spikey Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 What do you do to keep dust off your layout? On one side of mine I've got four lift-off sheets of 6mm Depron in light wooden frames which rest on a batten along the back wall and on a lift-off sectional ply "wall" at the front. This works for me because it's straightforward: there's no backscene and no scenery more than 5" high, so the "lids" are only 6" above the baseboard. One the other side of the room, however, we have a chimney breast in the middle of the wall along which the other main baseboard is built, so the front-back dimension varies by a foot or so. Not only that, but the backscene on this side is 10" above the board. So if I do similar lift-off lids on this side as well, I'm going to need 6 rather than 4, each pair of them will have to go back in the same place each time, and my lift-off front "wall" is going to be 10" high. I kep wondering if this isn't in danger of getting a bit unworkable, but I can't think of an alternative approach. Is there one? NB "Don't worry about dust getting on, just hoover it off when it does" is not an option ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killybegs Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 What do you do to keep dust off your layout? On one side of mine I've got four lift-off sheets of 6mm Depron in light wooden frames which rest on a batten along the back wall and on a lift-off sectional ply "wall" at the front. This works for me because it's straightforward: there's no backscene and no scenery more than 5" high, so the "lids" are only 6" above the baseboard. One the other side of the room, however, we have a chimney breast in the middle of the wall along which the other main baseboard is built, so the front-back dimension varies by a foot or so. Not only that, but the backscene on this side is 10" above the board. So if I do similar lift-off lids on this side as well, I'm going to need 6 rather than 4, each pair of them will have to go back in the same place each time, and my lift-off front "wall" is going to be 10" high. I kep wondering if this isn't in danger of getting a bit unworkable, but I can't think of an alternative approach. Is there one? NB "Don't worry about dust getting on, just hoover it off when it does" is not an option ... See here for one solution http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/82059-worseter-update/page-33 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Turpin Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Dust is an interesting topic. I notice that it depends on where your layout is housed as to what kind of dust you are going to get as well as how much. Ours is in an outbuilding so we get virtually no dust but do sometimes suffer from dead woodlice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yelrow Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 If you use it continually, it wont have a chance to settle, but i know what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 If you use it continually, it wont have a chance to settle, but i know what you mean. Sorry, I don't understand. I can't see the connection between frequency of use and whether or not dust settles on a layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Turpin Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 I think he means that dust can't settle while a layout is being used - unless you have got someone putting up shelves with a hammer drill while you are operating it that is. However, as most dust is the result of dead human skin cells, and other fibrous matter from soft furnishings etc, if your layout is away from or insulated from your domestic living areas, then dust shouldn't be much of a problem. But, if you were to model the North East, you would find that the little people on your layout would take care of it for you by gathering it all up and using it a ballast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted November 3, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 3, 2018 Mine's in what the squeeze insists is a bedroom but I think of as a railway room with a bed in it; this is a fairly dust-free environment, and the railway is used, if not on a daily basis, very frequently. Dust does not seem to be an issue, but I occasionally run over the tops of some of my locos with a soft brush to tidy them up. In the meantime, I just assume it's ash dust from the depot... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coppercap Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Dust is an interesting topic. I notice that it depends on where your layout is housed as to what kind of dust you are going to get as well as how much. Ours is in an outbuilding so we get virtually no dust but do sometimes suffer from dead woodlice! The live ones are still in hiding! While you're not there, they've been crawling everywhere, like the spiders have too. It always amuses me when exhibition layouts have dead critters, and spider's threads strung between trees and telegraph poles etc. They've cleaned the track, but that's it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) I think he means that dust can't settle while a layout is being used ... Why not? If I leave the layout uncovered right now, and I come back 24 laters later, some dust will have fallen all over it. That's primarily because we live in an old, draughty house heated by woodstoves, but also because it's in the nature of dust to settle on horizontal surfaces. If I were to keep the layout in continual operation for the next 24 hours, why would the same amount of dust not have fallen on it by this time tomorrow? Sorry if I'm being retarded here, but I don't follow. Edited November 3, 2018 by spikey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Turpin Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) The live ones are still in hiding! While you're not there, they've been crawling everywhere, like the spiders have too. It always amuses me when exhibition layouts have dead critters, and spider's threads strung between trees and telegraph poles etc. They've cleaned the track, but that's it! That's so funny! You are absolutely right as well, so thank you for such a good laugh you had me in stitches there. The little sods undoubtedly have a ball once the light is off and all human presence is absent. Interestingly, it is the turntable pit that usually has to be cleared of deceased insects. I did use to think they dropped onto the layout from the ceiling, which is still the most probable route for most of them, but who knows what goes on after dark? At least I haven't had trouble with SLUGS!!! Edited November 3, 2018 by Dick Turpin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Right Away Posted November 3, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 3, 2018 A roll of "Jiffy" foam wrap cut into manageable lengths and laid directly over the layout. It's cheap, very light, easily removed before a running session and replaced afterwards. Simply indicate the upper side of each sheet by placing a small piece of insulation tape in one corner to ensure it goes back the same way up thus avoiding putting the dusty (if any) side down inadvertantly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted November 3, 2018 Author Share Posted November 3, 2018 A roll of "Jiffy" foam wrap cut into manageable lengths and laid directly over the layout. It's cheap, very light, easily removed before a running session and replaced afterwards. Simply indicate the upper side of each sheet by placing a small piece of insulation tape in one corner to ensure it goes back the same way up thus avoiding putting the dusty (if any) side down inadvertantly. Brilliant! Thank you, kind sir. I'd never have thought of that one. Presumably it works OK (with care, obviously) over trees, signals and other fragile sticky-uppy scenic bits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted November 4, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 4, 2018 Why not? If I leave the layout uncovered right now, and I come back 24 laters later, some dust will have fallen all over it. That's primarily because we live in an old, draughty house heated by woodstoves, but also because it's in the nature of dust to settle on horizontal surfaces. If I were to keep the layout in continual operation for the next 24 hours, why would the same amount of dust not have fallen on it by this time tomorrow? Sorry if I'm being retarded here, but I don't follow. I cannot explain this phenomenon, just report what I observe! The layout stays dust free (not entirely, but largely) and track/pickup dirt is lessened by frequent use, though to be fair the railway room is a fairly dust-free environment anyway compared to the living room which has patio doors which are opened as much as possible; this is, IMHO, the source of most of the dust. Now, if you really want a conundrum, explain why one of my 8750 panniers attracts more dust than the other one! It's beyond me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crewlisle Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 (edited) Spikey, I just use very thin cut up rubbish sacks & change them every few months so the accumulated dust on them does not fall on the layout when removed. Cheap & effective! Peter Edited November 4, 2018 by Crewlisle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted November 4, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 4, 2018 I dusted the house once but it came back. I'm not falling for that one again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yelrow Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 surely in a room with the door shut, new dust, is at a minimum. I have a 20x12 room with 5 layouts, none appear particularly affected, from i day to the next. I have a Dapol track cleaning wagon, that regularly does the rounds, but tis fair to say, it collects very little. Track stays fairly clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted November 4, 2018 Author Share Posted November 4, 2018 ... surely in a room with the door shut, new dust, is at a minimum ... Yes. But as I said above "... we live in an old, draughty house heated by woodstoves." Also, there is no door to the railway room. Thank you to the folks who have kindly come up with alternative solutions to my problem. I'm now sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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