Seaboard Central 2.0

[davefoxx]

That's pure sex right there! Any possibility of posting a minute or so video of coal hauling hotness??

I'll try to do that, but it will have to wait due to family obligations this holiday weekend.  Thanks for asking!

On a side note, I musta missed it but what was the issue with the SD50's?

My SD50s are from a very early batch, and they didn't run well at all.  I've tweaked the trucks, tried replacement trucks, completely tore the locomotives down, cleaned them out, and finessed the driveline in attempts to get these locomotives to run a little smoother and not bind when negotiating curved trackage.  They don't seem to slow down in curves anymore, despite my 12"-13" minimum mainline curves.  At one point, I was so frustrated that I was about to buy new SD50s or 60s just to swap shells.  I'm glad I didn't have to do that.

DFF

[seusscaboose]

I'm curious how the Black Sand / Roll Your Own solution works.... It reminds me of Ed's Grout theory.... If your theory works... Maybe there are other uses around a layout for it...  I might wanna give it a try up inGlen Alsen at my place...or Thomas.

EP

[davefoxx]

Any possibility of posting a minute or so video of coal hauling hotness??

I doubt that this qualifies as coal-hauling hotness, due to my poor cell phone video, but I hope you enjoy this anyway:

DFF

[Baronjutter]

Love that kudzu and the whole bridge scene.  I would have been exactly 1 year old in this video!

[Philip H]

Well done Mr. Foxx. The double bridges look nice over you water, and the two "mains" going off left of the bridge give the impression of a branch coming in. You might want to get John to build you up an appropriate signal for that junction, and have it wired to a toggle on the fascia just for effect.

[crrcoal]

Awesome Dave!!! That more than qualifies for coal hauling hotness!!!   Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. 

Love your layout too. A very cool little layout. Very well done!!

[davefoxx]

I'm curious how the Black Sand / Roll Your Own solution works.... It reminds me of Ed's Grout theory.... If your theory works... Maybe there are other uses around a layout for it...  I might wanna give it a try up inGlen Alsen at my place...or Thomas.

EP

Eric,

Here's how the black art sand turned out.  I'm pleased, but I will certainly appreciate some constructive criticism from my fellow asshats.  It's certainly one way to spruce up the unrealistic loads for a dirt cheap price.  The bag of sand was only three or four dollars, and I'm sure I have a lifetime supply.  I just painted on a layer of full strength white glue, sprinkled on the sand, and let it dry.  Then, I took a sanding block to knock off any excess that had stuck to the sides and would keep the load from fitting back into the car.  It's important to only sand in one direction (top to bottom) to minimize the sand from flaking off the top.

Before, the Trainworx cars' loads looked like brownies baking and had no texture.  Look at the first four cars' loads.  Ew.


After:


For shits and giggles, I also "sanded" a Micro Trains load:


Now, I'm no coal expert (for example, I have flood loaded cars and tipple loaded cars in the same train ), but the size of the sand grains feels correct.  Maybe, the grain is oversized, but it does allow the texture to show reasonably.  Thoughts?

DFF

[seusscaboose]

I too, do not profess to be an expert, but I like it!!!!

I will need to try it when I do my engine facility

[ChristianJDavis1]

Eric,

Here's how the black art sand turned out.  I'm pleased, but I will certainly appreciate some constructive criticism from my fellow asshats.  It's certainly one way to spruce up the unrealistic loads for a dirt cheap price.  The bag of sand was only three or four dollars, and I'm sure I have a lifetime supply.  I just painted on a layer of full strength white glue, sprinkled on the sand, and let it dry.  Then, I took a sanding block to knock off any excess that had stuck to the sides and would keep the load from fitting back into the car.  It's important to only sand in one direction (top to bottom) to minimize the sand from flaking off the top.

Before, the Trainworx cars' loads looked like brownies baking and had no texture.  Look at the first four cars' loads.  Ew.


After:


For shits and giggles, I also "sanded" a Micro Trains load:


Now, I'm no coal expert (for example, I have flood loaded cars and tipple loaded cars in the same train ), but the size of the sand grains feels correct.  Maybe, the grain is oversized, but it does allow the texture to show reasonably.  Thoughts?

DFF

It is definitely an improvement over the stock loads (love the browny comparison, as well as actual brownies...). They, at least to me, look like good representations of coal loads. Then again, I do not know much about coal other than it is black... Now is the time for me to be quiet and let the actual experts speak.

[primavw]

I like them. clever approach and big improvement!

[svedblen]

...The bag of sand was only three or four dollars, and I'm sure I have a lifetime supply.  I just painted on a layer of full strength white glue, sprinkled on the sand, and let it dry....

Great result! I did the same thing on a bunch of Atlas cars a few years ago, but I used Woodland Scenics fine cinder ballast, since I had a bag of that at hand. That look perfectly Ok aswell. But I'm no coal expert either 

...to consider for those who find black art sand hard to come by

[Chris333]

Hey wait. When did the lake get water?   

[crrcoal]

I'm not an expert either but I think those loads look great!!! Nice job Dave!

Some reading for those who may be interested;
http://appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/abcs-of-coal-loads/


Edit: Forgot to ask- Are you or did you add and metal to the underside of the loads to make them removable via magnet?

[Philip H]

so, if the black sand theory works for coal, how well will it work for coke?  One of the products that gets shipped out of Exxon in Baton Rouge in petroleum coke (or pet coke) and my Mississippi river dock scene will be a load out point for the coke coming from the refinery/polyolefins complex.  I have all the hoppers I need in captive service, but they are not ye loaded.

[conrail98]

so, if the black sand theory works for coal, how well will it work for coke?  One of the products that gets shipped out of Exxon in Baton Rouge in petroleum coke (or pet coke) and my Mississippi river dock scene will be a load out point for the coke coming from the refinery/polyolefins complex.  I have all the hoppers I need in captive service, but they are not ye loaded.

I'm wondering that too for my coke works and coke piles at the steel mill. Coke is usually lighter in color then coal so it may be a mix and match combo,

Phil