My faking Coal

[T-Man]

I got tired of an empty coal car. I cut up foam with an exacto saw. Talk about static cling UGH. I sprayed painted ,which caused a shrinkage then painted with a flat acrylic paint. A first try and am pleased with the results.
Bob



http://www.modeltrainforum.com/gallery/files/3/5/2/coalup1.jpg

[T-Man]

Since this is such a HOT thread, I decided to post another picture.

http://www.modeltrainforum.com/gallery/files/3/5/2/coloadup.jpg
Thanks for viewing
Bob

[Boston&Maine]

That actually looks very realistic; good work as usual...

[T-Man]

Back again for an update. My coal presentation was out done by other nameless forums. Mine is easy and fast with little mess. Basically, the other ideas had a black gravel and glued them to the shaped foam. Very effective so I wanted to mention it.
I also wated to mention the wonderful green paper grass some of us adore. I just hate to trim it :mad:. Throw it on a piece of plywood and your done. Some of us still like to keep it simple. There is always room for improvement.:laugh: So, I had to trim my grass, I had it rolled over on one side and age took care of the rest. Now for the latest(We need an idea smiley). I painted the grass scrap a flat black and noted that it will look ok as a gondola load supported with foam. It does add some zip as roofing for my papper buildings too. Both are fast and easy projects, the elmers is drying now.
Pictures will have to wait.
Bob

[T-Man]

Plans don't always work out. I glued the paper to the foam and used too much pressure with the clamps I used. The result.:ohwell:

http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr341/Railroad-Rob/misc/IMG_1138.jpghttp://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr341/Railroad-Rob/misc/IMG_1139.jpg
Aside from the flat foam the roof looks ok. I placed it next to a black paper roof.
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr341/Railroad-Rob/misc/IMG_1141.jpghttp://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr341/Railroad-Rob/misc/IMG_1140.jpg

I had to glue the thinned foam to another piece. That will take a while to dry.
http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr341/Railroad-Rob/misc/IMG_1142.jpg
Finished product. This car did not have a finished bottom. It has a hole in the center showing the metal frame.
It was simple fun.
Bob

[stationmaster]

Dad did much the same thing. His idea differed in he but a piece of thin balsa in the cars and used less foam. Also the technique allowed him to "empty" the cars.

Looks great, Bob.

Bob

[Mit]

Recently, quit by accident, dropped some crushed charcoal into a coal gondola. with small dust like particles and larger chunks,it made quit convincing coal load. so i made a wooden insert and spread some white glue on it then began pouring more "coal" and adding glue until it was covered with a small mounded load. Since coal is adherently shiny i sprayed with a light coat of semi gloss. It actually looked very real.

[T-Man]

Alternate ideas are always welcome!:)

[tankist]

i purchased a bag of "coal" in michaels...