Large Scale Central

Hecla Mine, Burke Idaho

Modeling
#81

Playing when I should be working, I found a picture of the Corkscrew Mine in Death Valley and there was a closeup picture of the ore bin’s chute door.

I drew up a chute door of my own to 3D print.

chute door

chute door 2
chute door 2142×597 8.09 KB

Before you say anything I know my gear is a little coarse. But I will live with it.

#82

You should see if you can talk Cliff into sending you the STLs for his ore chutes…

#83

I will do just that. I didn’t know he had one drawn up.

#84

#85

You know back before we 3D printed everything we would use whatever we could find…

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3647#T=C

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3743#T=C

And they even have the gear shaft, and a pulley…
https://www.bricklink.com/catalogList.asp?catID=134

#86

i agree with craig

the lego bin is a great source for parts

#87

I have used Legos.

Bob I do like those. I sent him and email.

In the meantime I added some bracing and I think this would make for a nice print.

chute door

Here is a mock up of the ore bin. Not very prototypical being built on a curve. But it is what it is. That is a sharper curve in my drawing than what is on the layout. Obviously I will build it to match the curve. I moved the location also and It will sit so that it is between the outer track and the bench and the inner track will be the mainline and will remain clear.

ore bin mockup
ore bin mockup434×636 34.6 KB

ore bin location
This is where I can set the ore bin

#88

Dang…just a typo…here I was hoping to see a chute doo! :innocent:

#89

That is very handy. Never considered that there would be a key i could print out. Thats handy.

1 Like
#90

Just came across a picture of the Hecla that I have not seen that shows a different angle this is taken at the compressor room end looking back to the hoist house.

image
http://www.miningartifacts.org/Idaho-Mines.html

#91

Well Cliff was nice enough to share his chute with me. Way better than mine.

#92

Maybe we can rephrase that?
:crazy_face:

Just kiddin! Have fun Devon.

#93

So with the discussion on how to get a dual gauge section from the Hecla mine complex to a mill/concentrator for an ore tram, I had to do some “visualization” and this will be fun. Here is a rough copy of my existing layout in this section.

track plan
track plan1226×507 308 KB

The grey is the elevated bench work. The green is pathway. The red is mountains. The grade separation is roughly 18 inches. between the track on the bench and the track that is on the ground. The weird track work where the concentrator will be was intended to be for a saw mill. I intentionally made it goofy like that to add some operational challenge (sorta a puzzle) for people switching out the saw mill. I have not gotten around to building the saw mill yet. So it is still a blank slate and will be a great place for the concentrator. Its at the base of a hill so the mill can be built up the side of the mountain and it has the sidings to switch out gondolas being loaded with ore. With the grade separation already in place. it will be easy to bring the 32mm tramway track into the top of the mill. I have enough room after it leaves the 45 at the tip of the wye (after the bridge) to gain a little elevation if necessary.

This could be a very fun addition to the layout.

image
this is the picture from the dual guage thread showing a rough idea of where the tramway will go

#94

Well now that the MIK build is behind me its time to jump in head first into this build. I got my rail from Llagas. So I should be able to get started with the mine and the dual gauge track for the tram.

#95

Looking forward to seeing the mine come to life :smiley: …………… (passing of time) …………

Is it done yet :face_with_monocle:

1 Like
#96

Dan, should be well on the way, it’s been a week since MIK, expect some progress pictures in a hour or 2!!:rofl:

#97

Would you like a picture of the pvc tube the rail came in? :laughing:

#98

I am struggling to get a start. I have not built but one building so far for the outdoor railroad. An it is holding up alright for the most part. But I also can take it off the layout for winter.

I want to start building this this weekend but I am trying to figure out the best materials for building it that will hold up outdoors. This will be a large complex. It will be built in pieces so I could remove it and likely will. But the main hoist house will be a flat against the wall. I wasn’t really planning on removing it each year.

What is the best all around materiel that holds up well in a snowy climate year round. I like wood and figure at this point on making the bodies of the buildings from exterior grade 1/2" ply. And then attaching various siding materials, windows, doors etc to that. The other option is to use all styrene. I bought an entire 4X8 sheet of .090. and can get thicker stuff also and am not opposed to it. But then there is PVC and ABS also. Also though about making my own foam cored styene exterior sheets.

I know MEK eats foam, wondering if MEK would make a nice strong bond between syrene and foam or if I am looking at disaster. I might have to experiment with this one. If I can bond some say .060 or .040 styrene sheet to 3/4 or 1 inch foam that could make for a nice rigid weather proof structure.

#99

I always preferred the foam PVC or acrylic for my buildings. Wood is awesome, but doesn’t last very long.

Unless you have lots of room inside, I would plan for something staying outside all year long - I NEVER brought a building inside.

All of the adhesives that would actually hold foam in place don’t seem to do much other than eat foam. (Foam PVC is VERY different).

#100

Thanks Bruce. I bet my new plastic supplier where I am getting my styrene from would have the PVC foam board. That would be very doable.

And what you are saying about adhesives eating foam I very much expect. I have accidently gotten MEK on foam and it does eat it. And I am afraid that the amount needed to adhere styrene would disintegrate it.