I was a mineral collector and it is amazing the crystal structures I have seen.
So I got a decent start. But I have found out quickly that my ambitions were larger than my 2X4. I will in no way have enough to build the winch house, head frame, ore car track, and ore bin. I will be reducing this project to the winch house and head frame. I am also declaring up front that I am using other pieces of wood beyond my 2X4. I used some strip wood I had for some of the battens and for the cross framing of the platform. So I though myself at the mercy of the courts. With that said here is the first two days of production. I made the base first so I would know what I am working with space wise. I had already cut out the 38 X 39 cabinet top when making my router table. But I needed to build the raised portion. The base height of all of the cabinets is 44". This section of the layout is 49" so I needed to build it up 5". I was going to try a different landscaping technique of wire but I don’t like it and will be going back to foam.
The winch house is first on the list. It is going in this near lower left corner and will be built over the track. Board and batten construction with corrugated plastic sign board thanks to George W. Bush. Its a huge sign like 5 X 3 that I got free at a garage sale.
I need to put the decking on the platform and then attach the building. Where the big front opening is there will be another 5" of covered open sided building where the actual winch will go.
I haven’t even started yet, Devon, but I have the feeling already I’ll be in the same boat you’re in.
Guys, you must have skimmed over the part where Dave said you could use more, if you noted how much…
I’ve not started either because recycling came with a 2 day penalty!
For a man too aware of his own Professional Crastinator status, this could well be the kiss of death… What a football weekend!
I give The Rev Dev 5 points for getting permission to use the washer! Atta Boy!
Nah, it will get done!
I decided recycling is a good choice. I removed a platform from the old layout and am including it in the new layout.
John Caughey said:
Guys, you must have skimmed over the part where Dave said you could use more, if you noted how much…
I’ve not started either because recycling came with a 2 day penalty!
For a man too aware of his own Professional Crastinator status, this could well be the kiss of death… What a football weekend!
I give The Rev Dev 5 points for getting permission to use the washer! Atta Boy!
I read it and thats why I am declaring it. So far its not too much and I did have it on hand at the beginning. Its just some of the battens and the cross braces. I am also working on the molds for the basalt columns. Even though I am not really considering the landscaping as part of my build I am including the latex for the mold in my cost. So far that’s all I have spent is $16 on it.
The decking is done. I need to start painting some of it before I assemble it much further.
Gee, I am already behind…
Whoaa there, Devon. You have 30 days, not 30 hours. Slow down and take a breath every couple hours at least. You’re making the rest of us look bad (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif). Well, except for Jim, who is on the same schedule as you. You do good work. If I didn’t know better, I might think you have done some woodworking before (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif). What does the box represent?
That’s looking awesome, Devon. I love how vertical it is.
Gee… that looks great! You will be finished before i can find a napkin and a pen!
Don’t worry guys I will be burning the midnight oil on Feb 13th like the rest of you. It make look like I have a lot done but I have a long way to go.
Dan, the box represents a prop to hold the damn thing up while I work on it. Okay it does “represent” that, it is that. This building will be mounted to one corner of the layout over the tracks where there is a 5 inch elevation change. That’s why it is staggered.
Jim, this layout will be a Vic inspired macro-micro. So in order to pack things into a small space I am going up. I have no idea if there is a prototype for such a thing but I think it will look cool having such a vertical feel.
Devon Sinsley said:
Don’t worry guys I will be burning the midnight oil on Feb 13th like the rest of you. It make look like I have a lot done but I have a long way to go.
Dan, the box represents a prop to hold the damn thing up while I work on it. Okay it does “represent” that, it is that. This building will be mounted to one corner of the layout over the tracks where there is a 5 inch elevation change. That’s why it is staggered.
Jim, this layout will be a Vic inspired macro-micro. So in order to pack things into a small space I am going up. I have no idea if there is a prototype for such a thing but I think it will look cool having such a vertical feel.
Now, that makes sense. Wasn’t sure if there was another structure yet to be built.
