Wagon tarpaulins the easy way

[jcm@gwr]

How about trying Shellac?

[Martin S-C]

Good idea. I have sent off for a small bottle. I know it dries very hard.

[Martin S-C]

After 2 or 3 days work (interspersed with laying about in a state of near heat-exhaustion for hours at a time and wishing my ice-maker was more efficient) I have come up with these. The fictional sheets are for my own railway system and made of the ordinary fine mat cartridge paper I mentioned before. The three pre-group sheets are from the David Smith range which really bulks-up too much and goes all weird and fibrous when you crumple it. I think its just too heavy and stiff a paper to make convincing wagon sheets in the smaller scales. It would probably work well in 7mm scale.

All these are removable with a variety of weights and balsa support blocks beneath. Dry brushing with various light greys helps I think - before that the sheets were too dull and monotone and the creases were not obvious enough.

 

My bottle of Shellac should arrive tomorrow and I'll paint it around the insides using a couple of coats to see how that improves the paper's durability.

[chuffinghell]

Look great

[F-UnitMad]

Certainly getting very close

 

Photos 1,2,3 & 6 are the best (in my opinion).

[Martin S-C]

Cheers, appreciate the feedback. I got hold of some very fine stiff cardstock today so will see how sheets made of folded card work out. I expect to have to score it almost through with the back of a scalpel blade or similar. Trick is not to cut too far. Watch this space.

[Martin S-C]

A big thumbs up for the Shellac, I painted a coat over the entire inside of the sheet and it has hardened the paper considerably making the paper wagon sheets a much more viable prospect, and as a bonus, making them easier to fit over the wagons.

[Martin S-C]

No comments needed for this I think, should all be self-explanatory, the only tricky bit was getting the paint to adhere to the foil. Pre-coating it with Testors Dulcote fixed that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chuffinghell]

I gave up on the tarps and I’m close to giving up on everything else too at the moment to be honest

[Mikkel]

1 hour ago, Martin S-C said:

No comments needed for this I think, should all be self-explanatory, the only tricky bit was getting the paint to adhere to the foil. Pre-coating it with Testors Dulcote fixed that.

 

That looks great Martin. How was the weathering done, a black wash?

[Martin S-C]

Yes, Mikkel, in fact a mix of black and sepia watered down. Then dry-brushing with the same brown/grey tone as the sheet but lightened with some white. I've tried to suggest an agricultural sheet belonging to the ploughing engine owners, rather than a railway company one. I wanted a bit of variation.

The problem with the foil is it comes out too crumpled. Looking at photos of real sheeted loads the sheets tend to be mostly taut and you can't get that effect with foil without great risk of tearing it.

 

I made up the empty Lowmac so that I can swap the wagons over for when a ploughing engine is delivered or collected from a yard.

 

 

Chuffinghell - I am sorry to hear about that. I have had a pretty low mood over winter since cutting my thumb but the recent warm weather has inspired me to gird my loins and press on. I've suffered depression before and find that sitting and staring at a wall doesn't help. This time after a protracted period of feeling sorry for myself I made myself get up again and push on. I hope you too get over your present problems, whatever they are.

Edited March 2, 2019 by Martin S-C

[chuffinghell]

On 02/03/2019 at 18:53, Martin S-C said:

 

Chuffinghell - I am sorry to hear about that.

 

I’m feeling a little better now, so much so I’ve even attempted to make a tarp for my Collett Goods

 

I cut a rectangular strip out of a Hornby decoder sleeve, superglued on a brass rod, rolled it up tightly over the brass rod using more superglue 

then once I’d unstuck my fingers bent down the rolled ends and glued on a couple of thinly cut strips at the bends to represent ties/straps

 

a quick spray of grey bumper paint  before gluing in place

Edited March 7, 2019 by chuffinghell

[Martin S-C]

I've noted that loco cab weather sheets tended to be a bit scruffy and saggy. I haven't had a go yet myself but would probably try something like crumpled tissue.

 

Edited March 7, 2019 by Martin S-C

[chuffinghell]

Hopefully it’ll look better and less ‘new’ looking once it’s weathered maybe?

 

The loco definitely looks much better with the etched number plates though

Edited March 7, 2019 by chuffinghell

[chuffinghell]

28 minutes ago, Martin S-C said:

I've noted that loco cab weather sheets tended to be a bit scruffy and saggy. I haven't had a go yet myself but would probably try something like crumpled tissue.

