Photos

Next, a photo of my prototype, the Tanner Industries anhydrous ammonia transload at Council Bluffs.

Finally, a few views of the completed model.  I swapped the stairs from the left side (facing the track) to the right, removed the platform extension on the left, built a new control box on the platform, and built new handrails to represent the collapsible type seen on the drawbridge.  I also left off the hose brackets and hazmat placard that are included in the kit, since neither are found on my prototype.

A special thank you goes out to Barry Karlberg (User "BOK" on MRH), who gave me the GLX kit in exchange for building a second tower for him.  Thanks again Barry!

I much prefer your version ...

I much prefer your version, Joe. Top job! Excellent scenes too.

Mike

Blurred lines ...

Dam-it Joe, I can't tell the model photos from the prototype!   Very nice work.      John

Nice modeling, Joe

I like your version too. Nothing against the kit though.

GLX instructions

Thank you Mike and John!  I wasn't originally going to bother with the additional "X" bracing, but the more I look at it, I think I'm going to have to add it.  I also left off the windsock, but I don't think it'd hold up in op sessions, as Tanner is positioned directly in front of the west yard ladder.

Thank you Paul!

I was very impressed with the quality of the kits and fit of the parts, and I felt that they built up into nice looking models.  For anyone buying one, though, there are a couple areas to watch out for:

1. No portion of the stair jig is to become a permanent part of the stairway.  On my first attempt, I didn't properly distinguish between the inboard stringers under the step treads and the outboard stringers (with the railings) to which the ends of each tread are glued.  So, I mistakenly glued the outboard stringers into the jig, and glued the step treads to the inboard stringers.  The only glue used on the stair tread pieces should be on the ends, where they meet the outboard stringers.  It seemed obvious once I realized my mistake, but in my first attempt, I thought that the stringers and each stair tread were to be glued to the jig, with the extraneous portions of that assembly later cut away once the glue was dry.  Upon reaching that point and cutting away the jig outboard of the stringers, I realized that the stair treads in the GLX photos were supported only at the ends.  My mistake, but I thought it might be worth noting in case anyone else was tripped up by that.  Because the Aileen's craft glue I used remained somewhat pliable, I was able to disassemble the stairway and then reassemble it, correctly this time, using the jig from the second kit.
2. Regarding the piping, the template given in the kit indicates 90° bends in both ends.  However, upon installing the piping near the end of construction, it became clear that one end had to remain straight until after it was passed through the deck and support holes.

I Like It

Nice work, Joe.  I noticed the prototype has twice the bracing compared to the kit, but I don't think it detracts materially from the model to just use the bracing from the kit.  It captures the feel of the actual installation as is.

Age?

Do you know when the facility was built?  I seem to recall such facilities in Idaho in the '70s being even simpler, but don't have photos to verify.

Tanner

Thanks Rob.  The jury's still out on the bracing.  My concern isn't so much about this particular model, but about stepping onto that slippery slope.  I make enough unintentional mistakes, so I have to be careful about consciously introducing others.

Joe, I'm not sure of the exact age of the Tanner facility, but I believe I've seen references to it or its predecessor from back in RI days - maybe mid-1970s?

Tower bracing

The tower looks excellent,  very authentic.

The photo of the original does not have horizontal tie braces in the centre, unlike the model.  A structural engineer would know if a tower with central tie bars would need cross braces above and below.

I think the model is close enough to the prototype for the difference to make no matter.

Tanner, Round Deux

Thanks Norman.  I understand and appreciate what you and Rob are saying about the bracing, but in the end, I realized I was spending more time thinking about it than what it would have taken to just do it right...so I did, sort of.   I only modified the front and sides, since I didn't want to risk working on the back given the fragile nature of this structure.  From the factory, the kit's bracing in back was already different than on the other three sides, so hopefully this isn't too much of a stretch.

Windsock

Joe,

Beautiful work. 

