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I have several MTH ore cars and I want to upgrade the ore loads using Woodland Scenics iron ore ballast.  It comes in fine, medium and coarse.  Which grade would be best for modeling an O gauge iron ore load, #77 medium or #84 coarse.  My plan is to paint the plastic insert load plates, then spray them with 3M spray adhesive, add the ballast and finish with 30/60 white glue mix.  Appreciate any suggestions and other proven methods to improve the load appearance.  I am into DM&IR iron ore hauling not taconite.  

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Originally Posted by darlander:

I have several MTH ore cars and I want to upgrade the ore loads using Woodland Scenics iron ore ballast.  It comes in fine, medium and coarse.  Which grade would be best for modeling an O gauge iron ore load, #77 medium or #84 coarse.  My plan is to paint the plastic insert load plates, then spray them with 3M spray adhesive, add the ballast and finish with 30/60 white glue mix.  Appreciate any suggestions and other proven methods to improve the load appearance.  I am into DM&IR iron ore hauling not taconite.  

Contact St Charles Model Works ( www.trainloads.com ), they have excellent ore car loads.

Originally Posted by darlander:

Thanks for the reply.  Checked the web site - could not find a reference to iron ore car loads.  I would prefer to use the existing load inserts and up grade them with a toping of iron ore ballast.  My concern is what size ballast would most closely represent iron ore in O scale.  Wondering if anyone has done this and could recommend a product and size to use.  

Maybe the first question would be, what era are you modeling? Back in the "old days of steam & early diesels" the iron ore was REAL IRON ORE, which was an orange/rust color. Now, in the "modern era", the load is Taconite, which is a very dark gray color, as the photo of the derailed ore car shows.

Originally Posted by darlander:

I am into steam and early diesel and want my loads to simulate real iron ore.  

Then you definitely need to contact St Charles Model Works. Those ore loads (real steam era looking iron ore) may not show on their website, but a good friend of mine has some 50 or 60 MTH DM&IR ore cars, pulled by either an MTH DM&IR Yellowstone or a Sunset/3rd Rail DM&IR 2-10-4, and every car has a St Charles Model Works iron ore load in it. It is a SPECTACULAR looking train, with everything weathered.

 

Try calling them and ask for Terry. In my opinion, you will not find better looking iron ore or coal loads for O-Scale cars. 

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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