Structures - how do they fare in wintertime?

[The Devonian]

A great number of structure models that feature in the various fora are constructed with lightweight materials. Do folks take them indoors during winter? If not how do they stop them being damaged or blown around during the frequent winter gales.?
In my neck of the woods there is always some form of wind - from a light breeze up to Force 9 or more, such as we have had in the last couple of days. That is the reason my structures are built of heavy timber decking and similar timber. They did not appear to have moved a half inch in the 60 - 80 mph. gales we experienced. As I run my trains all year, except in wet weather of course, I leave all structures in situ. Only small figures are brought indoors.

 

[mike]

so far the resin Pendelbury Model biulding, ie thechurch has been fine, not moved , it is simply fixed in place, by use off 4 -5inch screws, which are screwd into the wood base by a1inch,leaveing 4 inch sticking up, the screws are positoned at the internal corners off the building, so.. the wind would have to lift the building up,verticaly, by 4inches.. before it could move.. the screws are a tight fit against the internaerl corners..

 

[ge_rik]

I leave my resin, concrete and pottery structures outside over winter but bring in my wooden structures and all the small detail stuff (eg figures, clutter, signals). My resin structures are either screwed to wooden blocks which are rawlplugged to concrete foundations or in the case of my pottery structure, was bedded in wet cement.

The concrete structures (ie platforms, overbridges and cattle docks) were cast in-situ and hence aren't going anywhere (unless an earthquake hits mid Cheshire).

I heard (on here I believe) that only items which are firmly fixed in the garden are covered by household insurance. That's partly why I've gone for a heavy-handed approach.

Rik

 

[whatlep]

A great number of structure models that feature in the various fora are constructed with lightweight materials. Do folks take them indoors during winter? If not how do they stop them being damaged or blown around during the frequent winter gales.?

No real problems with either Pola or Piko structures. Centre of gravity is pretty key for me. The rather tall Piko quarry loader always gets moved as it's been damaged several times by getting blown over. Most other structrues are fine, having enough weight to prevent movement, except when hit by flying objects such as twigs! The wind always seems to cause personnel to migrate - probably simply not attached firmly enough.

 

[peterbunce]

Hi, Mine are fixed down with a couple of screws into the white PVC platicangle sections - which each are held with a couple of screws and wall plugs into the 1" paving slabs. Never had any trouble - they stay out, (and get covered in snow all winter) all the year round.

Here is a photo - the building is shown vertically at the back of the flag

To make it even easier (for me) the two pieces of scrap PVC foam are added to locate the front and back of the building - they do nothing else. The building in the photo has been turned by 90 degrees by the way!

 

[Dtsteam]

As my layout is an outdoor trainset, there is no planting and the buildings are the secenery.
Pola single storey buldings always seem to survive. My Piko station building was made up of multiple thin panels, which I re-inforced and screwed down, but it still got blown to bits every year. This year I forgot to screw down its single storey replacement which then took a quick trip across the lawn, but with no damage done. The home made buildings are mostly made of 2mm styrene but are sheltered by a fence, although there has been a bit of minor damage. The plastic foamboard test building was reduced to its foundations, although I have since found all the bits.... The engine shed is made out of 1/2" marine ply and is going nowhere.

I don't mind a half day every spring with the glue gun repairing the odd bit of damage, but on the next layout I will build with much heavier materials. Its bad enough having to put the stock out - never mind the buildings as well.

 

[beavercreek]

I leave all my buildings, most vehicles and most figures out in the worst of weather. The buildings are either plastic or wood with a few made from resin kits. For any lightweight or high jobbies, I anchor them down with long metal pegs (the type used for weed fabric or even bar-b-que skewers would do) hammered into the ground. The eyelets are where the buildings are secured to with either bolts, washers and nuts or garden wire.
The eyelets can be hidden inside the building or can be outside and hidden by plants or extra detailing.
So far not one has blown away or blown over in 5 years.......me thinks that I might be tempting fate here..

 

[pghewett]

Hi!

I have been leaving my Vollmer, Piko and Pola structures out all year round (including the last two years' really cold, snowy winters) without significant damage (minor repairs to gutters and window boxes). This goes also for small items such as water cranes and bicycle racks, although these do get displaced sometimes. As I have seven stations and some other structures on my system, bringing them indoors is not a serious option. The only long term damage (over the 30 years that some items have been out) is that the roofs get discoloured in strong sunlight (reds turn to brown or grey) and there is some slight abrading of surfaces (but that is good on otherwise shiny plastic buildings.

A couple of tricks may help:
[*] Sheltering the buildings with dwarf shrubs to act as a windbreak.[*]Securing the roofs to the walls is key (I did consider at one time fastening walls and roofs with straps and brackets but that hasn't been necessary once we started using really heavy duty glue). I am less sure about wooden buildings. Experiments with wooden kits, even after treatment with Cuprinol preservative, were inconclusive, although I did buy some wooden cafe furniture from one of the dolls houses manufacturers and that, after treatment, has sat without deterioration outside the Gasthaus Zum Steinbock quite happily for the last year.

I am about to install a couple of slate shelters from Treddol on the tramway section but I can't see them being anything other than wind and weatherproof.

Leave it out!

Graham Hewett

 

[Richie]

Only have a few buildings on my line but they do stay out all year round station and water tower are scratch built from wood and get a fresh lick of paint every 2-3 years still look as good now as they did when i put them out 8 years ago . Also have a Piko church which just needs the odd bit of glue from time to time like the cross on top of the spire . Last building is a stone cottage made from stone and is about 30 years old the doors and windows have long gone and rotted .

 

[CoggesRailway]

I leave my dead Connie out in the siding permanently. It doesn't move. My other building from mel is solid concrete!!

 

[The Devonian]

Good to see so many replies and that most folks don't have seem to have much damage done to their structures. Of course others may not wish to share catastrophes.
Whichever it is some good advice was forthcoming.

 

[Round n Round]

Of course others may not wish to share catastrophes.

Catastrophe Shared​

I confess, I always seem to want to get a building in place once I have made it.​

Have now learnt, the hard way, to fix them down

​