Roofing slates on the cheap.

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River Lin
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Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by River Lin » Sun Aug 01, 2021 6:56 pm

Hi all.
1000+ roofing slates stacked up ready for loading into wagons and run down to Port.
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Having bought 4 Slaters FR 2 ton slate wagons I wanted loads for them but I wanted the load to look like individual hand cut slates. I wanted to make them from something that did not have edges that were crisp and too defined. I tried plastikard but the edges came out too neat and thin ply would take too long to cut. So what to use?
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I thought the card that the 4 wagons ( and 5 skips ) came in would be ideal being strong and just under 1mm thick. After opening up the boxes and lids I cut strips 18mm wide. This would give 5 rows of slates per wagon. I marked the strips into 34mm lengths ready to cut to length. This is where I used a little artistic licence. If you look at some contempory slate wagon photos, the slate cutters were so good at their craft that the slates seem identical in length whereas I wanted to give more of a rough appearance to make the edges standout. What I didn't want was what would look like a clay block with lines scratched across it. I therefore cut the slates to length with scissors approximately on the 34mm line so they would all be a slightly different length. After gluing what turned out to be 65 slates together into a block and making 20 blocks I feel I have the effect I wanted. I am not saying all this marking, cutting and glueing was a quick job as it took the best part of 2 weeks but i am happy with the result.
The slate blocks were first sealed with shellac, primed with grey primer and then top coated with Humbrol matt slate grey. And all they cost was a couple of pounds for the small tin of Humbrol.
D.
David T.

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ge_rik
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by ge_rik » Mon Aug 02, 2021 1:43 am

They look fantastic. Well worth the effort and certainly good value for money!

Rik
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Lonsdaler
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by Lonsdaler » Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:13 pm

They look very good. I'm on a similar mission for 6 PS model slate waggons I have purchased, but have chosen a different approach. I'll do a post on it when I have finished!
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

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River Lin
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by River Lin » Mon Aug 02, 2021 6:37 pm

Hi Phil.
I look forward to see how you get on.
D.
David T.

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Old Man Aaron
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by Old Man Aaron » Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:44 pm

They compliment your assembly and weathering of the trucks, beautifully.
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works

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FWLR
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by FWLR » Fri Aug 27, 2021 9:01 am

Great job and they do look realistic.
Making slates can be time consuming, it took me about the same time for mine with some Venetian blinds that a neighbour was throwing out......

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Andrew
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by Andrew » Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:26 pm

Very nice! I must get round to making more slate loads - only one of my wagons has a load so far...

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williamfj
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.

Post by williamfj » Tue Aug 31, 2021 2:30 pm

I really should make some for my wagons, but the thought of making loads for my 32 wagons fills me with dread!

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