Sunday, May 8, 2016

TO C OR NOT TO C

           BINIGUY C DEPOT SHOWING THE EASTERN END OF THE STRUCTURE.

Most people don't realise Shakespeare was an avid NSW  modeller .And was perplexed with the age old question of what type of silo to model.Although he was more transfixed with the B style type.
I have the same problem .
Well with modelling MUNGINDI and all ,and with 2.1 mtr modules and very flat terrain the need for some way of hiding the back board becomes increasingly difficult .
I have always been impressed with the vast size of some wheat silos in these small towns and so I have been doing a lot of head modelling.A past time where you go through all the possibilities and different ways you can create the desired scene in your head.This way no one gets hurt.
Some people never progress past this point!
So with tape in hand and a stop on a work trip the silo at BINIGUY was measured up.
This silo was constructed in 1965 as a C depot of 40,900 Tonnes capacity. NORTH STAR has the same silo but with some variations .
Once back home the calculations revealed if a half width by full length model was produced to hide the back board I would need a base board 400mm x 2.1 mtrs long .Which would be good as the modules are 2.1 mtrs long.

                                             BASE BOARD ON LAYOUT MODULE
Station area is to the left of board .But board will be moved by 1 third to the right t create more station room


A board was cut and then after a lot of shuffling  around with the structures I wanted to be at MUNGINDI it was discovered that the silo would have to be in 2 sections 2 thirds  on 1 baseboard the other third on the next ,to allow enough room for the station building.Which meant moving the bridge further south (which is also 2.1 mtrs long)
That,s why I never plan any thing in to much detail as a well drawn plan doesn't always translate to a ideal modelling proposition.
So the other good thing about a C depot is its a lot of the same sections repeated.So a master was made for the side scalloped concrete walls complete with down pipes and cast up.A 3 bay section was made although the silo is made in thirds with an different number of sections per third .The castings where cut and shut to suit.

                                             2 CAST SECTIONS JOINED TOGETHER



The profiles where cut from Custom wood.Here showing the ridge line peak and the elevator tower with louver sections cut out awaiting the casting for these.A wheat wagon gives an impression of the size
Although the wheat siding  track is actually out from the board.The trucks run along the side of the silo to access the receival shed on the side of the silo in front of the elevator.



                                                                        WESTERN END



























                                                                  ELEVATOR END

              


                         ELEVATOR WITH CONCRETE EFFECT BEFORE  PAINTING



                                     GIANT DOG GUARDS SILO FROM ALIENS






                                         TRUCK IN RECIEVALS SHED FRAME WORK



                                    MAIN SILO ENTRY DOORS ON ELEVATOR END



                   LOUVER CASTINGS IN PLACE WITH CONCRETE EFFECT ON PART OF WALL


                             FROM ELEVATOR END SHOWING ROOF PROFILE SUPPORTS

ROOF SUPPORT SHEETING IN PLACE


                                                          WESTERN END WITH ROOF ON



   
                   ELEVATOR END WITH MOST OF ROOF ON AND CONCRETE EFFECT



                                                         WESTERN END OF SILO     




                                            ALIGNMENT METHOD FOR THE 2 SECTIONS


                        VENTILATOR FANS WITH SUPPORT AND ELECTRIC CONDUIT
I have finished painting the silo now but will wait until i have the recievals shed finished to show this.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

TRAINBUILDER IP SET

                                  


Having received my set of No 1  INDIAN PACIFIC cars from TRAINBUILDER of Melbourne .


A close inspection was required over the weekend.The cars are fantastic.I must confess I'm no expert on these cars as I haven't seen them much,except for a few times at Central.

The cars where available in 5 different eras or styles

No 1 RAILWAYS OF AUSTRALIA 1970,s
No 2 Railways of Australia 1980,s
No 3 INDIAN PACIFIC Eagle signs 1990,s
No 4 set as carriages that visited Melbourne in 1995 for standard gauge promotion
No 5 The GHAN Sunset colour scheme 1990,s

Each set comprises of
HGM-ARJ-ARL-ARM-AFC-BRJ-DF-CDF-ER-HM
Additional cars of ARL-ARJ-BRJ are available



   






They come fitted with short shank Kadee,s for display purposes ,with additional longer shanks .Which I fitted on each door end of the cars. This allows enough space to operate around my 36" curves without any problems.The cars do not come  fitted with interiors to save on weight and expense.But do have an etch Venetian blind to each window ,which are also fitted at different heights through out the cars.



The overall finish is a very good representation of the stainless Steel finish .The detail and fluting certainly is a big difference to the Lima cars we all have.








The power car is a stand out with all its roof detail and name board bringing up the rear of the train.
                     It would seem that the entire production run was sold out before their arrival .

                                        So I thought I would share this with you in video form