The start of Huffkins mine -formally "the mine with no name" built now in 1/24th scale
mainly built from plastic card - wheels from the scrap box
scrap area
end of the shift for an old battery storage box loco
dust and rust
Forgot to ask Mr Russ can I come out of the corner now and "Frolic" with the unmentionable others !!
Barney
really nice "prime mover"
but I like the rocker shovel loader more better.
Sweet! Excellent representation of some classic mining equipment!
Well, if that doesn't inspire us nothing will. -- Russ
Hi Barny, just a great sight and a pleasure to look at the models. How much mm is the gauge?
Done a few more shots in Day light - colours seem a bit more natural but colder
Gauge is 16.5 mm (standard HO /00 gauge) was toying with the idea of using On3 track gauge 3/4in making it a true 18in gauge in 1/24th but obtaining On3 stuff over here in the UK is a bit hit and mis and pricey so Im sticking with 16.5 a bit "Micky Mouse " I know but cost and availability is against me (makes 15in gauge) I have found some mines using this gauge.
Barney
I think it makes perfect sense. when I read about fellows basically starting their own scales just to make something work, I often wonder "why?".
with models this nice, I seriously doubt any visitors to "the Pike" will call you out on the gauge discrepancy. in the event someone makes an unsavory comment, give him 2 brownie points and show him the door.
Nice looking equipment. Any Legos in there?
Bill - Lego every where ! - used it for the battery box - chassis spacers on the Eimco mucker shovel and the loco - and at the ends of the acrylic rod for transmission boxes
small single blocks used as transmission boxes
Barney
I'm glad you've stayed with this forum. -- Russ
Very, very cool!
Do you have original drawings of the machines?
There are some very similar machines preserved by the mining company that operated the Thamshavn Railway, and I might try my hands on model myself one fine day.
Hauk Lots of info and some drawings at http://americanindustrialmining.com other info I got from the excellent Industrial Narrow Gauge Illustrated CD by J Tilston quite a few years old now but well worth it if you can still get it -its full of drawings -other drawings I found in back issues of the Narrow Gauge & Industrial Review - Eimco "mucker Shovel" there is loads of stuff on the net - The trammer in the scrap heap is a rough copy of one at a Slate mine in North Wales some years back I still have some rough measurements (done by my feet!) And few old "real photos" there were 2 of them one with twin motors and one single motor - the big one parked up for the night
is from the same source only got some measurements it was stuffed in a dark tunnel but I believe it was an odd bod version looks a bit like a American Ironstone type
so it was a bit of my modellers licence in it or as I call Freelance Prototypes
Hope this helps
Barney
Hello Barny,
in my immediate vicinity is such an Eimco Rocker Storer in the colliery park from Klosterstollen.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.design-hsb.de%2FEimco01.jpg&hash=412ae352b2cd38d9b2ac3db49c9565ec9f26e458)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.design-hsb.de%2FEimco02.jpg&hash=bd6922a9b940130026d18ad6d43fa4bc611d675c)
Heimut - thanks for the photos - Im just amazed at the amount of variations of these "little beasts" I can only presume being built all over the world not just in the USA were the first development & production began many variations would occur.
Is this machine still available - because Im still looking for some details that I just can not find the answer to - the only one I'v got close up to is one in the lake district and that had lots of bits missing.
Thanks Barney
The only one I got close to - but bits are missing
I think it was an early version - British built
with a few bits missing
Barny, I'll go with the dog afterwards and see if she's still available there. If so, I can also take pictures and take measurements.
Barny, all ok, but not yet and is freely accessible.
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.design-hsb.de%2FEimco03.jpg&hash=b6280bb11d4e88cbd416537563bc3a5dcbbebb16)
Thats a nice clean machine and it looks like its got all its bits
Barney
Im after a few details on Gold mines in the 1920's Huffkins will be a small operation on the site of an early mine some of the equipment will be old and other bits will be refurbished and some new. The only details I can find is all late stuff. A recent TV serious showed a Caterpillar type digger down "a glory hole" digging up gravel and rocks then dumping it in a shaker /water washer type bed with different levels the bits of Gold were captured under a type of grid - has the process changed much would it have been like this in the 1920's era but just an earlier version (steam power /gas engine power)if there is any one out there who can help and point me in the right direction.
