What do you use for coal?(HO)

[gunkhead]

I'm completely stuck as to what I should use for coal.Can anyone tell me?

[dehusman]

How about the model coal sold by Woodland Scenics and several other scenery material makers?

Dave H.

[The Old Man]

I just used Woodland Scenics B93 Lump Coal.

[gunkhead]

Anything household I could use?

[tstage]

I use both the Woodland Scenics Lump (coarser) and Mine run (finer) coal in my hoppers but keep them separate.  The different coarseness adds a nice variety to my coal drags.

Tom 

[bogp40]

The abrasive "Black Beauty" used for sand blasting. A former club member found this to be rather inexpensive and can be bought in bulk. He has since moved on to casting loads professionally. You can see them at: 

 http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Motrak-Models_HO-Scale-Loads_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZQ2d1QQfsubZ2520766QQftidZ2QQtZkm

The layout has hundreds of these loaded hoppers, in coal, ballast, sand and ore.

[rogertra]

Coal.

 

 

[chadw]

Coal.

 

 

EXACTLY! What looks more like coal than coal.  Just put a lump in a bag and beat it with a hammer until it is "scale-sized".  I then glue mine to sheet styrene to avoid a dusty gritty mess.  Also the leftover dust from crushing the coal is excellent for weathering.

[modelmaker51]

Yeah, coal.

I found a couple of lumps next to the tracks at a local railroad yard. You might also check cement plants in your area or any other coal-fired plants.

[wickman]

As mentioned already , the sandblasting black looks good , I came across some and used it in the engine yard putting it through a strainer thingy.

[MisterBeasley]

Woodland Scenics "cinders" ballast.  It's black, and you can get it in different grades with different sized pieces.

I have some of the old Mantual "clamshell" operating drop hoppers, and this stuff works well in those.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Usually I use coal. When I had my coal mining layout I used crushed charcoal.

[Anonymous]

I heard of someone (User Kenfolk) using that grippy stuff you use for stairs and other things.

 

[Anonymous]

I have used the cheap plastic Coal loads supplied with cheaper hoppers, I spray them with spray adhesive then dip them in sand.  I then paint them black.  Looks pretty good, plus the grit is small so it looks more realistic.  After the paint hardens it wont rub off.

[Butlerhawk]

How about sand or small gravel painted black?

[miniwyo]

I use coal as well. The mines around here usually have a pile that they sell to people for thier coal stoves, well at the price they sell it for, they usually just give you a few lumps. I put in in a sack, beat it smaller with a hammer, and then take the small chunks and mush them in a blender. (DONT RUN THE BLENDER WITH COAL DUST IN THE AIR!!!! It will enter the motor and be ignited by the motor and flash back at you.) Then Sift it through a small screen strainer and then use elmers glue an a piece of material (I like particle board, cut to size, sanded to make individal loads and spray painted flat black. It also adds the weight you need.) Roll the load base covered in glue in the graded coal chunks and fil any spots by hand as needed, wait fir it to dry, apply a thin coat of gloss black paint to keep its lustre and you have a beautiful coal load running down your rails! I also do this to my coal tenders on my steamers. It sure gives them a real look, most people comment on it and can't believe that it is actually real coal!

[trainwrekd]

how about dark roast coffee? ...........comes in handy if you want a coffee while modeling

[msowsun]

I was once in a hotel where the elevator lobby ashtrays were filled with a granular black charcoal type substance.

I scooped up a cupful and brought it home. I looks like scale coal to me and that one cup done about 10 tender loads for my steam engines and I still have lots left.

 

  

[selector]

The full sized view of your first tender is exceptionally realistic for coal, msowsun.  Good job!

[orsonroy]

Coal.

Add me to the list of people using real coal. Specifically, lumps "liberated" from along the C&NW...er, UP right of way through Rochelle. My NKP steam engines all get real coal loads from a couple of lumps of NKP 765's coal that I picked up in the early 1990s.

[msowsun]

The full sized view of your first tender is exceptionally realistic for coal, msowsun.  Good job!

Thanks. The coal in the first photo was done recently. The second photo was done about 10 years ago and is looking a liitle tired. I guess I should touch it up.

Mike Sowsun

Oakville, Ontario 

 

[Anonymous]

I'm completely stuck as to what I should use for coal.Can anyone tell me?

 

Laoc will work perfectly.