Large Grain Elevator

Some construction photos

The silos are 3 inch diam tubes 24 inches high. Spent many a long hour sanding these things.

Cutting plastic for the conveyor houses.

Cutting plastic for the buildings

I have a shop jig that fits my bandsaw. It makes cutting circles very easy. I only need to cut a square a little bigger than the circle I need. I fit the square on the jig and (not shown) I slide the jig into the saw blade to begin the cut. This way I do not need to cut squares to precise size. The hardboard in the center slides back and forth also so I can set any radius I desire. Came in quite handy for 48 circles.......... I used these on top of the silos.

A whole bunch of windows / doors!

Note - all the dust collectors I used are actually HO scale Walthers parts - the big 'dust collector' is actually their surge bin. They have a new particle dust cyclone that I use also.

All 'metal' was painted with Rust-o-ileum dull nickel. The buildings and silos were painted to look like dirty concrete (base ~80% coverage flat black, ~80% flat red oxide, ~90% flat dark gray followed by dusting with flat white.

Wow! That is fantastic. Reminds me of the elevators at the harbor in Thunder Bay, ON  I remember seeing many moons ago. Very Impressive.

Rob

Very impressive build. I've seen a couple of large grain elevators out here in Southern California and they dwarf the 55-foot grain hoppers lined up next to them. One of them was about 500 feet long and had silos about 100 feet tall based on the ACF's parked next to it. It was so big you could see it from the freeway a coupe of miles away. They've since torn both of them down.

Awesome stuff I just sent you an email.

Joe, that is some great work! I have one question, would you be willing to share how you built the jig for the circles ?

Mike:

I introduced my jig here

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ting-jig-for-bandsaw

I got the info from here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYer8rbJsQ4

Wow Joe - I love it! Keep up the great work...

Joe.

Thank you very much for posting not only photos of a fabulous model but as a bonus some construction tips and photos as well.

Your the man. Great stuff mate. Roo.

Thanks Joe, That is some great information! Sure will make things easier down the road!

Roo posted:

Joe.

Thank you very much for posting not only photos of a fabulous model but as a bonus some construction tips and photos as well.

Your the man. Great stuff mate. Roo.

Thanks Roo

Joe,

You did a first class job on this complex. The color is great.

superb job.

Thanks Alan

Never seen so large as a model! it's a fantastic work! 

jpv in France

I love grain elevators and this is a beauty.  Very nice job!

Art

I, too, love grain elevators, but mostly the old wooden ones, in endless variety. Crossing the plains states pre-Interstate, every small town had one as you ground through on two lane roads. But, to top this beauty, you will need to scale model that concrete one north of Wichita that made the postcards.  I don't think it is still standing, either, but it was LONG. (Wonder how long that one would be in 0 scale?  How will you ship this one?)

colorado hirailer posted:

I, too, love grain elevators, but mostly the old wooden ones, in endless variety. Crossing the plains states pre-Interstate, every small town had one as you ground through on two lane roads. But, to top this beauty, you will need to scale model that concrete one north of Wichita that made the postcards.  I don't think it is still standing, either, but it was LONG. (Wonder how long that one would be in 0 scale?  How will you ship this one?)

I usually glue the silos in groups of 8 to make shipping less expensive. There is a minimum size box for all the carriers where one crosses over from package to freight. Once you get into freight the price increase is heavy.

WRT rural elevators a member of this forum HOLLSC who commented above sent me some beautiful photos of a bunch of elevators on his layout. Perhaps he would post them here? I have one design which is shown below.

I made a small elevator for my layout (still laying track) but because of the size of the layout I am thinking about replacing it with a rural style plus a small mill along side.

Joe you are more than welcome to post the pics I sent you.

scott

Joe, That is great looking! Makes me want to kit bash an old grain building and add silos! Where did you get the stairs and ladder for the silos?

Mike:

They come from Plastruct

Stairs are STA-8 or 6 depending on the width you want

Caged ladder is CL-8

colorado hirailer posted:

I, too, love grain elevators, but mostly the old wooden ones, in endless variety. Crossing the plains states pre-Interstate, every small town had one as you ground through on two lane roads. But, to top this beauty, you will need to scale model that concrete one north of Wichita that made the postcards.  I don't think it is still standing, either, but it was LONG. (Wonder how long that one would be in 0 scale?  How will you ship this one?)

Some photos from Scott Hollis. I am not sure where he got these built.

Thanks for the information Joe, I also have one just like COLORADO HIRAILER's 4th picture down that I was thinking about putting silos with!

Joe

Jeb Kriigel who also has JT’s MegaSteam and is in the Orange Hall every York did thesefir me a number of years ago.  He also does all the weathering on my engines.  He is currently building me a grain facility comparable to the one you originally posted.  I can’t say how impressed I am with realistic look these have up close and yours look just as impressive and am anxious to try you out.

scott