Model Railroad Hobbyist | November 2016 | #81 MRH Q-A-T column compiled by Joe Brugger Questions and Answers Handling grain Q. How can I simulate grain loads, namely corn or wheat, in HO scale? I want to detail boxcars for grain loading and would like to show loads in cars with operable doors. How do I create grain doors in both paper and board forms? I also want to show uncovered loaded farm trucks, spilled grain on the tracks, and possibly outdoor storage piles. —Sancho Murphy A. Corn, wheat, barley, rye, milo and other grains you might find at an elevator are pretty small. Corn meal, sawdust, finely ground foam, or sand will work if sifted down to small pieces – the trick is to create a pile that shows some texture but doesn’t have such large pieces it will look like a pile of turnips or potatoes. Check photos for color. Some wheat shows up a yellowish-beige; other varieties tend more toward golden brown. XX MRH QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, AND TIPS • INDEX • TABLE OF CONTENTS