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Real iron ore and magnetic sensors for my Cheverie Mountain Railroad layout

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  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 7:56 AM

Next they add 2 grams of LePage quick dry wood glue.

Tags: wood glue
  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 7:59 AM

A gram of Cape Blomidon red sandstone is added as a filler. Colour doesn't matter for this block because it will be painted in a concrete colour after it fully cures.

Tags: sandstone
  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:03 AM

The ingredients are thouroughly mixed until the wood glue begins to get a little sticky.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:05 AM

Four pieces of magnetite are embedded into the block on the top of an initial layer of 'concrete' mix.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:09 AM

Finally, a top layer of 'concrete' mix is applied. Note that the block is sitting on a piece of paper from stickers - easily removed later.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:16 AM

All ready to paint today. Did I mention the company can also make yummy-looking fake Oh Henry bars (this one not HO scale)? End of thread - thank you. P.S. Will look up track cleaning articles in my model railroad magazine collection today.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Sunday, April 23, 2017 12:51 PM

Oh, there is one last thing I can post in this thread as I begin to design sensors for animation. This is my magnetic test car with 72 ceramic magnets attracted to eachother and to the metal car floor. They are not going to move no matter how fast the train goes.

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • 384 posts
Posted by Redore on Thursday, April 27, 2017 9:44 PM

I live in northern Minnesota where magnetite is mined for iron ore, and magnetite dust is mixed in with everything around here.  My advice, from personal experience, is that magnetite and model railroads do not mix, no matter how well it is secured.  The magnetite particles and dust get into motors and anything else connected to the motors with a steel shaft.  Don't do it.

If you need the sparkly black, use some other non metallic mineral.  If you need the magnetic properties, imbed a piece of steel.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • 1,585 posts
Posted by OldSchoolScratchbuilder on Friday, April 28, 2017 5:53 AM

Redore

My advice, from personal experience, is that magnetite and model railroads do not mix, no matter how well it is secured.  The magnetite particles and dust get into motors and anything else connected to the motors with a steel shaft.  Don't do it.

It's good advice but that is what will set my layout apart from most others. All my loads will be real Nova Scotia materials. Real materials will be used in structures and ground cover.

I have been running a lifetime trial for four months now using many unprotected real Nova Scotia loads in open hoppers and gondolas. These loads include gypsum, magnetite, barite, scrap metal, coal, ocean driftwood, and soon pyrite. Two DC trains have been running pulling all of these cars plus an assortment of other car types. I have had loads spill onto the tracks and cleaned up without any noticable degradation in train performance. This lifetime trial is set up in its own location and will continue indefinitely using the two dedicated locomotives. So far not a single problem.

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