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I picked up a used flat car at a train meet that was just screaming silently, "I've got a lot of running left in me."  It was pretty lightweight, but has metal wheels and axles.  For five bucks, yeah, I took it home.  Now loaded with triangular pile of pipes (glued on it), the flat car looks really good now and almost ready to take to the rail, but first I need to "secure" the cargo.

 

I'm wondering what materials you use to simulate "securing" a pipe load on a flat car.  I've seen people use everything from rubber bands to a girl's hairband.  I don't need anything massive to hold these pipes; just something that looks decent since it doesn't need to provide any structural or loading support. 

 

Your thoughts?

 

Thank you!

 

Flatcar with pipes - 1

Flatcar with pipes - 2

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  • Flatcar with pipes - 1
  • Flatcar with pipes - 2
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Thank you for all the ideas, folks!  Hopefully in a week or two, that little flat car will be running down the layout with its load of pipes properly secured.

 

If you get a chance, stop by my web site to see two of my other "runner" flat car projects:

 

Historical aircraft flat car

http://www.bluejeansplace.com/...ircraft-flatcar.html

 

Milk Duds flat car

http://www.bluejeansplace.com/...ilk-dud-flatcar.html

 

 

Originally Posted by Pat Shediack:

  I've seen people use everything from rubber bands to a girl's hairband.

 

Hey, the hair tie thing works if you are willing to give up realism

 

I occasionally "borrow" a couple from my sister at Christmas time if I want to add a load to a flatcar for the Christmas tree layout.  She usually notices them there and even though she has a million of them, I'm not allowed to use two for my trains

 Hi Pat: I have just completed two pipe loads almost identical to the one you are doing now However I then placed them on small homemade wooden blocks. I have been using Black Nylon Cable ties for about two years now and they look great, I have obtained long black ties about 3/16 to 1/4 inch wide in two sizes 14" and 17" . (purchased at Lowes or Home Depot). When I cannot hide the block coupler, I leave it exposed and clip it flush to represent a strap fastener. Keeping in mind the somewhat stiff plastic, when I come to radius bends or sharp corners I premark with a pencil and preform some of the bends by hand using a flat pliers or whatever other tool is needed, to help preform corners before I pull tie together. This is a very simple way of fastening loads and the effects are stunning. So far I have made up about ten of these loads, using various cargo's.  Whenever I learn how to post photo's on this forum I will do so. (I am not good at this computer stuff, it took me about 6 months to make my first post on this forum.) Good Luck.  Regards, Casey.

Last edited by Casey LV
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

You can get cheap necklace chains that will look just like real chain to secure it, that would make a realistic tie-down.

This is what I do.  I just look for them on sale - in drug stores, at mall kiosks, etc., and buy a few.  I dip and dry them several times in a solition of paint thiner and black paint, then brush them with a bit of rust color, and they look very realistic.

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