Roofing slates on the cheap.
Roofing slates on the cheap.
Hi all.
1000+ roofing slates stacked up ready for loading into wagons and run down to Port. 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? 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.
1000+ roofing slates stacked up ready for loading into wagons and run down to Port. 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? 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.
Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
They look fantastic. Well worth the effort and certainly good value for money!
Rik
Rik
Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
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
Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds
My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077
- Old Man Aaron
- Trainee Driver
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Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
They compliment your assembly and weathering of the trucks, beautifully.
Regards,
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Aaron - Scum Class Works
Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
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......
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......
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
Very nice! I must get round to making more slate loads - only one of my wagons has a load so far...
Re: Roofing slates on the cheap.
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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