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Post by LS650 on Oct 4, 2016 13:22:04 GMT
I'm trying to figure out a way to show some black coal in the feeder hoppers of the steamers.
What have other folks done?
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Post by loyalist on Oct 4, 2016 15:30:20 GMT
I'm trying to figure out a way to show some black coal in the feeder hoppers of the steamers. What have other folks done? I used Woodland Scenics model railway ballast (medium grade), but first I cut plates of 1.0mm thick sheet styrene to fit 1-2mm down inside the coal hopper. That eliminates the need to fill the whole thing with ballast. After the styrene was glued in the hopper I put some PVA (wood) glue on it, piled some ballast on it and added more PVAi diluted about 50/50 with water until the ballast was saturated. The glue shrinks as it dries and isn't noticeable. I did this before the tanks were primed with GW Chaos Black. You can buy the ballast in various colours including black. |
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Post by terrance on Oct 4, 2016 16:18:02 GMT
I bought a bag of HO model RR coal. It is a huge bag so I just full the hoppers to the level I want. I thought about using a spacer like loyalist, but the bag was cheap and big enough to last me a lifetime. So it was easier to just fill the hoppers. I then add a few drops of Woodland Scenics ballast glue. I like this glue and use it for all my base flocking. It doesn't dry out and get brittle like PVA can and it is slightly flexible which I think helps it survive handling the bases.
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Post by boxholder on Oct 4, 2016 17:59:09 GMT
I used the Woodland Scenics ballast. Fine grade looks right for coal at this scale.
Irrespective of color, I just painted it black.
A bag of it goes a long way. I also use the stuff to texture the bases for the tripods and just paint it earth tones.
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Post by loyalist on Oct 4, 2016 20:33:17 GMT
I use fine ballast for base texture, sprinkling it on top of a thick layer of Liquitex basing material (similar to gesso) that comes with fine sand or 'resin' sand particles mixed in. You can see the results in photos in the 1/2 pdr coil gun thread.
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Post by madmorgan on Oct 5, 2016 11:35:19 GMT
Great ideas and postings. I'm lazy so I'd just fill er up! But, I can see the spacing loyalist using being a handy thing for other 'carts' like from the fuel tender.
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Post by bilko991 on Oct 6, 2016 2:50:52 GMT
With my steamer tanks I fill the hopper up with something, usually green stuff. Then I glue some coarse sand down with PVA glue. The sand was from a model railway shop. I Paint it black and dry brush with a bone colour. It's quick, simple and looks more or less like coal  |
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Post by hardlec on Oct 6, 2016 3:49:21 GMT
Colored sand is available at various craft stores. It is used for a variety of things, including filling bottles in layers for decoration.
Black sand makes a good scale coal.
Ground coal works well, too. Around Christmas, coal is sometimes available as a gag gift.
Coal is an attractive stone. I've made jewelry with it. It is very shiny and is often iridescent. Ground chalk is easy, but not so good.
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Post by LS650 on Oct 6, 2016 4:15:49 GMT
This afternoon I went to a hobby shop that sells a lot of HO scale railroad model items, and bought a large bag of Woodland Scenics modelling 'coal'.
I then mixed about a teaspoon of it with some Elmer's white glue, and then put a tiny scoop into the hopper bins of my six tanks.
Once the Elmer's glue dried, it turned clear and hard. The effect actually looks quite good!
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Post by Quendil on Oct 6, 2016 8:04:18 GMT
I tend to use what I have so I had ballast I glued in and painted. I would buy modelling coal like LS650 if I didn't have anything to use
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Post by madmorgan on Oct 6, 2016 17:40:18 GMT
All good stuff guys. Another source - pet stores, which have lots of types of sand, ballast, and other such for their various fish and lizard /snake displays.
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Post by hardlec on Oct 14, 2016 15:23:09 GMT
Indeed to the pet stores.
I cut a shape out of foam core, line it with plastic "wrap" and fill the cut-out with a mix of aquarium gravel and white glue. This makes easy stone walls, small stone buildings, and, or course, ruins.
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Post by madmorgan on Oct 16, 2016 11:49:26 GMT
I've been intrigued by the lizard/snake items offered. The various feeding trays are perfect foxhole or dugout entrenchments. Most run as little as $10 for a fully 'painted' emplacement. So many different pieces and shapes to choose from. End table pieces as well, with lots of nooks for gun placement. Anyway, next time you all are in a pet store check out both the lizard/snake and fish tank pieces areas.
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