Skip to main content

I am starting another steel mill. This one is rather unique. One of my customers purchased a blast furnace with four associated vessels from another modeler and had the pieces dropped off to me. The pieces are quite unique and are not constructed in the way that I build. They are however magnificent. I will build the building to support the blast furnace and tie these pieces into the structure. I also picked up three stoves and two dust collectors that I had previously constructed for another customer. These pieces will compliment the new mill. Here are a few pictures from the humble beginnings of this project. I almost forgot that I have to install lights on everything.20230204_18554020230204_10164020230204_10164520230205_08073020230205_08073820230205_08074820230205_09001620230205_094609

Attachments

Images (8)
  • 20230204_185540
  • 20230204_101640
  • 20230204_101645
  • 20230205_080730
  • 20230205_080738
  • 20230205_080748
  • 20230205_090016
  • 20230205_094609
Last edited by Alan Graziano
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Thank you Jim. I am forever greatfull of your support by purchasing many of my items when I first started building and going to York.

Billy,

I use grain of wheat bulbs that are 12 to 16 volt. I buy them from a company called Cir-Kit Concepts out of Minnesota. The lights have 18 inch leads on them. I use Plastruct LF6 light shades.you can hook these up to any 12v power supply.

Last edited by Alan Graziano

Allan, you are killing me with these structures!!!! Fantastic, cannot wait to see this one. I am going to contact you about building me one. I know we talked about it when I picked up Ewing Oi from you. Downside, I am running out of room, may have to be a little condensed. I also have the HO scale rolling mill that I would like you to build in O gauge. I was going to try to "copy" the HO kit, but lack of time and my skills are not even close to yours!!

Thx, Jeff

20230211_172454I made some pretty good progress on the blast furnace building. I also had to install light fixtures and set some equipment in place. I am installing some things I did not build. I think they are great with the exception of one thing and that is stairways and ladders to access them. You can see in the pictures how I cut away some handrail sections to add a stairway in two locations. I matched the handrails with brass rod that I bent to suit. It was a lot of fun and it gives the structure some character in that all the handrails are not the same style. You can see where I installed the elevator I tied into the top platform of the blast furnace. I plan to leave most of the blast furnace roof open on one side since some large piping will be installed and it allows for some viewing. REMEMBER PLATFORMS. WALKWAYS AND LADDERS TO CREATE A COOL STRUCTURE.20230210_19153020230211_08053120230211_08370920230211_08375620230211_08513320230211_09012420230211_09062820230211_14020020230211_13083120230211_13283120230211_14020020230211_15101520230211_15102120230211_151116

Attachments

Images (15)
  • 20230210_191530
  • 20230211_080531
  • 20230211_083709
  • 20230211_083756
  • 20230211_085133
  • 20230211_090124
  • 20230211_090628
  • 20230211_140200
  • 20230211_130831
  • 20230211_132831
  • 20230211_140200
  • 20230211_151015
  • 20230211_151021
  • 20230211_151116
  • 20230211_172454
Last edited by Alan Graziano

I made some pretty good progress on the blast furnace building. I also had to install light fixtures and set some equipment in place. I am installing some things I did not build. I think they are great with the exception of one thing and that is stairways and ladders to access them. You can see in the pictures how I cut away some handrail sections to add a stairway in two locations. I matched the handrails with brass rod that I bent to suit. It was a lot of fun and it gives the structure some character in that all the handrails are not the same style. You can see where I installed the elevator I tied into the top platform of the blast furnace. I plan to leave most of the blast furnace roof open on one side since some large piping will be installed and it allows for some viewing. REMEMBER PLATFORMS. WALKWAYS AND LADDERS TO CREATE A COOL STRUCTURE20230211_151116

Looking very sharp, Alan! Masterful!

Peter

Alan,

I have to say that your blast furnace is exquisite.  I hope people appreciate the difficulty of such a build and the detail you have put into it.  I have seen a lot of disappointing O scale blast furnaces over the years.  Many folks mistakenly think they can slap an HO Walthers kit (which is small even for HO) on the layout and call it a day.  Blast furnaces are HUGE - even the small ones like Carrie Furnace.

It's such a complex structure and getting the proportions right is not easy.  A lot of people have trouble with the base of the structure, but this looks awesome.

20230211_085133

The other stumbling block (in my opinion) is the top (downcomer and skip hoist).  Again, it's a matter of proportions.

20230211_151116

I think you nailed this! 

George

Attachments

Images (2)
  • 20230211_085133
  • 20230211_151116

George,

The blast furnace for this model was made by another fellow. He actually used a vacuum cleaner motor to create the furnace, he added valves and piping. In my opinion he captured the image of a blast furnace. You are right about trying to make all the details correct. It is not easy and takes a lot of time. I think one of the biggest things you have to consider is viewing distance and other structures being in the way. Based on this, you can decide where to put in the detailing time.

Last edited by Alan Graziano

Bill,

This is one of the items I did not make. I only modified it by adding lights , ladders, some piping and than repainting. I think this one was some type of plastic bottle. I use Plastruct tubing, heads and cones for these types of structures when I build them from scratch. The primary reason is the ability to glue them together using solvent cements rather that CA or a glue gun.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×