OK, so what have stockings and tights have to do with model railways?

I have a couple of uses for them and you could probably find some more!

Any lady in your life will more than likely at some point wear stockings or tights and inevitably they get a ladder in them then throw them away. Ask them nicely to next time they get a ladder to donate them to your self, preferably washed! Failing that, go and buy some from the supermarket, their very cheap.

The main use I have for these is to easily collect the loose ballast and flock after a applying a scenic session for re-use. All you need is a stocking or pair of tights, a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment and an elastic band.

Simply slide one leg of said garment over the end of the hose. I find it easiest if you do not push the hose all the way to the foot, but bring the foot part back so that it lays flat against the side of the hose. Wrap up any loose bits at the side of the hose also and then secure with an elastic band.

Tights as a scenery saver

When you turn the vacuum cleaner on it will suck the stocking or tights leg up very slightly (depending on how much loose stocking or tights leg you have left at the end) as you can see from the picture below.

All ready to collect loose ballast

Simply hold the top of the vacuum hose 1-2cm above the track or scenic area and let the hose suck up the loose material. You should be able to get 1-2 table spoons of material collected before the vacuum looses suction, when it looses suction, hold the hose over a suitable collection receptacle and switch the vacuum off. As the vacuum winds down and looses suction, the loose material will simply drop in to your collection receptacle.

The other use that I have found is that they can be used as very fine mesh for use in grills and the like.

As they have some elasticity to them, it is easiest to pin the material down across the area you wish to stick the material too. In the pictures I just used a scrap piece of plasticard and some plastic-weld (the liquid type of plastic glue). If you are using card or metal, superglue or epoxy should deliver the same results.

Step 1 - The panel

Step 2 - Attaching the tights

Step 3 - The finished grille (reverse)

Step 4 - The finished grille (front)