Thanks
Barney
looking for those nuggets
The start of a bit of machinery for the Huffkins Mine Project - A Hoist driven by a petrol engine - the engine "Lump" is a 1/35th Cat engine beefed up to 1/24TH
and an early Cement mixer
The hoist all parts in a trial fit situation balanced so no heavy breathing at this point ! no detailing at this point still trying to work the bits out (what does what)
my Thanks to Chuck for all the drawings posted on the forum
The bits so far
The Cement mixer - The photos with the measurements were supplied some years back by a friend of Gordon the "flying Scotsman" The single photo is of a later version The Drum had to be detailed for me to continue the build due to the frame which will hold all the in & out chutes goes on next the base for this is an acrylic tube with plastic card ends - detailed with Master Club nuts /bolts
The engine will be a vertical cylinder type - on the lines of a Fairbanks Morse engine - some good UTUBE stuff available on these engines driving Early Cement Mixers
The Start of the mixer
later version but the same idea
Thoughts on the engine
That's going to be nice! -- Russ
looking good Barney
some very interesting plant getting built here.
At first I was skeptical of a small mixer being powered by a steam engine, the only ones I had seen were much larger and sometimes the steam engine itself was mounted on the ground beside the mixer rather than a a mobile mixer, but that misapprehension was quickly dispelled with a look online where several small tea kettles powered mixers around the size of your project. Go for it!
Here's one YouTube video that fits the size: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCX928FU-h8
Yeah, I'm liking this!
Im going to use a Fairbanks Morse Petrol / Paraffin type machine as in diagram this is a vertical cylinder type but they do use Horizontal cylinder types as well in the Photo
loads of them on YouTube these engines are often called "hit & mis" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idohWe4TT-w
Barney
Horizontal type
vertical cylinder type https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcXl66H9rOM
here is inspiration Early drum type mixer with vertical "hit & mis" engine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mw9Y6gY05g
Quote from: Barney on January 15, 2018, 12:44:32 PM
The Start of the mixer
Your precise styrene work never fails to amaze me.
Volker
always one of my favorites: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKdrnTTDTqo
I do love Slim!
Way cool!! Great start on both the hoist and the mixer.
The Huffkin girls have arrived
ICM kit quite good a few mods - perhaps a miners hard hat for a battery box trammer driver - but some can carry on working on Model Ts a good collection Of Ford Model Ts now in the stock box
Barney
Why are they not wearing bikinis? -- Russ
Its Cold - and just the Thought could kill you !
Barney
"over-all" i'd say they will make a great addition
Those look like some really high quality figures. Very lifelike.
Also, you wouldn't want to damage such delicate skin, would you?
Quote from: Ray Dunakin on January 23, 2018, 08:42:12 PM
Those look like some really high quality figures. Very lifelike.
i'm embarrassed to admit I can't admit where I read the thread, but someone was re-working one of the Henry Ford figures in that series with outstanding results. they certainly rival some of the resin figures on the market with the bonus of styrene workability.
Some progress made on the tugger hoist - finished the detailing of the engine and rebuilt the rad' all parts at the moment trial fit only.
other side
The Rad end
Radiator construction
Awesome!
That's looking good, Barney.
