Closeness of bins to track

Hi All.  Model Railways are designed for playing trains, but if you want a coal yard close to the track? Do they dump directly from the wagon into the coal bins? Or is it via a mechanical device? of some sort. Please advise. Best wishes Kevin 

  It depends on your era and desires Kevin. Small or medium yards often didn’t have sophisticated storage and it was not unusual to have heaps of coal near a fence line and the coal merchant’s office. Bins next to the track are common on layouts, but rarer in real life.
 
Set the scene with coal dust, some heaps, a hut and coal lorry. A set of scales will be found near the stock piles.




Here’s a Ratio kit I almost finished today and will tomorrow and Hornby also do a ready made version to make things easier.
 
Just do as much or as little as you want.
 
Best,
 
Bill

Hi Bill.  Thank you for your reply. As soon as I can get out I will investigate all possibilities . It would be too much to ask my food shoppers to take on the job. Best wishes Kevin 

  Passed Driver wrote:
Hi Phil.   Excellent. I have a shiny lorry that should have had some service, meaning a careless driver. I would like to leave the cab door open and smother it with the appearance of coal dust and wear etc. Can you please help. Best wishes Kevin
 
 
Hi Kevin,
 
I thought I’d post some information on your question regarding coal lorries here on your coal thread, where it more appropriately belongs and you can easily find it for use later.
 
As you already know, coal lorries are hard used machines and need weathering. A good starting point is this thread from YMRC
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=5325&forum_id=51&highlight=coal+lorry
 
If you have no coal sacks, they can be made from DAS clay, or blue tack, or alternatively, model an empty lorry bed, with just a few loose lumps of coal on it, returning to the depot ready for the next load.

There are also some good shots of coal straighs if you scroll through the thread above.
 
Fortunately, it’s a simple enough task and the essence is getting a good coating of ‘coal dust’ over it. I’ve found the very easiest way to quickly weather a road vehicle is to first get a black wash over everything and then apply powders, usually mud / road dirt and coal dust and my very quick technique can be seen on the tractor here:
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=15841&forum_id=21&page=2#p291281
 
The only difference between the tractor and a coal lorry is that I used a ‘mud’ weathering powder, whereas a ‘black smoke’ or ‘coal dust’ powder would be used on the lorry.
 
It’s a quick, simple and effective method, so please have a bash and hopefully, you will be pleased with the results.
 
Best,
 
Bill

Hi Bill.  I couldn’t see anything about the cab door. Kevin

I was rather hoping you might forget that one Kevin, as it is not a straightforward exercise and involves the use of specialist tools and the expertise in how to use them proficiently and the cab door is very small, so the task is not to be undertaken by the faint hearted!
   
  Indeed to get the cab door off in one piece, it may be necessary to deconstruct the cab by sawing it very accurately and reconstructing it so it looks as it was never touched and then you will also have the interior to detail, as it will now be on view!
   
  Seriously, this is a task beyond many modellers, needing much skill and a very steady hand. Remember that Phil is a professional in the use of fine cutting tools and few will be able to match his standards, so best to weather and detail the lorry, rather than simply destroy it, although it could then be used in a scrapyard cameo!
   
  Try little steps first Kevin and build up to it.
   
  Cheers,
   
  Bill
  

Yes    Bill.  I have had a piercing saw in my collection for over 50years , and broken and replaced many a blade. I was hoping that it would be a simple task involving the drilling of hole and passing the blade through before reconnecting it.  Ah well. Best wishes Kevin 

I don't want you to think I'm holding you back Kevin, particularly if you consider that you have the skills. I'm just thinking that all your previous projects havn't been quite so tricky.

As I said, "Try little steps first Kevin and build up to it."

Bill

Hi Bill are you on double time? This latest message came up twice. Best wishes Kevin

. . . but it only appears once in this thread Kevin!

I must be a wizzard, ha!

Enjoy the evening,

Bill