Page 1 of 1

Coal loads

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 6:15 pm
by SVLR
How do people simulate coal loads in wagons, I was thinking of breaking some up then glue in place using PVA. This would be done on top of some lead ballast for extra weight. Be good to know peoples thoughts.

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 7:10 pm
by Big Jim
Pretty much what you suggested. A drop of washing-up liquid in diluted pva helps it sink in better.

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:34 pm
by ge_rik
I've made my coal loads removable so I can run down the line as full and return as empty. The real coal is glued with PVA on to a plywood platform mounted on blocks .....
IMG_3136.JPG
IMG_3136.JPG (23.74 KiB) Viewed 3760 times
IMG_3132.JPG
IMG_3132.JPG (26.88 KiB) Viewed 3760 times
..... so the load can be removed easily
IMG_3167.JPG
IMG_3167.JPG (33.38 KiB) Viewed 3760 times
Rik

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:57 pm
by SVLR
ge_rik wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:34 pm I've made my coal loads removable so I can run down the line as full and return as empty. The real coal is glued with PVA on to a plywood platform mounted on blocks .....
IMG_3136.JPG
IMG_3132.JPG

..... so the load can be removed easily
IMG_3167.JPG

Rik
That looks ace, like the idea of it being removable. Do you think its a good idea to put some lead in the wagon or fixed under to try and keep th C of G down?

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 9:03 pm
by ge_rik
SVLR wrote: Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:57 pm That looks ace, like the idea of it being removable. Do you think its a good idea to put some lead in the wagon or fixed under to try and keep th C of G down?
My opens are fairly weighty already as they are made from resin castings. I also use metal wheels which gives more weight and reduces the c of g

Rik

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:41 am
by philipy
I agree with what evryone else has said. Nothing looks more like coal than coal and I've always used it crushed, in all the scales. PVA glue it to a frame, a slab of polystyrene, or lead blck, but remember to paint the base black first, so that any gaps which develop subsequently,don't show.
As for CoG, to some exent it depends how much you are using, but a 3 or 4mm thick slab on top of the floor of the wagon isn't going to be much different to it being under the floor.

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 10:14 am
by FWLR
Great tip for the removable coal loads Rik. :thumbright:

Re: Coal loads

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 11:45 am
by JMORG
We use coal glued to a polystyrene base (brush painted black) with weight between the solebars. This keeps the c of g to wheel level. They're generally removable, with coal dust glued into corners and gaps in the planking.