let’s hope he keeps up the good work.

The Art of Water in a Model Railroad Scene by Michael W. P. Ball

One of the fascinating activities in building a model railroad layout is the water scenes. Even with all the trees, fauna, grasses and other scenic materials it looks like a barren waste land without water.

The creation of water scenes is not necessarily easy but worth the effort. There are several materials that can be made to look like water. There are three types of resin plastic that I use to create water scenes. They are all non-toxic and readily available either from hobby shops or WEB sites.

Without going into trade names, the three types are different for specific reasons. One comes in a squeeze bottle that is very thick and does not run readily and I find hard to use. I use it for specific areas where a fast moving liquid would not stabilize fast enough to create the scene that I want. However, it is wonderful for making waterfalls. It is so thick that you can comb it with a fine metal comb that produces the look of a water fall.

The next type is a thick but fast pouring liquid plastic that can be used to begin a small to large pond and streams. The key to this one is that it has restrictions as to how much can be poured. It dries very slowly thus the amount you can pour at any on time is only about 1/8 inch thick. It dries very clear and is very useful when you add small amounts in specific areas to increase the realism.

The next type is hard and comes in beads with a slight yellow color. It is my favorite of the three because of its nature once heated to a liquid. It is very hot once heated and it pours fast but solidifies quickly. This allows you to pour your next layer almost immediately. It also has a unique characteristic of creating a wave like action.

The best example I can give you is when I poured the plastic down a pre-made stream bed. The stream had already been landscaped with rocks, wood, brush and the like. There was a stop at the end of the stream. I poured the hot plastic gradually and watched the flow pattern just like a stream and watched it solidify with unique qualities like the real world. I repeated this action several times which gave the stream character and caused a waterfall effect over the rocks. At the base or stop fascia board, a small pond was created as I wanted.

This particular plastic water is tricky to produce and use. Great care must be taken not to burn yourself nor let the liquid plastic boil over. Also, you must use a container where you have complete control. The container needs to have a handle that will not act as a heat sink thus burning you. It would be wise to have a container with a spout like the coffee pots used on camping trips. This way you will not have the liquid plastic going places you do not want it to go.

A stove is not the best way to heat the plastic. For one thing, there usually are no stoves in the layout area and the heating would take too long unless you had a gas stove. The best method is to use a torch or some quick heating implement that would generate enough heat to liquefy the plastic rapidly. We have used a torch in a pinch but it is cumbersome and a bit dangerous. The safest method is a butane stove that can produce maximum heat. Whatever method you use, where fire is concerned, make sure you have a fire extinguisher available and there is plenty of fresh air circulating in the layout room. Also, use fire retardant gloves when working with liquid plastic and fire. DO NOT MAKE TOO MUCH LIQUID PLASTIC AT ONE TIME. You will accomplish each project in plenty of time by following the directions on the package.

There are other types of clear resins available but this set is easily attainable from more than one source and ease to use.

About the Author

Michael and Joy Ball have been involved in the restoration and maintaining of a variety of Brass Model Locomotives. Through their years of expertise, Mr. & Mrs. Ball have perfected the art of train restoration often spending countless hours preserving vintage Brass Locomotives to the same running condition of even the newest Brass Model Replicas. It should be noted that the above article was written by Michael Ball.

Wow,
Here we are in Vancouver with IMC. The Internet Marketing course has been extremely tiring, but absolutely fabulous.
I now have my new website up and running. It focuses on model trains, and the building of model railway layouts.
It is www.modeltrainsuppliesonline.com.
All kinds of model railroading information will eventually be available.
We have started with an eBook or two and some software for logging (making an inventory) of all your model train stuff. eg Rolling stock, track, scenery and all the actual equipment you have collected over time.
It will cover model train collecting for the novice or newbie and the expert with links to supplier catalogues and clubs / associations.
I also plan to make it a one stop station for information about forthcoming shows and exhibitions the world over.
It has just launched, and will be a work in progress.
Please ask for anything you want to be included.
Add stuff yourself???

The Internet and eBay Marketing Centre has launched.