Hey guys, what are you using for roofing material to simulate a trap type material for the roof of a caboose? I’m building a Union Pacifc CA-1 caboose and the original cabooses had a trap covered over wood roof and then the trap was hot mopped to seal it.
I’m looking for suggestions. And yes I will be taking pictures this week of my build and posting it. I just knoe the way you guys are. LOL
Chuck
Hey Chuck
I am thinking that you mean ‘tarp’ like material and not ‘trap’. More correctly I believe that they used canvas, at least up here in Canada. If you are looking for material that will have a fabric appearance, try the model airplane shop. Back when I was in the R/C hobby, we used a material called ‘Super Coverite’. It was a thin fabric like material with a heat activated glue on the back. Was very strong and light. Even after painting it still looked like a fabric.
Ron
Chuck - you could also use any high thread count bed sheet material 400+ threads per inch). It will still be out of scale, but far closer than the usual cotton sheets I use on the bed. 
Chuck,
If indeed you meant canvass covering what I have used is white muslin from JoAnne’s Fabrics.
Last I bought, long time ago, was like 99 cents a yard. A yard goes a long ways making car/loco roofs.
White glue works very well even on plastic to hold it on.
Later
Rick
OK guys i did mean tarp or canvas covering. My brain and fingers don’t always work the way I want them to. Thanks for the suggestions. Rick, I’ll have to ask my wife about the muslin. I’m sure she already has some in her fabric collection in her sewing room.
Spent the night drawing up the jig I will use to hold the roof trusses so I can attach the sheeting on the trusses. When it’s all done the roof section will slip-fit into the body of the caboose so that I can remove it to get to the batteries inside. Tomorrow I’ll make the jig.
Chuck
Chuck right above the man door on the right, I sprayed the waterproof black coating you can buy
it at the Lowes and HD and Orielly auto. Spray on a surface use a cheap paint brush apply to
roof, I reached in my pocket took out a red hanky, cut into strips, applied the strips to represent
rolled roofing , then applied another coat, 3 yrs later (outside all the time) still looks great.
I did a engine roof with a white hanky, looks great too.
Dennis, that’s a nice looking mill!
Ray is right that is nice. Dennis we need to see more of that mill.
Chuck,
I use the fabric that Phil sends with his kits. It’s perfect for tar roofs. I forgot what it is called, but my wife says you can get it at Joann’s.
For tar, I use flat black enamel full strength, right out of a small can I got at Home Depot. It is nice and thick.
Chuck, take a look at 600 grit wet/dry sand paper.
Chuck -
This is wide masking tape sprayed with Krylon and weathered with washes. I would not suggest it for an outdoor structure, but it gets damp when running the live steam loco and has had no issues in 3 years since it was done.
I cheaped out and used left over roofing felt (tar paper) that I had from re-roofing my house years ago. One side is pretty smooth, the other side has more texture.
(http://www.largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/23/b8/01/1b56c_bbf6.JPG)
Dennis, I’m with Ray. Great looking mill. Can we see more of it, or did I miss a previous thread?
