What's the best way to attach items to layout?

I heat up straight pin and stick up thru the foot for where you have foam.
For sidewalks I use Plio Bond Glue it'll hold em till you want to take them loose
Any glue left behind you just rub your finger over and it'll roll it up so you can sweep it away.

David

For figures, Scenic Accents glue from Woodland Scenics works great. It will hold figures for as long as you want but it's made for a temporary hold if you want reposition the figures. Google the product and you'll see dozens of resources. 

 

Jerrman

My kids like to rearrange the people so we hot glue the feet to a small clear piece of sheet plastic.

Magnets, they are great for anything needed to be repositioned.  Had a neat demo at Timonium this weekend.  One of the custom builders here uses magnets for glad hands.

We have heard of tacks and pins and that might work well for the foam sections of the layout....hot glue we were considering too although hadn't thought of adding the plastic.  TMack--how big is each piece of plastic?

 

And magnets, never thought of that.  What steps are needed to magnetize my people?

I use Mini Hold its a tacky wax

I cut them out of a large sheet big enough so the people dont fall over.  It can be round, square, rectangular what ever you want.  As big as a dime for example.

I have used glue dots obtained form Michaels or A.C. Moore. They are little dots that have glue on both sides and peel off the piece of paper they come on. There are different sizes from dime size to quarter size. The peoples feet stick on one side and the other sticks to the table.

 

Ed

I use adhesives as follows:

• For people, hot glue enables easy removal without damage;
• For buildings, a dab of hot glue in each corner;
• For sidewalks, Liquid Nails;
• For bushes and shrubs, white glue;
• For telephone / telegraph poles, traffic signals, and various signs, hot glue;
• For vehicles on the road, no adhesive;
• For card stock building construction, white glue and a glue stick.

This is what I have always used. It was developed over 30 years ago for the dollhouse miniature hobby. It has more body than the stuff craft stores sell. The fact that it can hold up a Arttista "running man" says it all.

My approach has been different from the good ideas suggested to you so far, Santa fe VA, but you may want to consider it, also, to suit the various needs and places on your layout where it may be practicable for you.

 

When I stripped everything off my first (crafted in 1994-95) layout for an expansion and fully re-done scenery, I quickly came to lament the loss of groundcovers and misc. other details. For the new layout, almost everything has been crafted onto dioramas, which fit together like a puzzle.

 

Here are some examples...

In these next examples, you can see the edges of the scene, which has had all of its elements affixed w/ permanent glues (usually "Gorilla Glue(s)" to its masonite base-sheet, and was then attached w/ screws to the layout itself. These scenes can be moved to different placements on the layout w/out loss of materials, or moved to my workbench to change details if desired.

My train board is just plywood with ground foam so I can't use the staight pin technique. I also use sheet plastic for people. A little Elmer's Glue works well. I use old blister pack packaging material for the plastic base. It won't curl over time and you can cut it to any shape you want.

Moonson, I use your method as well. I have refered these as "scenic modules". On my small layout I started with a cover of muted green tight-weve carpeting. Over time, I added scenic sections, and today, very little carpet material shows.

My largest scenic section is a 4'x2' Drive-In Movie, which I place on one of my show modules.

I think I remember seeing that, somewhere, previously. Would you like to show it to us, if convenient?

Frank

Not set up to post photos yet. It was at York Oct 2010 as part of the Flower City layout. They invited Bill P. and I to join them.

Yes, that's where I thought I saw it. Now that you mention "Flower City.." I recall the whole scene (Black Hall?) . It left a very positive and strong impression w/ me. When you're ready, I'm sure we'd all enjoy seeing it, Joe.

Be well, safe, and happy.

Frank