Best way to glue HO automobiles to layouts?

[RobertInOntario]

OK, so here I am with one of my 'basic' questions but I thought I'd toss it out here for feedback!

In the past, I've simply glued my HO autos (cars) to my roads on my layouts using either white glue or something similar. I have a small shunting layout that I hope to take to a train show this fall and I want to glue one auto onto it. I want to thoroughly glue it on there so it doesn't fall off or get lost.

Any suggestions for the best sort of glue or way of fastening it?

Thanks in advance.

Rob

[BR60103]

Rob:
what is the surface?
At the moment, I know several glues that are stronger than the bond of paint or some scenic glues.
When I was showing a layout I just placed stuff on it, but the transportation I had wouldn't accommodate extra sutff on the surface.
On my home layout I use thin wire looped over the axle and pushed down into the scenery (scenery is foam). I'd probably use this on a portable and drill all the way through any board.
I use WS Accent Glue (or whatever it's called) for something the size of figures. This does pull paint off the pink foam.

[tomustang]

Depending on the vehicles bottom, you could drill a small hole on the layout and use a tap and bolt the vehicle, to keep it in place

[RobertInOntario]

Rob:
what is the surface?
At the moment, I know several glues that are stronger than the bond of paint or some scenic glues.
When I was showing a layout I just placed stuff on it, but the transportation I had wouldn't accommodate extra sutff on the surface.
On my home layout I use thin wire looped over the axle and pushed down into the scenery (scenery is foam). I'd probably use this on a portable and drill all the way through any board.
I use WS Accent Glue (or whatever it's called) for something the size of figures. This does pull paint off the pink foam.

Thanks, David. Maybe WS Accent Glue is the best way to go -- I have some of that, if it's not too old. I also have some Gorilla Glue and similar products. Also, I might try the wiring method -- wrap wire around the auto's axles and then drill a hole through the layout to anchor it.

The car is sitting on a road that I made. I placed plaster filler down on the layout, sanded it, and painted it a dark tarmac colour -- I think I used a Woodland Scenics road/paint product.

BTW, this is for a small 4x1' British shunting layout that my son & I are planning to show at The Platelayer's table at the Toronto Christmas Train show -- maybe we'll be set up right next to your table?!

Cheers,
Rob

[RobertInOntario]

Depending on the vehicles bottom, you could drill a small hole on the layout and use a tap and bolt the vehicle, to keep it in place

Thanks -- I might try that or, maybe drill a hole and thread some wire through it to wrap around the auto's axles.

Cheers,
Rob

[shortliner]

Epoxy a small nut to the underside of the car, drill a small hole in the baseboard and screw a bolt in from underneath. Alternativey epoxy a bolt head to the underside of the car drill a hole and add a nut from underneath. Either method will allow you to use the vehicle again on another layout - the first will allow the car to be placed on a road later, whereas the bolt attached would prevent that

[Sumpter250]

I use siliconized acrylic caulk, from Ace. So far, I haven't lost anything from the modules, during transit.
I like the caulk because it stays flexible, so it absorbs shock, and doesn't break like hard setting glues. It also dries clear,
( but there is some shine, so I don't use too much ).

[RobertInOntario]

Epoxy a small nut to the underside of the car, drill a small hole in the baseboard and screw a bolt in from underneath. Alternativey epoxy a bolt head to the underside of the car drill a hole and add a nut from underneath. Either method will allow you to use the vehicle again on another layout - the first will allow the car to be placed on a road later, whereas the bolt attached would prevent that

Thanks -- this sounds like a great idea!

[Tom]

In the past, I've used hot glue to glue the Fresh Cherries and Reel Rides type of diecast HO cars to the layout (plaster roads). I like the flexibility of the hot glue as I can peel it right off the road with no damage if I decide to move the vehicles somewhere else.

[faraway]

I drill a hole in the bottom of the car and the street. A round stick of styrene with a tight fit holds the car save in place. That is the technique I use on the hatch in front of the door.

[MasonJar]

On most of the modules at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hotrak.ca">www.hotrak.ca</a><!-- w -->, the owners use a combination of mechanical attachment plus adhesive. Gorilla glue is too "foamy" but you might try the gel-type CAs.

The alternative is a box built to hold the removable components of the layout (cars, buildings, figures, etc). The drawback to this is that eventually you'll forget to remove something before tipping the module on its side, or something will go missing by way of sticky fingers during the show...


Andrew