I put some more hopper loads together this morning..


Most of them are coal loads, but three of them are Gern Flux ore. Here are the foam cores painted up with the 1/4 inch washers installed.
[attachment=16191]


Some of them are installed on a pocket hollowed out from a slit in the side. Most have cavity hollowed out from above with a foam cap covering it up, but the thin ones have the washers installed from underneath. I also mark the underside of the load with the cars manufactures name so I know what loads fit what cars. [attachment=16190]

I used a variety of real coals and sifted masons sand for Flux ore. [attachment=16189]

I use an old blue box top to keep the mess down to a minimum and conserve on the load material.[attachment=16188]

I move them into a foil tray to cure up for a while before I coat them with some watered down glue. They'll spend the night like this until they are dry.[attachment=16187]

Nice assembly line technique!

Thanks Ralph.. I have a few links where I got my ideas from. They all are from the Library of Congress page,, they have a vast amount of pictures on all kinds of subjects definitely worth a search or two.

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I also used Martin Karig's book " Coal Cars, the first three hundred years ". While not exactly an exciting read, It is jam-packed with 400 + pages of well researched info and tons of great photos on the subject.

Gidday, Great ideas, however here's a look at the method I use for making coal loads.
[attachment=16193]
The whole idea was to use a magnet to easily remove the load, but on the Mk1 loads, inspite of careful trimming, the whole car lifted off the track, and when a firm hand was required to hold the car, the self tapping screw pulled out of the foam, the load remaining in the hopper . Now the Mk 1 loads, and subsequent Mk 2 loads, have a piece of .020" aluminium, slighty smaller than the foam bonded underneath that the screw bites into, and more care is taken with the trimming process. So much for keeping it simple.
Cheers, the Bear.

I did a video today of the my LNE 2-8-2 switching some cars around ( all the loads I just finished ). It's 33 cars weighted to the NMRA standards, the old Bowser mike slips a little in the turns but keeps em moving.






And for Twilight, this vid proves the strength of this coupler mounting system you asked about.

You have given me plenty of ideas for gondola loads. I like the painted pencil shavings. Cheap and good looking

My input to open top loads.



Preparation of loads - here with two inserted steel nuts.



Coaol and heavy rust.



And ready for use. It was a must to give the model in front a few deformations of framework and some broken boards.
Two more such short gondolas of NYO&W are on way over the great pond and so I will have a nice addition to my 1900 model train in next time.
However the rust load was a really good idea, e-paw!

What is the rust colored material you used as a base for the rust load. Is that some type foam board or styrofoam?

modelsof1900 Wrote:My input to open top loads.



Preparation of loads - here with two inserted steel nuts.



Coaol and heavy rust.



And ready for use. It was a must to give the model in front a few deformations of framework and some broken boards.
Two more such short gondolas of NYO&W are on way over the great pond and so I will have a nice addition to my 1900 model train in next time.
However the rust load was a really good idea, e-paw!

thetramp Wrote:What is the rust colored material you used as a base for the rust load. Is that some type foam board or styrofoam?

Simple balso wood boards, slightly carved. And precolored with an ordinary color in rust tone.

I 3d printed some wire coils for a friend in N scale. Obviously they could be done in HO as well.


More pictures, including the prototype, and a few more N scale items I 3d printed can be seen here:
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Good looking loads.

Some real good stuff here, guys!

to all!

Kent, Very neat wire coil load!!!