The foundation walls (above) are made from styrene. The sloping runways–in the front for the scale breaker and in the back for the primary mill–will accommodate the drive shafts. The depression running from front to back on the left is the scale pit runner, which extends under the mill stands. The foundation was test fitted in the mill (above right). The finished structure has the operating floor in place (right). Note the slots to accommodate the building columns.
operator can see and manipulate the rolling mills, ingot manipulators, and roll conveyors. This cab is elevated, air- conditioned,
and lighted (indirectly
from below). With the rolling mill now complete, American Steel can make and sell plate or large diameter pipe, made from plate in a pipe mill. These fin- ished products will keep switch crews even busier on the layout.
Specialty suppliers Like logging, mining and similar in-
terests, steel mill modeling is a special- ized area of the hobby. Consequently, there are kits and parts that may not
be well known by others. Some of the manufacturers listed below are hobby- ists who produce parts or kits on a lim- ited basis, an extension of their model- ing interests. They may or may not have specific items in stock. The well-known kits from Walthers for steel mill buildings, blast furnaces and related details are manufactured in “runs,” as is common today. They will not always be in stock, so searching the in- ternet, hobby shops, large train meets and the steel mill modeling meets may yield possible sources for them. Kits for other industries will also provide parts that may be adapted to steel mill models. Peachcreek Shops is the primary
The soaking pit (below) is lined with brick (the lid is off), and the hot ingots are modeled with orange acrylic plastic. A red bulb illumi- nates them and the pit and simulates the gas jets. The operator’s pulpit (right) is located so the operator can see and control the rolling mill’s rolls, the ingot puller, and the roll conveyors.
source of steel mill modeling kits and supplies, as well as being a clearing house for information through its web- site,
www.peachcreekshops.com. This is the place to start.
Plans of mills and mill machinery
are available from Michael Rabbitt, 565 Forest Ave., Wayne, PA 19087 (
mrabbitt3@verizon.net). The drawings are based on original engineering draw- ings and are very complete, and they
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