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I have just received from a member a nice set of 7 Marx tinplate cars.  These include a hopper and gondola.   

What do you guys put in your empty transport cars, that keeps up the appearance of tinplate?   Real gravel, coal, or sand, etc. may, I think, detract from the classic tinplate look.

Thanks,

Mannyrock

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@Mannyrock posted:

I have just received from a member a nice set of 7 Marx tinplate cars.  These include a hopper and gondola.   

What do you guys put in your empty transport cars, that keeps up the appearance of tinplate?   Real gravel, coal, or sand, etc. may, I think, detract from the classic tinplate look.

Thanks,

Mannyrock

It depends on the theme of the layout. On my Christmas layout, one gondola will have a load of small bottle brush trees, wrapped and dusted with snow for delivery to the local Christmas tree stand. Others will have sweets and small wrapped presents for my granddaughter. Making up loads is where you can have a lot of fun.

For a regular tinplate layout, how about a load of erector set parts? Pieces of old junker Tootietoy or Dinky cars or scraps of old tin lithographed toys? If you go to a train show, you can find lots of bits of junk under the tables. Or raid your parts bin.  I have lots of lanterns form prewar switches, old  (train car) trucks,  Gondolas carried a lot of scrap. Any sort of colorful Stuff could go in the hopper. Fish aquarium stones. Beads. Polished stones sold for flower arrangements, etc.               

Last edited by Will

My gondolas usually carry Lego people or whatever the plushie toys the kids are playing with at that moment.  One of the common sayings down stairs is "Stop the train" - as said in the polar express.  that way they can have their little friends get on or off. 

I think marbles is a great idea, and that loader is cool! For these weeks though, I would go with jelly beans.  I am sure someone will soon post the Marx trains Easter video showing the trains carrying candy.

I have always liked the "Hornby Approach" ... where they made tin inserts for a couple of their smaller wagons ... wouldnt be hard to bend up some light tin , belt it thoroughly with a small ball pein hammer and paint black

For the fancier bigger ones they used real coal chips glued into a block

A bag of crumbles and some PVA glue and you too could make drop in loads !

Fatman,

What a great idea.   I am pretty good with sheet aluminum, tin snips and metal bending, and I have a small ball peen hammer.   I will have several open top cars, so I plan to use all of the suggestions on this board for different cars.

I also think that I could print out one of the pictures that Steve sent to me,  on glossy  machine glossy,  with adhesive back, and then stick it onto a piece of tin, spray paint it with a sealer, and then put the piece in the car.

Thx,

Mannyrock

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