Kitbash large-scale sugar cane cars

After finishing “Rosy,” my sugar cane train saddle tank engine, I decided to kitbash large-scale sugar cane cars.

I started with Hartland Locomotive Works (HLW, now out of business—Ed.) flatcars and added solid square posts (Evergreen Styrene #196) into the holes in the car. I also added a small piece .10” flat styrene into the hole to make the posts fit tightly. For the bulkhead, I added a piece of “V” groove siding (Evergreen #4250) to the front of the post at both ends. I didn’t worry about detailing the inside because the sugar cane load would cover it.

Next, I used a small chain to hold the canes in place and secured the chain’s ends with a piece of paper clip at the top of the post. Do this in small increments. I almost went stir crazy counting the links! (Opening those small links with shaky hands is a sight to behold.) I secured the chains to the bottom of the car with small cotterpins.

Now I needed something to replicate the sugar cane loads. I first looked at broom straw but found it difficult to find a natural straw broom. Instead, I found bamboo kitchen skewers that were about the right size, but I needed to bend them a little because they were too straight. I soaked them in water overnight and put them in a jig for a day to dry.

Once dry, I cut them to length and started putting them in the car. They just didn’t look right, but I finished the load and put them in the car. Took some pictures and sent them to Eric Mueller for critique. He’s a garden railroader who lives in Hawaii, so who better to ask? He agreed that the pieces were too uniform.

Back to the drawing board. After searching in craft stores, I discovered raffia straw from palm trees. For less than $4, I have enough straw to fit 20 or 30 cars. After some experimenting,  I found it easier to secure the straw to the foam with rubber bands first and then glue. I brush painted using acrylic paints and finished with a coat of Krylon spray matte finish.

I plan to finish 3-4 cars plus a caboose. Now I have an entire sugar cane train for my railway!

Supply list:

• Hartland Locomotive Works flatcar
• Evergreen Styrene #196
• Evergreen #4250
• Evergreen .10” flat styrene
• Cotterpins
• Chain
• Straw raffia
• Rubber bands
• Glue
• Styrofoam/foam scraps
• Acrylic paints