How to modify coal loads to look more realistic

That's neat thanks for sharing. Must add, my wife was watching this also and added that either your single or the wife is out of town when you did this? Because I was told I better not be doing this in our bathroom or kitchen sink.

Bathroom where I shot video is adjacent to train room. (former basement bedroom).  It’s not real messy process but would be better performed in a workshop/bench.   I did Servepro (like it didn’t even happen) the bathroom when I was done.

Nice method.  IIRC, Rich Battista's ToyTrainsOnTracks"Black Diamond Railway" early DVD series had a tip section where he made a couple cuts into the bottom side base of the stock MTH coal load so that they sit lower and provide more topside room to add on a real coal topping.

I always liked the look of a little shine or sparkle to the car's coal load.  Maybe its because I remember how the various sized coal (rice/pea/nut) looked when we used to have it delivered to the house many years ago.  However, when I saw real coal cars, even as they were filled at the breaker, there was lots of dust and the coal rarely had any shine and the coal size seemed dependent upon the coal shipment's intended purpose at the load's destination (home, industrial, overseas, etc.)

Thanks for trying and sharing.

They look good mate.

I use a similar method and then give the loads a light spray of glue and water leave them in the sun for a while till dry.

I must admit you have guts doing that in the bathroom!  Roo.

Thanks for the info. Look good.

Very informative.Thanks for posting this. Nick