So had the coolest thing happen. Well at least for what I am doing its cool. I have a can of minwax red mahogany stain that I have had for the better part of twenty years. It is a very very dark almost black stain. To me it makes the perfect looking creosote. I have used it on each of my challenge builds for the timbers and ties. Well I went to use it on my current build as the lower sections of the build will be creosoted timbers only to find that the stain has turned to gel. I mean so much so that when I tipped the can over on my couch none came out. But when i use a sponge brush I can soak up the liquid. The result is a thick stain that goes on heavy and and stains very dark. I like it. Pic soon, when the staining is complete. I am sure this is from evaporation of the solvent base because the lid doesn’t fit so good anymore. But it works like a dream for this application.
Dan Hilyer said:
Now, that makes sense. Wasn’t sure if there was another structure yet to be built.
Dan, in the picture below on the lower left corner is where this winch house will be mounted. The part on the box will be on the upper most level, the part with no bracing will be over the track, and the longest part will be down on the white. This will obviously require a serious revision to the wire I have there. I am removing all the wire and going back to my standby foam for the landscaping. The winch house sits directly over the tracks. Ihave a mold that Dick Whitney made for cement pier blocks. I am casting them as we speak; and each of the legs will rest on one of these pier blocks.
I will hopefully mock it up tonight or tomorrow. My goal is to have this corner of the layout module landscaped by the end of the weekend so that at the very least i can mount the winch house and headframe by the end of the challenge.
I really like that structure you built Devon and I agree with the others that you are so far along that you are making us look bad!
I do have the lumber ripped from the piece of 2x4 but it got all twisted on me so now I’m thinking about using it to build a wonky house.
Will you put more bracing under that heavy steam donkey?
Todd Haskins said:
Will you put more bracing under that heavy steam donkey?
No, but I should. How’s that for an answer. This is a new fangled titanium steam donkey. Strong as hell and doesn’t weigh anything. I thought about the real world practicality of putting a steam donkey (much less an entire mine winch system) up on stilts. It would be a very bad idea structurally. It would require way more bracing to even be close to realistic. But this is my world and it defies rational physics. As long as it is kinda plausible and looks good, I am Okay with it.
I miss the old Devon…that foil tin hat you had on must have re-channeled some of the synaptic nerves responsible for your procrastination tendencies.
John Passaro said:
I miss the old Devon…that foil tin hat you had on must have re-channeled some of the synaptic nerves responsible for your procrastination tendencies.
Ok this comment made my day
Ok so a bit more progress. I got all of the lower section of the winch house all stained. In the picture half of it is still wet. The short end is dry(ish).
The upper portions of the decking will be painted to match the building and weathered. I have made a personal goal of each challenge build to stretch my skills and learn new things. I have never been happy with my wood weathering techniques. I have don’t some reading and youtubing and came up with a plan. Here is the test panel.
This is a test piece of the 2X4. I first painted it with a very dilute grey. After that dried I used soft pastels that I turned into weathering powders. I used a very dark brown, a medium brown, a light tan, and grey, After dusting in progressively lighter colors I set the powder with hairspray. I then painted the whole thing red. I then used a combination of a brass wire brush and my exacto knife to distress and remove paint. Finally a light sanding with 220. I may try washing it with black India ink but honestly I think this looks awesome.
Finally I have been messing with the basalt columns. In the modeling thread I explain how I got here. But I used my master that Dick Whitney made and made a latex rubber mold. I then dusted the mold with black sanded grout. Then used 5 parts plaster and 2 parts black sanded grout and filled the mold. This is the result. Great color and sandy texture which I think makes a very convincing model of the real deal.
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my rendition (so far) needs to be colored a little and have some lichen added.
So far I have $16 bucks into the rubber for the molds. Even though I am not considering the rock work as part of the challenge build really I figure I will add the cost in. I also bought the soft pastels and figure I am using 1/3 of them so that another 2 bucks. So total so far is 18 bucks.