Here it is Fresh out of the shops. This is essentially a Roundhouse 30' Flatcar that has been detailed...I have these little 3-n-1 kits here and I finally decided to do something on one of them. I originally wanted to sell this, but now, I kind of really like it...I now need to finish the small derrick crane and others to go with this car...then again, I could build another! The bin contains about 8 pair dummy couplers, and then there are the trucks mounted, boarded, and tied down to the bed. I think it is done now...I only wish I had a layout like the Badger Creek in which to photograph it. Should I weather the tie down straps with a little Rust and Boxcar Red so they look more like chains? Flatcar Pictures [ 23. September 2002, 03:26: Message edited by: Benny ]
Benny, your flat car looks great! You asked about the "chains". If you want to try an experiment.... Get some cinnamon colored very fine sewing thread. Cut three pieces about a foot long. Tie one end of each one to a pin or track nail driven into a heavy board (or whatever). Braid the three threads as tightly as you can, (to obtain small "links", until you have enough braided length to serve all the places where you want a "chain" to show. Hold tension on what you have, and spray the braided part lightly with hair spray, and hold it until it dries. (About a couple of minutes.) When you let go, the threads should remain "glued together", but not be glossy. Cut the braided thread to length using sissors. (If you fail to cut EVERY fiber, it will ruin the braid when you separate the pieces.) Some times a razor blade does not always cut every strand cleanly, see? Now, lay these sections of thread (chain) on your car, and take a photo. From enough distance, it will look like chain, too far away you couldn't tell either way, and too close will look like heavy rope. Its an old ship modeling trick. There are others too. [ 23. September 2002, 07:38: Message edited by: watash ]
Great work Benny, with or without the chain. We all wish we had a Badger Creek layout. Take care, Jim
I hear that one the "we all want a Badger Creek" Me three! [ 24. September 2002, 18:47: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Even though you don't have a Badger Creek to model on, and even if space for a layout is zero, you can STILL get by with a ballasted, painted, scenicked & detailed display diorama. Just take a short piece of wood (1x4, 2x4, 1x12 or whatever), lay down some cork roadbed, a piece of track, and add paint, ballast, ground foam, etc. to taste. Make it portable enough so you can take ot outdoors for shots if you so wish. I had a 24" long display track in college upon wish I laid cork roadbed and a piece of N scale track. I displayed a locomotive and some rolling stock from my first Nscale layout (which I had in my dorm room, BTW). Nailed to two other pieces of 2x4, it became bookends of a sort, and looked great on my desk. It's a thought, anyway......BTW, your flat does look very good!!!