It really has character. By now we expect your typically clean construction and clever use of shapes but, beyond that, something about the overall appearance of the thing is unusually pleasing. -- Russ
My apologies for the quality of the last photos all seemed a bit fuzzy ! - first day out with my new camera and of course did not check the settings
(more like did not read all the instructions ) all sorted now so will try again after adding a be more detail
Barney
The photo resolution available on our site is too low for any soft focus in your images to be noticeable. But take more photos anyway! -- Russ
The problem was in the ISO it was set way to high and gave a grainy effect !
so here they are again
much better I think
the last one
Tugger Hoist ready for the paint-shop But its cold out there so on with the Cement mixer - trial fit of every thing - support brackets in several places to be made and detail up with nuts/bolts and rivets next
Another little bit of mining equipment I found was a little compressed air loco a strange "dangerous" looking bit of kit but its got "atmosphere" about it - wheels are from the scrap box
and a suitable size lump of acrylic rod forms the tank -It was made by a company called RIX can not find much about it but it was powered by 2 Square pistons !! quite a bit of info on the square piston engines but not much else -I found one photo from a catalogue of air compression bits - I could not see any copyrights and I hope I am not offending any one by showing the photo - I'm doing it it just for a hobby and not for any gain.
Barney
Wheels from the scrap box with styrene rims all to be cleaned up
Power plant I will leave to after a visit to a Tractor and stationary engine show at the end of the month
Start of the RIX Compressed air loco
The only photo I can find
Barney, your modelling always impresses me, the detail is so crisp and clear.
As you say that compressed air loco looks a dangerous "animal" to operate.
Les
You seem to crank out your little beauties as though they require no work at all. I don't know how you do it. -- Russ
Just wondered how you are going to tackle the "domed" tank ends on the compressed-air loco.
Les
Les - Domed ends don't seem to be excessive on this little trammer more of a chamfer on the edges on other versions like the Porter or Eimco they do cause a bit of a problem being very domed either a Lathe job or one of the many sizes from the plastruct range they do Hemispherical domes ranging from 9.5mm dia to 38.1 mm dia supplied by EMA Model Supplies in the Uk email - sales@ema-models.com - www.plastruct.co.uk these domes fit there range of Acrylic Rod and Tubes -LEGO also do a few domes but the sizes are limited and Grandt Line Products do a couple of domed ends for there tank cars a 72in( no'11) and 77in (no'12 ) thats in 1/4scale best option I would think is the Plastruct version they cover more sizes - but for my little beast its a quick chamfer or the edges
Barney
Pages fROM the catalogue
the domes page
they do them in clear acrylic to
Detailing nearly there - Im now using MasterClub nuts/bolts & rivets very clean castings and a wide range now available
A few weeks time should have all the info on the engine so in the meantime on with the compressed air loco
Barney
Thank you for the two references. Grandt Line used to have some nice molded rivets and nut-bolt-washers but their tooling wore out, quality declined, and many parts have disappeared from the catalog.
The model looks beautiful (as usual).
Russ
Barny, you just have a fabulous productivity, with excellent results.
The compressed air loco engine http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/squarepiston/square.htm#dake
How on earth did they manufacture them back then without LEGOs? -- Russ
Beautiful!
I've been away from the forum for a few days so just getting caught up. Marvelous work as usual, very sharp!
I've never heard of that square piston Dake engine before. What an odd contraption!
Barney
thanks for the info on the domes, you are a "mine" of information
Les
RIX compressed air loco nearly there - unsure of some bits plenty of descriptions but still only one photo ! modifications of seat foot rest and gear cover - just found out position of the exhausts are so thats next
mega rivets by Tichy Trains
Barney, I've gotten behind on this thread and you've made a lot of good progress since last look. It's a very distinctive loco, in fact, you could say it has a certain air about it.
That looks extremely adequate at this stage. -- Russ
I've been using Tichy Trains rivets and nbws especially as they are obtainable in the UK. As mentioned Grandt line rievst and nbws have deteriorated in quality and with the new "sand" colour they produce them in makes it more difficult to see them against white styrene.
Les
Great work, Barney!
