I kitbashed 2 coaling tower kits together, side by side, made it taller with evergreen siding... added exterior side bracing over existing molded in timbers out of plastruct. Also added tichy nuts/washers & scratchbuilt coal chutes.
I followed the recommendations about beefing up the large support timbers on the base by adding plastruct pieces on all 4 sides of the original supports and scribed them with Zona Saw.... These modifications were based on an article in Classic Toy Trains (probably 10 years ago ?)
I still have to complete the stair modifications and add lighting, and pulleys/chains for the chutes, but it's pretty far along at this point.