Modeling canvas tarps to cover flat car loads

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am looking for advice and information on materials to use in modeling canvas tarps used to cover loads on flat cars and gons. I model HO for Norfolk and Western for the time period between 1915 and 1925. I have some 30 and 40 foot flats and I hope to add some hoppers and gondolas. What is the best material to use.

Thanks in advance.

Chuck.

2

Believe it or not, aluminum foil works great.

Nick

3

yes, I guess alo foil would be ok, I was thinking of using a thin fabric, and using corn starch to stiffen it, or even dip it into plaster, to get that sagged heavy look.

4

I’ve got a couple of flat cars with tarp covered loads. What I did was take a block of wood about the size of the load I wanted and shaped it on my grinder to look like a piece of equipment of some kind, then covered it with wood glue and glued a piece of typing paper over it and mashed it into place with my fingers into all of the nooks and crannies and let it kind of flow out all around the bottom like a womans long dress. After it dried, I painted it with flat tan colored paint and glued it to the middle of the flat car. I then used black thread to tie it down with in just the right places, and wa la…

TL

5

My suggestion is also from the kitchen. Painted plastic wrap? Haven’t tried it, though.

6

I have used aluminum foil and sail cloth(from model ship supplies). Although I havent used it to drape over flat car loads,I have used it to cover stacks of feed sacks stored outside on a couple of HO scenes.Cut to shape,…Soak in water,…drape over object…Paint with white glue/water mixture…Do final tweeking of shape…let dry over night.

7

I have used Kilz2 acrylic primer on tissue. Facial tissue is difficult as it tends to fall apart. Packing tissue is easier to work with. The Kilz primer makes the tissue very strong.
I would use the aluminum foil, which is hard to keep color on, and drape tissue over and paint it with the Kilz2 primer. I experimented with placing the tissue on a piece of foil while working it. The tissue glues to the foil and retains the canvas look.
The tissue on the foil and painted in place with the primer would give the shape and texture.

My attempt at a canvas curtain. Tissue alone is a real pain to work.

Just a thought
Harold