some history for on my layout and how does one miniaturize coal?

[bikerraypa]

Over in the Prototype Modeler's forum, I posted a thread about some pictures I took of the old PRR coaling tower, still standing at Phillipston, PA.( http://tinyurl.com/afjsp )

I plan to model this structure, because not only is it NEAT, but also, I have several ancestors who were Pennsy firemen out of Phillipston, so that coaling tower is what filled their tenders and fireboxes.

While I was poking around the base of the tower, I had an idea. After some rooting around in the weeds and dirt underneath the tower, I found a couple pretty decent sized chunks of coal. I would like to take these chunks of coal that might (in theory) have actually fallen from the tender of my grandfather's locomotive, smash 'em up and use them to fill my N-scale tenders. What is the best way to "miniaturize" some 1:1 scale coal??


Ray

[dragonriversteel]

Good old est -wing hammer or the trusty smash -O -matic meat tenderizer LOL.

Patrick

[Paul W. Beverung]

Ray that's a great idea. Get a good old cast iron pot and use a hammer. Try light blows to start and heaver until you get the breakage you want. Wear eye protection as pieces fly far and fast. I break up iron ore in much the same way but it is alot harder.

[timthechef]

Put the coal in a ziplock freezer bag (it's heavier) and smash it with a hammer, pan, or meat mallet.

[nbrodar]

A ziplock freezer bag, some towels, and a whacking stick.

Nick

[cefinkjr]

You might want to add a masonry chisel to your armament. I recall some pieces of coal too large to fit through the fire door of our furnace when I was a kid. A heavy ball peen hammer usually did the trick but I also kept a chisel handy and used it occasionally.

Chuck

[howmus]

I would run it through a fine screen mesh of some sort after it has been crushed. Maybe that thingy that has been sitting in the "what the heck is this thing for" drawer for several years. You know what I mean. Oh, don't tell the little woman that you are "borrowing" it to smash up a piece of coal. Not good for peace in the family, so to speak. The larger pieces can then be resmashed and screened until you are finished. (Then wash out the screen thingy and sneak it back into that drawer in the kitchen. She will never know, but don't complain about the funny taste of the speghetti or whatever she cooks later on.)

[cmrproducts]

Ray

I have the Redbank Coal Tower about 3/4 done in HO. Several of us have made numerous trips to this monolith and I would say we have about 100 pictures of it from just about any angle, but still don't seem to have all we need.

I am doing my model for NMRA achievement award points so it is going to be as accurate as I can make it.

Also it is a signature scenic element on my CR Lowgrade line layout so I figured I might as well build it right.

BOB H – Clarion, PA

[bikerraypa]

Bob:

I'm going back down to get some more pics as soon as the leaves are off. If there are any particular angles or whatever you want pics of, let me know. I can either send you the pics or give them to Bryan.


Ray

QUOTE: Originally posted by cmrproducts

Ray

I have the Redbank Coal Tower about 3/4 done in HO. Several of us have made numerous trips to this monolith and I would say we have about 100 pictures of it from just about any angle, but still don't seem to have all we need.

I am doing my model for NMRA achievement award points so it is going to be as accurate as I can make it.

Also it is a signature scenic element on my CR Lowgrade line layout so I figured I might as well build it right.

BOB H – Clarion, PA

[krump]

1) a bag and a hammer
2) an old electric coffee grinder - working but "retired" if you know what I mean

[Jetrock]

An old blender can help for that project too. Try a thrift store.

Welcome to the world of neurotic realism! Plenty of Colorado narrow gauge modelers sneak onto old right-of-way and grab chunks of ballast to grind up and use as ballast on their model railroads. I use clods of real dirt from the vicinity of the places I am modeling in Sacramento to sterilize and use as dirt on my layout.

[Anonymous]

Why not keep the hunk of coal and pu tit on the shelf for display? I have found charcoal is alot easier to work with. Just a thought.

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by On30Shay

Why not keep the hunk of coal and pu tit on the shelf for display? I have found charcoal is alot easier to work with. Just a thought.

Makes good sense to me. Also, I recently cleaned my chimney and derived two shopping bags full of black, shiny creosote. That stuff is hard, comes in gritty bits, and would be a good substitute for coal.

As it happens, I did break down and buy some WS coal, and it looks pretty goo..if a little too shiny. I think it is ground glass or something.