Industrial renewal

[Dave V]

I had an old Walthers feed mill I'd kitbashed for a previous layout that found a new home on my current layout as a feed and fuel dealer.  It never looked big enough to me to justify rail service.  I also felt it looked over-weathered.

Before:



After:

I added a Walthers State Line Farm Supply store to the mill and painted both in a similar scheme.  I made new signs for both structures and added some Athearn tractors (I painted one red to look like an old New Holland tractor).  Now it looks more like one of many "add-on" type structures you see in eastern and central PA.



Two men discuss the new John Deere 1956 model 60 while one's son tries to get his father's attention..



In addition to coal, Mid-State sells heating oil:

[asarge]

Good job Dave! I plan on doing something similar with the Walthers Farmers Coop Elevator, The Feed Mill and State Line  Farm Supply. I will also add a small ramp to unload tractors from flat cars.

[Dave V]

Good idea!  The space I had to work with was too narrow for the platform that comes with the store.  I'm planning on using it elsewhere for a team track.

[davefoxx]

Dave,

The addition is a nice touch, seems very plausible, and helps add a history to the layout by showing that there is a passage of time.  I like it.

Just one question, though.  Should you install a small wall around the oil tanks to retain any spills and to keep any vehicles from leaving the road and taking the tanks out?  Just a thought.

Keep up the good work,
Dave Foxx

[up1950s]

It looks outstanding , but I see no platform for the rail service you mention . Possibly on the other side of that main original building there could be a boxcar unloading platform and shallow ramp with forklift near by . That would serve as that tractor on flatcar unloading point as well . The coal service could be put somewhere on the coal siding accross the street .

[Ian MacMillan]

Looks pretty good Dave. Echo what the others say on the tractor ramp.

[MEC_FAN]

Awesome job Dave fits nicely in that scene.

[skytop35]

Dave, well done. I love to see kitbashs of this nature, readily available buildings made to look different than how they were meant to be. 

[Dave V]

The main mill has a door at boxcar-level for loading grain...  But I'm with ya on the ramp across the tracks.  Good call.  That's the next project!

In terms of a well for the tanks...  Were they used in the 50s?  My baseline era is 1956, with occasional excursions to 1980.  Maybe some styrene curbing would help.

[John]

Dave .. it really is a good job .. but what I really like is your roads .. explain please

[wm3798]

For 1980 you could have an LED encrusted Hazmat truck and a bunch of federal looking black sedans, and the mill operator prone on the ground getting hand cuffed for "failure to comply"... ;D

Lee

[Ian MacMillan]

Depends on your locale/laws for the dikes. I have seen even seen a modern oil tank facility in Alfred, ME as recent as a month ago that did not have them.

[Dave V]

Dave .. it really is a good job .. but what I really like is your roads .. explain please

The road is 0.020" styrene scribed and painted...  The paving around the building is a "slurry" of Highball N scale cinder ballast, black and white acrylic craft paint, dilluted white glue, and alcohol.

[John]

Dave .. it really is a good job .. but what I really like is your roads .. explain please

The road is 0.020" styrene scribed and painted...  The paving around the building is a "slurry" of Highball N scale cinder ballast, black and white acrylic craft paint, dilluted white glue, and alcohol.

It looks good ,,.  I actually like your treatment of the right of way .. it has that cinders look and well maintained ballast line

[Dave V]

For 1980 you could have an LED encrusted Hazmat truck and a bunch of federal looking black sedans, and the mill operator prone on the ground getting hand cuffed for "failure to comply"... ;D

Lee

Nice...!  With a PC boxcar derailed on the siding since 1972...!