MIKE RINKUNAS
like the more recent photographs would suggest.
The ladders and railings were ob- tained from a Central Valley set and were modified to match the prototype. The concrete foundation and walls were made from .080″ plain styrene, which was reinforced using .125″× .250″ strips. I built the operator’s office using Ever- green corrugated siding (No. 4527). The roof section was cut to a 5′-6″ width and a 13′-0″ length. On the underside, I glued Evergreen strips (No. 142) to represent the 4″×4″ wooden roof supports. Later, when the roof was attached, the bracing would actually slant the roof a bit, since it rested on the top back edge of the oper- ator’s bay, but would clear the front of the bay. In order to add the window glass after painting, I purposely did not attach the roof to the bay area.
from
The wooden dump ramp was cut Evergreen
novelty sheet (No.
4150). The dimensions closely matched the prototype’s 4″×12″ planks. The simulated steel straps that held the beams together were cut from Ever- green .015″×.080″ styrene strips (No. 114). I selected Evergreen H beams (No. 283), for the reinforced underside. The coal chute was made from some scrap .010″ styrene formed into a U shaped trough with the ends angled. Since my model is only viewed from
RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN
trackside, I did not need to include the tapered bin dumping area. Other than the large rectangular opening, the bin it- self was not even visible from road level. The entire structure was spray paint- ed using Floquil primer, which closely resembles the corrugated steel siding. I then brush painted the concrete walls using a mixture of Floquil concrete and aged concrete. The truck dump plat- form, windows, and the coal chute were brush painted using weathered black. The operator’s bay door was brush painted white, just like the prototype. After adding the window “glass,”
which was cut from a thin mylar sheet, I glued the roof section over the operator’s bay. I then reshaped some .015″ steel pi- ano wire to represent the wire rope used on the coal chute and the wooden plat- form. A more detailed pulley system could be modeled, if so desired. The entire
structure was heavily
weathered using Weathered Black, Roof Brown, and Rust. I prefer to use both dry and airbrushing for my weathering. As a final touch, I rubbed on real coal dust to highlight the struc- ture. It is nearly impossible to incor- rectly weather any structure associat- ed with the coal mining industry. The structures are continually subjected to heavy use in a very dirty environment. To simulate the drain pipe, I cut and
painted black a ³⁄₃₂″ diameter Ever- green rod (No. 223). This was glued to some internal bracing placed under- neath the bin area. While the paint was still wet, I crushed and sifted some actual an- thracite to a very fine powder and sprinkled it on the coal cute, the wooden dump platform, and the truck arrival area. The fine coal adhered quite well. I decided not to build the car-pulling winch, although it would make for any interesting model. Due to its diminutive nature, however, it would have gotten lost behind the hopper cars and among the coal piles and debris.
The finished structure occupies a compact area, ideal for any layout, and should be nestled against a hillside for best results. Woodland Scenics foliage clumps were glued around the struc- ture and along the retaining walls. Some coal piles and a front-end loader were added to replicate the small adja- cent coal storage area found alongside the prototype. Some used pallets and 55-gallon drums were scattered about to complete the scene. Like its prototype, the finished model now occupies a highly visible area along my Shamokin Division mainline, and regularly contributes three loaded hop- per car of premium Reading anthracite during each operating session.
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