What do you do to represent logs. Can’t seem to find anything that really looks good. I’ve used real wood branches cut to size, but can’t find the right bark texture. I’ve seen some cast ones, but so much depends on your artistic use of paint that I pretty much ruled them out. Any suggestions? I have to fill 6 log cars. Thanks Jerry L
In Rick Bell’s Yahoo group, Rick had a photo of some pretzel sticks with a little bit of paint that were some of the best looking logs that I’ve seen.
Jerry that would depend on what you want. Do you want real or real close or real, real, real close. Some use the castings, some just go out in the yard and collect branckes until they find the ones they like.
Johnnny_reb
Harold Minkwitz has some neat ideas on his Pacific Coast Airline website.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/logs/
Here’s one method that looks really good.
Those are really neat! Kinda makes me want to add a logging branch to my layout.
Do filberts(hazelnuts) grow in your area? The suckers from those trees make really nice logs.
Great idea! I just happen to have a Filbert in the yard. Never looked, just picked.
-Crandell
Great method of making logs, but with a bit of care real twigs are as effective almost any type will do, remember the sawcut ridge at the end of the logs.
The half logs in the log pond are cast in plaster from masters made from carved and stained wood dowels. The large log deck in the background are rose bush stems. I am now using butterfly bush stems which I have found make very realistic logs particular the bark but, I do not have a picture.
Peter Smith, Memphis
There’s an old MR article by the “Mad Hat” some trees that sclae well.
I use grap vine for logs. The bark looks good and you can find many differant sizes on one vine.
Those are great looking. Nice work reklein, nice work indeed !!
After posting this I thought of trying to make some test logs from “SCULPY”, If you are not familiar with this product, it’s a clay that you can harden in the oven. Started by rolling some into a few different diameters, then rolling it on some 60 grit sandpaper to represent bark, pressing some wood shavings into the log & removed them to leave an inprint to represent missing bark. I then cut them part way thru & pulled them apart to represent a saw cut from each side, leaving a broken piece in the center. Didn’t turn out that bad…plan to paint them Gray/brown with lighter ends & missing bark areas. I’ll let you know how they turn out. Jerry L
And if ya ever get hungry while running trains… 
Kevin
Here is a picture of my logs cu from branches of a Butterfly Bush:
Peter Smith, Memphis
Logs? There were logs? I wanna know more about tha’ loco loco. Does it really work or is it a dummy?
Wow these logs look really good. I am trying to make some that are shown in the link. Here are some made from cedar branches. They don’t look too bad. Tom
The loco is a Northwest Short Line vertical boiler brass Shay. It runs from a motor inside the boiler through gearing to the line shaft similar to a real Shay. It has been one of my best running geared locomotives and is used as the mill switcher. The hardest thing was to take it all apart for painting and weathering.
Peter Smith, Memphis