Where does the time go?

Well, I know it's been a long time since I have posted here but I have not been doing any model work at all.  I started this month to clean my workbench area and I'm building a new track plan for a train layout for me and my son to work on. My son is now 2 and half and has a interest in trains.  I will be working on a new web site so I'm not sure if this site will be moved or if I'll be keeping it up as I go forward.  For now I plan to keep posting here as I get geared up with the new home layout and my model work.

Dave

Ore Bridge Crane PT 3

I've been busy tonight on getting the stairs and railing added to the ore bridge.  Over the weekend I built what seems to be the electric control cabinet. After building this control cabinet I started working on the stairs go to the cab.

It was after starting on the stairs I realized I needed to have the cab built so I know how high to go with the stairs.  off to building the cab I went. The first thing I did when building the cab was removed the plastic catwalk around the cab and replaced it with the same metal catwalk I used on the main bridge.  For the walkways I used Plano walkways built for the Canadian Grain Car - slotted pattern.











After working on the stairs I realized I needed to have the cab built so I know how high to go with the stairs.  The first thing I did when building the cab was removed the plastic catwalk around the cab and replaced it with the same metal catwalk I used on the main bridge.  For the walkways I used Plano walkways built for the Canadian Grain Car - slotted pattern.












After the cab was completed I was able to complete the stairs and railing going to the cab.  I added a caged ladder to go from the cab walkway to the bridge upper walkways.

 

That's all I have for now.  I do plan to add a structure to the top of the bridge that will house the lift for the scratch built addition.  It will be a corrugated building and I will have more caged ladders to access that area of the bridge.

Ore Bridge Crane PT 2

I'm starting on the details with the addition of the dock overhang that will be modeled up.  I've fist cleaned up rail ends on the bridge and added alignment pins for the rails. I used a few parts from the left over parts in the ore bridge kit.  The walkways are made from Plano walkways kit #100.  The reason I used the Plano kit and not the builder sheet material was a personal taste.  I don't like the edge you get when you cut your pieces from the sheet.  With the walkways you get a clean edge that is worth the extra cost if you ask me. 

On the ore bridge I had to add the face that has a hing to hold the overhang.  I used a channel over the end of the last beam and that gave me a flush area to work from.  When the overhang is down it rest against the new edge well but for my model the overhang will be modeled up only if I can't figure a way to make so it can move.  Not sure I want to waste time on that for now.

The overhang attached to test alignment.

Ore Bridge Crane PT 1

I've completed the base Walthers Ore Bridge model last night.  I'm now getting ready to get into the detailing of the model but thought I would post some photos of the model build as a kit only before I started doing details.  I have to say the kit is a really nice model and can be build to a few different sizes based on the area you have to place the model within.  Since I'm going to place the model on a free-mo module I figured I would build it big but I still didn't build it the largest size the kit offers. The largest it can be built is 31" long.  With the detail I'm adding my model should reach close to that and I based my model on the 28" size.  Here are just a few of the base model built at this point.

A few notes about the build thus far.  In the photos you will not I really have not "completed" the build as I still have the wheelsets to add to the crane. If you look close you can see there is one part of detailing I started on the front leg of the crane.
The longest task was sanding the parts so it wouldn't have any flashing on the beams.  Then the time to build the wheelsets was almost as much as the tower itself. I will add the wheel later but for now I don't need it rolling off the desk and crashing to the floor.




Not much to comment on at this point as it is just the basic model.

Welcome to my blog site. 

I created this blog site to showcase my model railroad and other modeling creations.  My focus is to create a HO scale modular steel mill based on Free-Mo standards.

Most items I model will have a purpose to my modules or a future home layout.  Occasionally I will model an item for the fun of modeling regardless if that item has anything to do with model railroading or the layout/ modules I'm building.

My modeling is not always prototypical of a location but rather an artistic rendering of many real prototypical references I've seen before. I may from time to time strive for a prototypical rendition when doing a model.

The steel mill modular layout I'm doing, Zhifu Steel is an example of a non-prototypical model based on many prototypical resources.  I'm going to model a more modern era steel mill but yet you may find items that do not seem to be of the correct time.  That's the fun of keeping an open mind and modeling with an artistic license.

I hope you enjoy my work and please be sure to comment good or bad.  I like to hear what other are thinking of what I'm doing and input always helps.




Dave