@writer77 Thanks Tom, its a ScaleTrains RTR flatcar that I changed out the plastic ends for wooden ends. The load is scratch built though. If you click the #F68AH hashtag you can get all the details.

Tada! Here is the completed load on the flat car. I think it turned out pretty well. I learned a few things that I would do differently next time, mostly trying to be more careful to keep the things straight and more unform (but not too uniform).

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Tada! Here is the completed load on the flat car. I think it turned out pretty well. I learned a few things that I would do differently next time, mostly trying to be more careful to keep the things straight and more unform (but not too uniform).

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

I installed the vertical load stabilizers down the middle of the load with a small amount of wood glue. I had originally cut the bearing pieces too short, so I had to trim them back and then install some small pieces to extend them out past the edge of the load. I then installed the guide rail using a scale 2”x4”, gluing it to the bearing pieces and then trimming them to length.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

I installed the vertical load stabilizers down the middle of the load with a small amount of wood glue. I had originally cut the bearing pieces too short, so I had to trim them back and then install some small pieces to extend them out past the edge of the load. I then installed the guide rail using a scale 2”x4”, gluing it to the bearing pieces and then trimming them to length.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

I installed the vertical load stabilizers down the middle of the load with a small amount of wood glue. I had originally cut the bearing pieces too short, so I had to trim them back and then install some small pieces to extend them out past the edge of the load. I then installed the guide rail using a scale 2”x4”, gluing it to the bearing pieces and then trimming them to length.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Work on the flatcar loads continued with gluing the top section to the bottom sections. The banding was added to join the 2nd and 3rd rows together. I pushed the end of the chart tape in with a dental pick and secured the ends with a drop of CA glue. I also made the vertical spacers out of scale 1”x4”s and 2”x4”s as one piece, then I cut them so the 1"x4"s were about 2 feet long.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Mistakes were made banding the lumber piles together. I glued 2 layers of the piles together Then using some 1/64” inch Chartpack charting tape, I added the steel interlacing bands. I secured the ends of the tape using CA on the underside of the load. The tape works out to a scale 1 ⅓”, not bad as the spec is 1 ¼”. I did not notice the order of the plies and I have made 2 sections that can't stack.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

I brought out The Chopper to cut the 2x4 dunnage spacers for the piles and then glued them to the underside of the wooden blocks. I am following the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual for bulkhead flatcars because everything is a model - Even a lumber pile. 😀 I also sealed the bottoms of the completed piles with Varathane so when it comes to the strapping, the CA does not wick away into the wood.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

After cutting the paper into strips to wrap the blocks. I located the block on the center of the paper and then scribed where the long edges were with the back of a No. 11 blade. This will create a sharp crease when the wrap is folded over the edge. I then used a glue stick to glue the paper onto the blocks. Next, I cut some relief cuts to make the end folds easier. Voila! Little lumbers piles!

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

After cutting the blocks for the lumber in scale 10, 12, 16 foot lengths, I sanded them to remove the splinters. There is something soothing about handling small smooth blocks of wood I find. I also planned out what sizes a need. The distance between the bulkheads is a scale 62 feet, so I need a row of three 16 foot, and one 12 foot bundles per row. That will allow me to stagger the 4 rows per side I need.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Of course, a flat car needs a load! So, I dug out a old photograph with a lumber load of mine from the 1990s and drew up some artwork in Illustrator for the lumber wrap. I also cut some wood blocks, a scale 4’w x 2.5’h and 12 and 16’ deep. Cutting those small pieces on a table saw was not my favorite activity. 😐

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

I applied a mix of brown and grey weathering powders to the deck to even the patchiness and monotone color out. I then used a light coat of the brown powder overall to use as a filter to tie the colors together. Finally, I air bushed the model with a light coat of Dullcoat to seal it.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Decking is down. The reason I varnished the back of the decking pieces was to seal them, so the CA glue doesn’t get sucked into the wood - You get a better bond that way. After lightly sanding the plastic, I glued down the 2x4s on the ends using carpenter’s glue. Not as tedious as you would think, just one of those things to take your time with.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Here are the scale 2x4 end boards and the laser cut wood decking pieces. I have tried something new here: a vinegar and steel wool stain. The stain reacts with the tannin in the wood to age it. It has turned the basswood a rusty brown color (My camera is making the reds more vibrant than they actually are.
I stained the decking the same way too and then sealed the back of the pieces with Verathane.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Weathering the trucks (or bogies). I first airbrushed them with a base of Testors Dark Skin tone, after they had cured, I bushed on some aim weathering powders (dark rust and dark earth etc. I weathered the couplers at the same time. I haven’t applied a fixative clear spray yet and may adjust the powders later once they are on the model. Once they are clear coated, the powder’s intensity will lessen anyway.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

Having reached the “Oh No! What have I done?” stage of weathering. Working from some photos for reference, I have added some rust and dirt. First I applied a very light spray of Testors dark skin tone enamel from the airbrush, after that cured, I followed up with a the oils, the usual suspects of Winsor and Newton oils, vandyke brown, raw umber, burnt sienna and mixing white (for a the faded chalky paint look).

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH

After looking at some prototype photos on https://rrpicturearchives.net/ to get a feel on how these cars weather and to verify the size of the boards used so I can order some. Looks like there are 26 2x4s on each end in the pictures and this agrees with what is on the model. I have ordered the scale lumber from Fast tracks (https://www.handlaidtrack.com/) so it should be here next week.

#ScaleModel #ModelRailway #HOScale #Trains #ModelTrains #BulkheadFlatcars #F68AH