Les - I have now given up with a lot of the Grandt Line Products stuff -got real shabby mainly on the nut bolt side of things
I now use Master Club nuts / bolts and rivets superb castings and readily available in the UK from Historex Agents in Dover
who offer a superb mail order service normally next day - I use Tichy Trains stuff for the larger nut bolts and rivets. Who does them in the UK last lot I had from the US can't moan about them they always offer a Quick service
Barney
Grandt Line changed the the colour to "white" some years back I hear there was plenty moans about it and went back to dark grey now of course as you say have now gone to a sand colour making life difficult for us + of course the poor quality
So what/who is a good supplier for nuts, bolts and rivet details here in the US?
Barney
Are the Master Club NBWs and rivets styrene or resin? If resin, what are you using to secure them?
I would say Master Club n/b castings are a Hard plastic - I have used super glue and styrene glues both with success
Barney
Master Club - quick shot note crispness of casting
Available from https://www.historexagents.com excellent world wide mail order service - Website a bit odd ! but look under BRANDS and you will see "new" Master Club nuts bolts and rivets
Barney
5TH Wheel - Found this suppler in the US - not sure what there service is like http://www.hobbyworld-usa.com/Store/index.php?id_category=1489&controller=category
Barney
QuoteI would say Master Club n/b castings are a Hard plastic - I have used super glue and styrene glues both with success
Thanks Barney.
Barney
I get the Tichy Rivets and nbw's from www.ngtrains.com. They are based in York
Les
Tugger hoist (with recon engine) nearly finished - Cement mixer on the right and RIX compressed air loco on the far left more photos later only re- sizer gone slow and is doing my head in
Barney
Fantastic job! Can't wait to see more photos ...
great collection Barney.
Yes! And the diorama is just outstanding. -- Russ
Well the steam powered re-sizer thing appears to have woken up ! So here is some more shots of the Storage yard at Huffkins mine
The hoist machine is fresh from the repair shop and awaiting delivery
the winch end
The cement mixer arrived a few weeks ago and is awaiting its engine from the repair shop
the Rix Compressed air loco is for spares or repair but the grass is growing
A good group of equipment in various stages of wear and tear. Looks good!
a few general shots the cement mixer
The RIX compressed air loco
winch details
The end of the Shift Loco returns to the yard
Inspiring! As always great work.
Les
Thank you for showing great inspiring images, just great.
Again, very impressive! Thanks for the detail shots!
More inspiration than we have a right to expect.
What are you using for "dirt" and "grass"?
Russ
Thanks to you all for your comments -
Russ - The dirt /soil is just that - a long time ago a guy found plenty of it on a canal bank in Warwickshire - I believe its decomposed Granite from when they dug the banks out for the locks - unfortunately stocks of it are low now and the area were we found it has become a boat yard and lots of people walking there dogs making it difficult to gain access to dig it out without looking suspicious + I think its illegal to remove soil from the Monarchs land !!
The grass Tuffs come in many sizes and shades and are from the MINI-NATUR range of products -I also use small sections of Grass mats from the
REALITY in SCALE company who also do a wide range of scenery products
Barney
photo one The Tufts ( they come with sticky backs )
Photo 2 grass matt
Photo 3
grass mat with hills
Thanks, Barney. The combination of natural dirt and commercial products you used looks very real. Most satisfactory. -- Russ
Barney, I'm surprised the canal is still there after all that soil removal. I remember years back our group all using that excellent "dirt". These days you have to be careful where dog walkers go, you might retrieve more than you bargained for!
Les
Wow! Very impressive collection of models!
Well Mr Barney you obviously have used the long dark winter nights very constructively , love them all but especially the cement mixer ....... Was going to ask you for some measurements ( would I dare ask you for plans ;) ) but reading the whole thread I notice you got them indirectly from me , shows you how bad the old memory is !!
Still got supplies of Humbrol OD I see ;D >:( ;D
Just put on a "Bob the Builder" jacket and hat, throw in some traffic cones and have five of your mates dressed the same standing and drinking tea while you dig out a bucket of soil, and all the passers-by will think you work for the local council. ;D ;D ;D
Lawton - Our council workers just gather round a hole in the road and put traffic lights up and leave it for weeks - months - years
Gordon do you still want the measurements for the cement mixer he put them on the photos
Barney