The windsock is an important part of any ammonia facility as it is critical to know which way the wind is blowing in case of an ammonia spill and where evacuations need to be considered.  It adds a nice touch to the overall scene.  Perhaps some very springy wire with a "deflated" sock, as if there were no wind, would be possible to represent this little detail.  It would add to the "atmosphere" of the scene. 

Of course, the windsock could be on the other edge of the property, in the aisle, or at the entry road to the site if that is in a non-modeled part of the world.

Personally, I think it would look cool.

That's a very good point,

That's a very good point, Alan. I used to work across river from a fertiliser plant and I clearly recall the windsock. It seemed to me the ammonia always blew towards our depot.

I think it would be a nice touch too.

A big thank you to Joe for

A big thank you to Joe for building one of the kits for me which will be used on my new layout  under construction.

I understand these loading/unloading facilities vary in their appearance but I wanted mine to reflect those which are appearing up here in the midwest. This a result of a few former,LPG, pipe lines being reversed to carry crude oil resulting in rural communities of Wisconsin and Minnesota losing their easy access to LPG. The railroads in this area have worked with distributors to build new industry tracks and facilities which can handle many tank cars at a time. It is quite common for these unloading racks to handle 6-12 cars at a time all with modern facilities like the Canadian  model.  

Thanks, Joe.

Barry

Sticking a sock in it

Alan and Mike, you talked me into the windsock.  I looked over the area around Tanner Industries and realized that there's a light pole directly behind the transload tower that should help to discourage people from reaching into the scene here.  Also, Tanner is a bit further to the right of the yard ladder than I'd originally thought, so I think it should be safe.

And then the question became, how do I make a windsock?  Fortunately, that was easier than I expected.  I just took a piece of tissue paper, wrapped it around a steel uncoupling skewer, and then soaked it with diluted white glue.  To speed the process along, in case the white glue didn't work, I did a second one that was sprayed with hairspray.  After sitting overnight to dry, both slipped right off the skewers, and both methods worked equally well.  I trimmed them to length, painted them Floquil reefer orange, drilled a hole through the larger end, and skewered both ends to make the holes round again.  Finally, I ACC'd a length of wire to act as the staff, then I inserted the skewer in the smaller end again and applied a bit of downward pressure to cause it to droop a bit.  ACC'd the staff inside the front left corner of the transload tower, and I was done.

 Thank you both for your encouragement to push this model a bit further.  I'm really glad I did!  As you said, I think it adds a lot to the scene, and it definitely helps to tell the story of what that facility is about.

And Barry, thank you again for the kit.  I've got an extra windsock for yours, if you'd like it.  Unless you have another preference, I can paint and mount it just like I did on Tanner.

Eggshell Coupling

Very nice Joe! The addition of the windsock really helped to complete the scene too. I guess you may be planning on extending the track a little ways to add some buffer for the car. If not, make sure the Conductor tells the Engineer to make an eggshell coupling because it is spotted right at the very end of the track.

Great work always!

Tim Garland

Hmm

I like the windsock (and the whole scene, of course), but I have to wonder what whiz-bang gadgetry Dr. Geoff could come up with to animate a windsock...

Wheel Stops

Are you planning on adding wheel stops or are you going to extend the track?

Fantastic work as always.

Paul

Wheel stops

Thanks everyone!

I've got wheel stops on hand, but just haven't taken the time to paint and install them yet.  I wish I could extend that spur, but that area is already crowded, and there's an empty lot to the left of Tanner that was a favorite railfanning spot for me, so I want to be sure it's included.  I thought about moving the transload spot a little further back to the right, but I want to leave room for the Tanner office.

SPEAK UP...

YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK UP, I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THIS WIND!  

Randy

Wind

Ha!  I'll have to see if I can tone it down a bit Randy. 

Joe, that would be great if

Joe, that would be great if you could.

Thanks,

Barry

Barry

All set Barry.

Get yourself . .

. . . an HO scale politician to visit the new transloader, and you'll have all the wind you need.

Politicians

Ha!  And fertilizer as a bonus!