I never liked the Annie’s coal load (who does?). An idea hit me when I was in the pet store walking by the aquariums…Black aquarium gravel!
I think it might be a bit large for “scale” but I liked the look. After sorting out the really big pieces I mixed it with a 50/50 mix of Elmer’s and water…put it in a “shaker cup” and pretended I was mixing a martini.
I think it looks better than the “wet oatmeal” of the original…
It did add considerable weight…Much needed!
Looks good.
I really like the aquarium gravel for coal, as well as real coal…if you look you can find a smaller version of the aquarium coal in the pet shop; also, I have crushed the larger version some which gives smaller pieces and some dust which is cool too. When I crushed it, the white insides showed, but I sprayed it with glossy black and we’re good to go.
I like my coal glossy and when I was a drinker I liked my martinis shaken like Boomer says.
Do NOT drive to the pet shop after three or four shaken or stirred martinis!
Just don’t take Elmer’s outside in the rain.
Steve Featherkile said:
Just don’t take Elmer’s outside in the rain.
I thought that was only the school glue?
Don’t know for sure, no doubt it would soften if soaked. But then again, I don’t run 'em in the rain…I’d melt.
Why not use the charcoal that goes in the aquarium filters? no white smashes nice…and is sorta kinda coal…just sayin…
Nice!
Bart Salmons said:
Why not use the charcoal that goes in the aquarium filters? no white smashes nice…and is sorta kinda coal…just sayin…
Well, then, since I gotta go get dog food right now. I’ll check it out while I’m there!
Bart Salmons said:
Why not use the charcoal that goes in the aquarium filters? no white smashes nice…and is sorta kinda coal…just sayin…
Worthy of a try! I used the gravel because I liked the idea of the added weight and it sure lays nice when you pile it up. I may try the charcoal filter stuff before I replace the Connie’s coal load.
Mark - Didi you glue the gravel over the existing load or replace it? I’ve done similar on both my Annies. I remove the factory load and replace with a sheet of styrene painted black; then cover it with crushed coal. I leave my loads loose which looks great, just don’t derail and dump your load :]
The coal I crush myself using a 10x10 tamper as a stamp mill.
Jon Radder said:
Mark - Didi you glue the gravel over the existing load or replace it? I’ve done similar on both my Annies. I remove the factory load and replace with a sheet of styrene painted black; then cover it with crushed coal. I leave my loads loose which looks great, just don’t derail and dump your load :]
The coal I crush myself using a 10x10 tamper as a stamp mill.
You may notice the tender has been modified…I removed the old load and built a narrower, shorter, taller coal bunker and added an air-tank. I too thought of leaving the load loose but I take this one down to the club layout for public displays. I was surprised the coating of glue had zero impact on the look of the “coal”, can’t even tell it’s there.
I bought some Aquarium Filter Carbon and it looks great. I dont have access to any real coal so the aquarium filter carbon is a good substitue. Plus, i dont have to deal with the mess of crushing my own coal.
If you think about it, Coal is carbon. Aquarium Filter media is carbon. Doesnt that make them one in the same?
I’ve found white glues in general do get soft when they get wet. The extent to which they do varies with the brand, though I’ve never done a comparison. I generally use whatever happens to be handy; Elmer’s, Aileen’s, generally whatever my wife has in her scrapbook supply cabinet. (Shhh…)
If you are going to be running in the rain, you can use Titebond II. While it’s a “yellow” glue, it dries mostly clear–certainly clear enough and thin enough over the black coal that you’ll never notice.
I checked my local pet store for aquarium charcoal, but my choices were HO scale or pellets, so I went back to a hammer and a big rock. Besides, it’s cathartic.
Later,
K
Jake Smith said:
If you think about it, Coal is carbon. Aquarium Filter media is carbon. Doesnt that make them one in the same?
I been saying that for a long time…I wish I could get some 50lb bags of the stuff to use for ballast!
Speaking of modelling coal, and this is stretching the topic I know, but how come you hardly ever see modelling of half-empty tenders and empty coal bunkers? I took these pictures down at the Cumbres-Toltec and I’m determined that my next coal modelling will reflect tenders and bunkers that aren’t full:
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/stfrancisconsolidatedrr/coal1.jpg)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/stfrancisconsolidatedrr/coal2.jpg)
Funny, I am using the larger pieces of “gravel” for coal bunkers next to my station!
I hear you…I used the larger pieces (aquarium gravel) when I built the bunker here in my freight yard. I was telling Kevin I was thinking of changing it out to the smaller pieces of filter coal, but I think you’re right in the larger pieces having their place, and I’m leaving it as is, although the next one will be half-empty and empty.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/stfrancisconsolidatedrr/coal3.jpg)
Kevin,
I got my at the local Pet Smart. It came in a plastic jug.
IMG[IMG]
This isnt exactly what I got, but very close.
