Finishing up my Log Cars....

Look good, and, looks like you found enough arch bar trucks.  Supply and demand isn't

working...at least, our demand has not brought forth a supply..

I have enough for these but getting VERY low.....not enough for another 6 cars like I'd like.

Dave, they look great.  Here are a couple of Industrial rail log cars that I put on some of my 'sticks' for my son in law who is in the wood/paper/pulp industry. I too wait for the right size limb to fall which usually is not too long of a wait!  They look so much better than the plastic ones. I did not do anything to the logs except cut them to length.

Those look really good.  I like the chains a lot.  Just the right size of links, etc.  A nice touch.

If any of you out there get that 'other' O scale 3 rail magazine.....I thought it was funny they had an article building the same log cars I did here!!! They are the same materials, trucks and size. Some details vary....no NBW castings on them and no log support and tie down detail like mine....but otherwise almost the same! I know because of lead time both of us builders did almost the same thing at the same time.....he was just smarter to get paid to do it!!! But I enjoy just putting it here and having fun!

I have twenty of the IDR log cars with the plastic logs.  I've been cutting up fallen limbs to equip them with real lumber.  In my case it's simply a matter of time, I live on a heavily wooded lot, so fallen limbs are not any problem, it's getting rid of them that's the problem!

One question, well perhaps two.

I'd like to find some decent chain to hold them down, what they come with doesn't do the trick, and the springs are pretty weak.  What did you use for yours?

I'm considering spraying them with a flat finish clear coat to preserve them, as I'm thinking as they age, the remaining bark may start flaking off.  Has anyone had experience doing this, or should I just lash them to the cars?

Dave very cool looking car.

Personally, I don't think the effort to work with a magazine on an article is worth it. They pay you a bit but it takes months and gobs of back and forth . . . A forum like this allows you to share much more, and much more immediately, and with far less hassle of editing, etc.  It is the way to go.  I really liked your posting
and the cars look great.  The CTT article ways okay, but I noted that it was basically what you had done earlier.

As I said earlier, I particularly liked the chains you used.  I had made some log cars about a year ago and I went back and used some model-ship chain to do it the same way.  A big improvement over the the string I had used as rope.

The chain came from Hobby Lobby costume jewelry dept. It came just as I used it....a dark almost black brown color. Enough for six cars was about $3 and use a 40% off and get it for under $2! 

I used a stiff wire brush on my 'logs' so no more bark should come off.....I hope!

I'll have to check with my daughter, she makes jewelry, perhaps she has chain or a cheap source.

John,

Check with a LHS that also carries ship models, they seem to have some chains and other bits we can use on our O-scale empires.

Speaking of real wood loads...I made a stack of pulpwood for one of my Seaboard pulpwood cars a few years back and recently noticed that the wood had shrunk to the point I need to add another 2 rows to fill the gap

I'm hoping my lawn twigs won't shrink much.

Nice looking car Dave. 

If you're looking for motive power I would think the Lionel 0-6-0 Switcher or K-line Plymouth switcher would be nice. I would love to get a 3 truck shay just like the one currently at Spencer,NC

I'm pulling my log cars with the MTH Climax, it's a good fit for log cars.

Model expo and other suppliers that cater to the model ship hobbiests carry lots of different sizes and types of model chain.  If you have special needs that may be the route to use.  However, I find all I need (including when I used to scratch build model ships) locally, and very low cost. You can always find cheap jewelry, etc., at garage sales, etc., as well as new at some of kiosks at the mall. 

Good model chain looks so much better.

I think the jewelry outlets are a good idea.

Thanks Sean.......

I have a K-Line Plymouth that will have to stand in.....but I'm a bit of a Shay snob!! I have had the opportunity to be around and ridden Shays at Cass....and kinda want to replicate a local logging operation. The log cars are labeled for old logging companies in my area. A Climax might work too.....

Dave, I keep looking at the Shay's, but I managed to score the Climax, so I figured it was meant to be.

Those log cars look great!