Tipple roof

Nice looking cars

Tom,

Very nice looking models. They all seem to fit in like a family appearance. Would like to see more of the layout. Very well done.

Bernd

Conveyor

The truck dump/tipple is a neat structure.  Is the conveyor for that loader scratched or are some kit parts used as the basis?  I have a similar project in mind for a mineral industry transloader, and something like your conveyor would fit the bill.  

Confusion on the Loader(s)

Tom,

I'm a bit confused about the two pictures of the conveyor/loaders.  The pictures appear to be of two different models.  Am I just confused by this?

I am impressed by the overall look of your layout thus far.  The scenes all have a nice composition, and things tie-in well together.

I anticipate seeing more photos in the future.

Regards,

Jack

Comments/Questions

Thanks for the kind comments, guys.

Scarpia- the white styrene is the frame for the roofs over the breaker (left side) and conveyor. These will be painted the same rust color as the rest of the structure and covered with corrugated siding. And it took me a minute, but I figured out why you like the boxcar.

Rob- it's all scratched using Plastruct and Evergreen shapes and styrene. There is a commercial casting used as a motor for the breaker, but it's not visible in the picture.

Jack- in the first picture you see the loading ramp, receiving bin, breaker, conveyor and small tower. In the second photo, only the breaker, the conveyor and the small tower are included and the roof sub-assembly (unpainted) has been set in place. The second picture also views the structure from the opposite end of the first.

Tom Patterson

Painting

that's interesting. Can you share your painting technique for this? I presumed it would not be attached to the structure, as it was new plastic and not painted with the rest.  I was figuring it was part of the roof.

Per the box car, yeah, I'm a cheap date!

It's a great looking model overall, the truck ramp looks amazing. Love the supports.

DAVE'S COAL TOOK EASY (CHEAP) WAY OUT

Great looking project for coal unloading from small mines.  I love the balest work you have done and maintained the look of the area though out the railroad.  Got the idea for a small coal mine operation from MR many years ago in an article they ran.   Since Dave"s Coal operation does not have enough money to pay the railroad to move cars he has installed some rope pull machines to move the fulls up and the empties into place. Your  work is great.

I See the Light...

Ok, now that you've identified the parts, I see the model from the proper perspective.  I hadn't noticed the breaker below the receiving bin in the first photo.

That is a really interesting structure.  I'll be watching for it's completion and installation on the layout.

-Jack

Conveyor

Tom:

Looking GREAT!  You nailed the loader, just needs lots of coal dust and rust and its ready to load.

What did you use for the conveyor belt?

Great stuff Tom

Love the cabeese! And I really can appreciate the time spent on the scratchbuilt coal loader. Both look great. I've been contemplating updating my caboose roster and this post has convinced me I need to.

cabooses, etc.

patersontom: You are a fine modeler. I especially like the cabooses. Also a great job on the EL boxcar and truck load tipple. Keep up the good work.

Yours, Elvin Howland/E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout

Re: Painting Technique

Can you share your painting technique for this? I presumed it would not be attached to the structure, as it was new plastic and not painted with the rest.  I was figuring it was part of the roof.

The frames have been spray painted with the same rust color as the rest of the structure. Once the corrugated siding for the roof is assembled, painted and weathered, it will be glued to the top of the frame with two-part epoxy. The roof assembly will then be glued to the top brackets over the conveyor and breaker by applying two-part epoxy very sparingly to a handful of the brackets. And thanks for the kind comments.

Tom Patterson

More Comments/Questions

What did you use for the conveyor belt?

Randy- it's .005 clear styrene that was sanded on both sides. After gluing it to the conveyor I painted it with Polly S grimy black. The styrene is difficult to bend around the rollers and you have to glue small sections at a time to keep it from breaking. My friend Stuart Thayer suggested using tape from an old cassette or movie when he saw me shaping the styrene around the rollers. Masking tape might also work better.

Kevin- thanks for the comments. I'm planning on trying several of the techniques you outlined in your weathering presentation on the cabooses.

Tom Patterson

Tape

Thanks Tom:

I thought maybe masking tape painted or just paper.

Looking great, I will have MANY tipples to build for the VS.....

A Small Tipple for Big Chimney

Finally finished the small tipple project and thought I would post a few pictures.

Here's a shot of the overall scene.

It should be a lot easier now for the crew of the Big Chimney Roustabout to figure out where to spot the empty hoppers.

Tom Patterson

That's not your layout...

That's a real railroad that you've been railfanning!

Seriously Tom those first two photos I swear I thought they were real photos on a real railroad.

Your weathering and scene staging is amazing, when you have someone first think it's a real life photo first up and having to take a couple of looks to realise it's a layout.  Well you know you have done a fantastic job on it.

Well done mate, and keep up the posts.

Jas...

Well done Tom.

Well done Tom.

Keep on Posting

Tom, Magnificent work, thanks for sharing and please keep posting.

John R

Great Structure

That really enhances the scene.

Thanks

... for the kind comments, guys.

Tom Patterson