Be it resolved that...
I will get buildings and vehicles onto my friend's modules by the March or April (i.e. the one after February) set-up.
A friend has built me a set of 2 6-foot modules to use at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hotrak.ca">http://www.hotrak.ca</a><!-- m --> meets. In return, I will build several buildings and scenes for his Bancroft & Irondale modules - also a set of 6-footers. You can see them (with mock-ups/stand-ins in place) at <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hotrak.ca/Module_Sheets/Bancroft_and_IrondaleDescription.html">http://hotrak.ca/Module_Sheets/Bancroft ... ption.html</a><!-- m -->
Buildings will include: Bancroft Station, water tower, lumberyard, and 3 coal mines (loading facilities only). Details, vehicles, figures, etc will be added.
Wish me luck!
Andrew
Got a great start this weekend with a very rough mock-up loading ramp, and a bunch of research.
Coal tipples - great info in Tony Koester's 1998 series of articles about his coal branch.
Fuel dealers - informative "overall" look at small dealers from Paul Dolkos in
MR June 1990. Plans for an
elevated tank made from an old tank car in
HO Trackside Structures You Can Build (Kalmbach).
Andrew
There are three coal mines represented on the modules with spurs for loading. The majority of each mine cannot be included due to space limitations, so the loading facilities will be the only thing modelled at each mine.
In order to add some interest to the module, I am not going to make each tipple (i.e. loading facility) the same, although this might be easier...!
1) A simple truck dump: a ramp where trucks can tip a load of coal directly into a waiting hopper.
2) Similar to a coaling tower, with a chute out over the tracks. The bin will be loaded via an inclined, enclosed conveyor, rather than the vertical lift seen on many colaing towers.
3) A "traditional" tipple, as seen (for example) as part of Walthers New River Coal facility. A steel (or possibly wood) clad structure on bents extending out over the track, with a bulk loader under the structure itself.
Andrew
Wait a minute here....Doesn't the Challenge run through April 31st..?? I'm not gonna get squat done on only 2 months' time....Particularly if I spend 1/2 of my free time mosing around this here forum...
I sure wish you luck and would like to see some pics, you have been taking pics haven't you?
Gus,
April 31 is still more than 3 months away by my count... But you're right about hanging around the forum. It's a hobby in itself...!
Lynn,
Plan on starting build this weekend. The owner of the modules will be dropping some additional materials (kits, photos, etc) off for me to work with. However, these links should give you an idea of what I am planning:
Coal-tower type ore bin: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/200-438">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/200-438</a><!-- m -->
Loading ramp: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/254-125">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/254-125</a><!-- m -->
Small "traditional" tipple: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/700-5">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/700-5</a><!-- m -->
I kinda like this one, but am not sure that the existing topography of the module would support this kind of installation:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/200-433">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/200-433</a><!-- m -->
Andrew
You gotta like those Campbell wood kits.
Those are some nice kits Andrew. Im looking forward to seeing some pics, im sure your buddy that your doing this for will be proud to have your GREAT work in his home
Thanks Josh for your kind words... I am not quick to get things done, but I do hope that he'll be pleased. I am generally happy with the stuff I do manage to produce...!
Those links may not show the actual kit I am using, but something close to what I hope will be the final result. For example, the truck ramp will be scratchbashed out of some plastic trestles, some strip wood, and styrene. My friend has an old corrugated metal mine kit from Suydam that I am hoping to bash into the "traditional"-style tipple.
Andrew
Loading ramp nearly complete - will install sometime this week. Pictures to follow.
Andrew
Located two "vintage" Suydam kits to use:
1) Black Bart mine - an enclosed conveyor and loading facility made of corrugated metal. Very basic, but will do well. Will definitely be a test of my soldering skills, as it's an all metal kit. I suppose I could "cheat" and assemble it with epoxy or even hot glue, but soldering should be ok.
Apparently, Alpine Division Scale Models has taken over the Suydam line... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/700-5">http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/700-5</a><!-- m -->
2) Saw mill - It's an open air version, which I am not sure is entirely prototypical for the area (Bancroft, ON - 1930s), but I can use the plan at least to lay out a similar structure. Should not be too hard to build. In fact, the area is somewhat restricted, so I may only have to model part of the structures.
Despite my comment above, Alpine Division does not appear to have a version of the saw mill.
Andrew
So at last, an update...
Here are the mine structures all partly complete - an old Suydam kit (Black Bart Mine - corrugated iron building), a loading ramp (scratch built), and a transfer facility, bashed from a partly build scratch structure. All need some work, and landscaping to integrate them into the landscape.
There is also a shot of the lumber mill - more stacks of lumber will fill the scene, with only a suggestion of a building shown right at the edge of the module.
Although some people like to remove their buildings from the modules and transport them separately, Bob has asked that they remain affixed to the modules wherever possible. So everything will get glued/screwed/wired/etc to their respective positions.
Andrew
I really like those mine structures Andrew. Nice weathering job on the first one!
Ralph
WOW Andrew sweet progress!! I love the mine structures and the loading ramp is cool looking too
Looking good Andrew.
In the hands of a master builder, those Campbell kits came out nicely.
Well done sir.