anyone make your own stuff for you gondola cars? i have aquired several gons, but my last one came with a rock load. it looks ok to me, but if i buy several more loads, that makes these cars expensive when you can buy them for the same money with the rock load. looking for ideas. doesnt have to be rocks or gravel. it can be pipe, scrap, or whatever. thanks…
I have always bought my loads. I just don’t have the stuff around my house to do anything custom. This guys has some good stuff. I have bought from him before. http://www.johnnysjunkheap.com/ . It seems like his website doesn’t work, but I am sure someone else will have a better idea. He sold N scale and HO scale. Maybe his website is down. I hope this helps, but I am sure the N scale guys will be better help, with keeping it to scale.
There are several loads available.I find it easier to use commerical loads then “rolling” my own…
http://www.toytrainheaven.com/.sc/ms/cat/N%20Freight%20Car%20Loads
Some home grown ideas I have are:
Scrap axles (old unused wheel sets).
Scrap RR Ties (from old broken track).
Scrap couplers (Maybe from those Accumates that exploded [swg]).
Scrap parts from old rolling stock.
Not a gondola, but a load of structural steel beams would be right at home in a gondola. I made this with some Evergreen shapes.
Pipe loads are easy… material is available as close as your nearest McDonald’s or 7-11 (drinking straws) and a little thread to band them together.
Wheel loads are pretty easy, too, although most functional wheelsets are a bit beefier than the prototype.
Lee
thanks guys, i’ll check them out. Lee, very nice as usual. i thought about straws, need to get some though thats not striped. as far as wheels, i have tons of micro trains pizza cutters laying around!!
You can find them at the supermarket or save the straw when you buy a drink at the local fast food joint.
As for the stripe, you most likely will have to paint them anyway.
Irv