Lumber loads for center beam flat car

[Hotbox]

I’m wanting to make some lumber loads for several center beam flat cars. I think I can come up with a way to make the lumber but would appreciate any recommendations. The thing i really need some guidance on is how to create to logo wrappers for companies like Georgia Pacific, etc.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[FatherMcD]

The 2019 National Garden Railway Convention car was a center beam car loaded with "lumber" wrapped with the Convention and Rose City Garden Railway Society logos on one side and a local lumber company logo on the other. It was a model of a US mainline car. Since I model Irish Narrow Gauge, I really couldn't fit the car on my railway. However, the convention people were kind enough to sell me just a few wrappers so I could make my own load for a narrow gauge car. Alan Olson, alaniicrr@gmail.com, handled the convention store and was my source. If you contact him, he may be able to tell you how they created the wraps. They appear to be printed on some sort of vinyl coated, self-adhesive paper, but I haven't been able to determine the exact type. Good luck!
Ken

 

[playmofire]

Making the lumber is easy if you have a garden with shrubs or small trees or a friend who does. Just take off straight branches of the right diameter and, if necessary, cut to length. Ideally, do this at the pruning season. Real lumber goes down well with the visitors.

 

[Paul M]

Sticks from a Buddleja bush make excellent logs. Reasonably straight and light

 

[PhilP]

They appear to be printed on some sort of vinyl coated, self-adhesive paper, but I haven't been able to determine the exact type. Good luck!

Ken,
Would you have a picture, at all?

I have an idea that might work for you, but you would need a suitable colour printer to produce your own.. - Laser, not inkjet, if for use outside.

PhilP.

 

[dunnyrail]

I use Pike Fishing Wire with Crimps to group a load of logs so that they can be Loaded and Unloaded with ease. On the basis that a Picture is worth a thousand words....
the pic above shows an alternative way of securing using Flattened Brass Mains Wire.

 

[JimmyB]

Jon, some of those logs look like Elder?

 

[Hotbox]

Thanks to all who replied! I’m a new member and this was my first post. I’ll get to work and post some pictures, probably next week.

Hotbox

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome to the forum.

You can't beat real wood (from branches) for log loads....

 

[Hotbox]

Ken,
Would you have a picture, at all?

I have an idea that might work for you, but you would need a suitable colour printer to produce your own.. - Laser, not inkjet, if for use outside.

PhilP.

PhilP,

All I have is inkjet but I can probably find someone who’ll let me use a laser printer. By all means, please share your idea.

Hotbox

 

[dunnyrail]

Jon, some of those logs look like Elder?

That they are.

 

[PhilP]

PhilP,

All I have is inkjet but I can probably find someone who’ll let me use a laser printer. By all means, please share your idea.

Hotbox

Amongst other things, I have to create 'overlays' for the RC Trains transmitters I build..
For this I use an A4 (European standard letter-size of paper, 210x297mm) self adhesive label stock, which is designed for use on shipping containers. Once stuck, and left for a while, they do not come off!
Obviously they are a 'plastic' rather than paper, can take inkjet or laser-toner, resist sea-water, acid, oil, etc.

You might be able to 'seal' inkjet print with a series of fine coats of (insert spray-varnish / sealer) of choice?

The product I use is:

Plastic labels for inkjet printing. Plastic labels | Labelplanet

Buy and view waterproof white plastic labels on A4 sheets here. Choose from 54 sizes including 8 circles in matt white polyethelene. Samples available.

www.labelplanet.co.uk

But once you start looking at this type of thing, you will find a number of different products, all of which will do a similar job.
The above is a UK-based company, but I am sure you will find similar in the US?
(The above will send out a few sample-sheets, certainly to UK addresses, not sure about to the US though?)

Hope this helps?

 

[Hotbox]

PhilP,

Thank you! Great idea. I’ll see what I can find here. I’m thinking I can seal it with a clear fixative that filters UV light that I use on oil paintings

I’ll let you know how it goes and post a picture.

Hotbox

 

[FatherMcD]

Hotbox,

I have attached (I think) photos of the 2019 NGRC Convention car and the prototype, as well as a picture of the wrap the I received. I don't know about other areas, but in the Pacific Northwest, finished lumber always seems to be wrapped for transport.

Ken

 

[Hotbox]

The lumber down here in Tennessee it seems is always wrapped as well.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Paul M]

The lumber down here in Tennessee it seems is always wrapped as well.

Thanks for the pictures.

Why do they wrap them?

 

[dunnyrail]

Aha I think some of us Brits were heading on the wrong line with answers, not thinking about those giant Centre Split Wagons That carry Cut Timber. Was the Wood always Wrapped in the past?

So to make a Cut Wood Load I have glued off lengths of Wood Together with PVA, to save Wood Planking you coukd glue the Planks to some kind of inner former. Or you could use Solid Wood cut to shape and size, then with a Razor Saw cut in Planking Detail.

 

[PhilP]

Must admit, I was thinking of cut logs, before conversion to 'lumber' (as you are calling it)..
Much finished timber is wrapped in the UK, these days, but being a relatively small country, mainly transported by road.

i would guess most that is for export would be wrapped, if only to help control the spread of pests, across borders?
Would also protect the finished product from the worst of the elements..


You might be able to find a non-adhesive product? - Easier to handle, perhaps?

There is always Tyvek paper:

Tyvek 75gm - Bumper pack of 10 A4 sheets: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Tyvek 75gm - Bumper pack of 10 A4 sheets: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

www.amazon.co.uk

This might be a little 'heavy' for smaller printers?

 

[FatherMcD]

The directions I received for applying the wraps: "Length is 4 and 15/16ths. Home depot seems to be the only outfit that carries 2x2's that have square edges. Peel. Pull tight. Heat shrink and put on the number of staves that you desire. we used three." For folks over the pond, most 2x2's (actual 1.5" x 1.5") have rounded edges, including the ones sold at my local Home Depot. I will have rip down 2x4's to 2x2's to get the square edges.

 

[Riograndad]

That they are.

I use younger ones,not Elder,,,,,,SORRY,couldn`t resist it