 

 

Great photo!

 

If anyone asks it’s a brand new tarp on the Collett 

 

I was going to attempt something like this....but I decided I wasn’t brave enough 

[Martin S-C]

Are the number plates additions? They look superb, I'd never have guessed.

 

EDIT: Problem with deployed weather sheets is they attach to stays on the tender so you have to deal with how the tender & loco respond to curves. That's a big problem.

On top of that you can't see your nicely painted crew and any backhead detail . Rolled up weather sheets are the better choice IMHO.

Edited March 7, 2019 by Martin S-C

[chuffinghell]

12 hours ago, Martin S-C said:

Are the number plates additions? They look superb, I'd never have guessed.

 

Yeah, they’re from modelmasters. Same number and being ever so slightly bigger I’ve managed to get away with just glued them on over the printed plates

 

These are the printed plates....

 

 

Compared to the etched.....

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by chuffinghell

[chuffinghell]

The number plate change is very subtle but worth it IMO

 

After a good nights sleep I’m not sure about the tarp 

[John Isherwood]

56 minutes ago, chuffinghell said:

After a good nights sleep I’m not sure about the tarp 

 

Might I repectfully suggest that the first requirement is to thin the underside of the cab roof edge, so that it appears to be thinnish metal sheet and not a slab of battleship armor?

 

Also, if you can get hold of a black balloon, it could be cut and rolled to resemble a tarpaulin, and will sag naturally between straps.

 

The more adventurous might even achieve an in-use cab sheet using balloon rubber.

 

Regards,

John Isherwood.

[CloggyDog]

I like that cab roof tarp, chuff, something not often seen modelled. John's suggestions would enhance it further.

 

I'd also suggest looking beyond the lineside fence - military modellers have been doing tarps better for years.

 

Traditionally, a lot of the AFV modelling folk used very thin lead foil sheet to do tarps, both rolled/folded or deployed over a load or vehicle. It's stiff enoigh to hold shape, pretty robust, easily worked and adds weight to light wagons! A cheap(ish) source is the wrap around the cork on fizzy plonk, but it is (was?) also available through the wider modelling trade in sheets up to about A5 size. Of course, take the necessary precautions when working with lead.

 

Other common options are Parafilm (available from pharmacies/medical suppliers), thinly rolled milliput/squadron putty, ali foil, and pva-soaked tissue paper. Plenty of good references/vids out there on the net.

 

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by CloggyDog

[chuffinghell]

Thanks for all the suggestions

 

I’ve removed it for now while I look at other methods including those that have been suggested

 

Chris

[chuffinghell]

5 hours ago, cctransuk said:

......so that it appears to be thinnish metal sheet and not a slab of battleship armor?

 

I’ve not smiled for a while but that comment really made me chuckle 

 

Thanks John 

[Martin S-C]

GW Collett Goods locos were tough old beasts. You could sink a ship with them.

[chuffinghell]

7 hours ago, CloggyDog said:

I like that cab roof tarp, chuff, something not often seen modelled. John's suggestions would enhance it further.

 

I'd also suggest looking beyond the lineside fence - military modellers have been doing tarps better for years.

 

Traditionally, a lot of the AFV modelling folk used very thin lead foil sheet to do tarps, both rolled/folded or deployed over a load or vehicle. It's stiff enoigh to hold shape, pretty robust, easily worked and adds weight to light wagons! A cheap(ish) source is the wrap around the cork on fizzy plonk, but it is (was?) also available through the wider modelling trade in sheets up to about A5 size. Of course, take the necessary precautions when working with lead.

 

Other common options are Parafilm (available from pharmacies/medical suppliers), thinly rolled milliput/squadron putty, ali foil, and pva-soaked tissue paper. Plenty of good references/vids out there on the net.

 

 

 

Hopefully I’ve inspired someone more talented than myself to attempt to do something much better, although I’m going to have a look at both John’s balloon idea and your thin lead sheet suggestion

Edited March 8, 2019 by chuffinghell

[The Fatadder]

This thread was a really useful resource, alas all the photos were lost…

 

does anyone have some good photos of models fitted with wagon sheets for inspiration?

 

I have a Parkside LNER fitted 5 plank that I am planning to add a Smiths sheet to and looking for inspiration.   (I’d also welcome feedback as to whether a sheet in the late 40s would still have the large LNE branding / numbers or would more likely just be overall dirty grey)