Log loads for Industrial Rail skeleton log cars

I think that attempting to weight plastic logs may be a good waste of otherwise free time unless you have the tools to bore them out and fill them with lead or the equivalent.

White pine is too light; think about a dense hardwood like oak or black locust, or maybe dogwood.

But, you may find that in the end the center of gravity is too high which leads to other problems...

Ron,

I always prefer real wood to plastic imitations which always look like what they are.

I would use "logs" cut from whatever you can find that has good-looking bark detail. The ones in the photo are from some sort of wild grape vine growing locally. There is no need for any preservation or preparation of the wood (except in the very unlikely case that you actually hear something chewing its way around in your twig ).

If you find that you need more weight, I would try to add it as close to the skeleton frame as you can to keep the center of gravity low, as Martin says. Perhaps a metal bar or lead sheeting that can be hidden among or under the lumber load? I know it's a little more difficult on a skeleton car, but there usually is a way, and those cars have good, heavy metal trucks if I remember correctly.



Jim

Hello Jim and MWB,
MWB and Jim,

Thanks for the input. Will continue to pursue the real wood alternative. My wood that I have already is white cedar(not white pine), and seems heavy enough, if it is augmented with low cog weight. Bark is ok, but not great.

Am interested in your thoughts about sealing this to prevent sap oozing out, and spread of any other tree born disease. One fellow I met recently coated the logs with 3 coats of Thompsons water seal to addresss this. How could I clean the bark to remove any mold/mildew? Now that I think of it, I think I have some outdoor treatment for this. That should be ok, I think.

At least you make me think that there is no inherent danger of incorporating this on my rr. Any thoughts about drying out these logs before I do anything?

Ron

I use logs cut from Rose of sharon bushes.
Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to steam out moisture and kill bugs.
then hang them on a wire to dry for a week.

Scale size and look good with the bark on.

quote:

Am interested in your thoughts about sealing this to prevent sap oozing out, and spread of any other tree born disease. One fellow I met recently coated the logs with 3 coats of Thompsons water seal to addresss this. How could I clean the bark to remove any mold/mildew? Now that I think of it, I think I have some outdoor treatment for this. That should be ok, I think.

Dip them entirely with the bark on in the water seal or even flat polyurethane. That should address any concerns regarding sap and diseases.

Sounds good.

Harleyhouse,

Will have to start looking for Rose of Sharon. Good idea on the microwave. Do you seal with anything?

Thanks,

ron

Ron,

I don't know where you live but in California we had a Bottlebrush Tree that had great looking branches for O scale log car use. In the spring and summer they have red flowers that look like a bottle brush and humming birds were attracted to them. In the fall, they would need to be trimmed and I would save the trimmigs for log car or pulpwood car loads. It has a fairly tight grain and looks similar to Jim's flat car load.

Greg

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/bottle-brush-tree.html

Fred,

WE live outside Chicago, but believe that we had a bottlebrush tree in a past home. Will keep my out for it/them. We also know them from our years in Mt View/Sunnyvale. Thanks, Ron

Greg,

Sorry about the transform.

ron

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Stevenson:
Harleyhouse,

Will have to start looking for Rose of Sharon. Good idea on the microwave. Do you seal with anything?

Thanks,

ron

I don't seal them and they seem fine.

OK, thanks. Sounds like the microwave treatment works. Ron