Westlake Publishing Forums

Okay, while I wait for the oil paint washed to set on my other gig, I will start up the research for my next project.  I've only recently stumbled across these pics and I'm sure ya'll would have seen these before, and I'm going to put in the links simply because he has stated pretty clearly that he doesn't want his images copied or used without consent (no connection to the guy at all - I'd love to have one or two of these prints - but couldn't afford them in the sizes I'd want ;D):

http://www.mattkierstead.com/royal-mills/machine-shop-interiors
http://www.mattkierstead.com/royal-mills/royal-mill-building-machinery

The project as it stands now is to scratch/cannibalize a turbine, a turbo generator, and a fire pump akin to the ones used in this mill.  A good friend in the tank building world (Jon Lange, the gent responsible for the fine painting of the tanker figure with my halftrack) and I have been noodling over making some industrial scenes for 1:35 - and potentially 1:48th scale with the original intent of creating a couple of Stalingrad vignettes.  While still having an eye towards that goal, playing with making the drill press in 1:16th has opened up one of those doors into the dark spaces of my brain.  Ideally, I'd like to make something that I can cast in resin as I've convinced him that we can become rich - Rich, I tell you!!! Oh - sorry... actually, I primarily want to be able to have multiples if we go to a large layout.

So, I want to be able to make these in 1:35th and potentially in 1:48 (there are a ton of newly done vehicles in 1:48th scale in the last two years - and little in the way of backdrop), and have zero knowledge or plans to go from.  I can do a pretty good set of drawings by using a little photo interpretation (any one have any guesses on how high the paint line extends in the photos above???), but would like to make my stuff based on at least a rough knowledge of the components and theory behind them.  Jon was in the black gang as a merchant seaman and can get me through some of this, but can anyone suggest some good geek friendly historical, design or art books on the topic?  This can run the gamut - there are very few decent shots of the Stalingrad tractor works prior to being turned to rubble for instance - so I'm looking for similar stuff in other countries; or examples of old gear designs, etc. - any ideas would be welcome.

I'm starting on the turbine using PVC pipe/fitting today, so something to show before too long.

Russ - if you are watching - going through your site, I saw something referring to an Industrial Edition... is this something you make - and can I still get one (some?).

Dave - looks like I'll be needing hand wheels :)

Last but not least, the sum total of my "precision" power tool is my rechargeable Dewalt drill and my Dremel.  The first serves as my lathe, but its time for something a little more robust.  Ideas for the novice?

Thanks guys for your indulgence - I realize this is all over the map - but am open to any ideas here.

Paul "stepping in over his head" Ranta

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-history/

Check out the above forum for more reference pics. There is lots of good stuff but you will have to hunt around. Most, but not all is North American stuff, there is some euro stuff there too.
Also at the same site check out the forum for scans of machinery manuals, they usually have a drawing or 2 and good pics.

Here is a link to one:

http://pounceatron.dreamhosters.com/docs/

I love the idea, being a machinery nut myself!

Paul

Paul, nice to see you here.  I'd be glad to help on handwheels and gears.  LMK when you have a prototype.  

Dave

If you enter a google image search as follows, you can scan thru the photos on the site without opening all the threads ....

Search parameters:
site:practicalmachinist.com/vb/antique-machinery-history/

Or you can refine that by adding a (space) and whatever search terms you like at the end ...

Cheers,
Dallas

About the Industrial Annual: It is one of three books I publish each year. The current issue just went into the mail today and subscribers will have them starting next week. I do not sell retail (that includes back issues) so you can pick up a current issue in mid-April from a local hobby shop or from Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado (info on the web).

You also will be interested in the Modelers' Annual, still available at some stores.

Sales of the books pay for this forum.

Russ

Friggin' excellent all.   8)

This is perfect, and beyond what I was hoping for - thanks!  I knew there had to be a site of like afflicted weirdos catering to the industrial side of things, but had no idea that it would be so deep and comprehensive. (do train guys have the same sort of strange afflictions and arguments that tank guys have over things like the right shade of Dunkel Gelb, or the defining feature between a D and A model Panther?  Remind me to show you the mystery fitting on the front of the M4 Sherman that still hasn't been solved as to function) That drill press per Paul's link is really tempting...

The site really looks like it will have more information that I can consume, and will result in more excessive time ooooh-ing and aaaaw-ing over potential build ideas and other people's gear.  I'm still having a hard time recovering from the dollhouse guy's slide show last night  :o  :o  :o

I'll spend some time on research and decision making and get started on something...
Russ, I'll get on the book ordering (I also saw the Google implosion string last night, so was working my that way anyway) - appreciate the how to get there from here.  I'm new but I'm gonna be invested.

A bucket of thanks - details to follow.

Paul

I just finished scratch-building an O scale engine and pump for my pump house. While not up to the high standards on this forum it will be inside the pump house and visible only through the windows and door - so I figure 'good nuff'. Thought it was applicable for this thread. Ha. I placed an order yesterday with Dave for both his small and large gear sets .. so next time I won't have to build my gears from old VCR bits and pieces.

(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi856.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab130%2FLCRRinHO%2FStructures%2FPumphouse%2FFinish_1.jpg&hash=a3c95172bf71cd53e67255af20aa709733a09dfc)

(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi856.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab130%2FLCRRinHO%2FStructures%2FPumphouse%2FFinish_5.jpg&hash=5ebdee493795fd96cdbeaef43d7c6bd7bec253c5)

Yes, train guys argue over "nail holes" and Floquil driftwood stain... but there aren't many train guys on this forum.    

Ed you did a great job with the stuff you had on hand.   

Dave

Quote from: DaKra on March 02, 2011, 05:20:37 PM
Yes, train guys argue over "nail holes" and Floquil driftwood stain... but there aren't many train guys on this forum.    

Ed you did a great job with the stuff you had on hand.   

Dave

Don't forget those kit Manufacturer's that are so detail oriented that they are compelled to provide instructions on hot-dog and hamburger assembly  ;D

Bill

Way to go, Ed.

Paul, they're right. We don't have many more train modelers here than modelers of other subjects because, at the heart of it, we all are modelers. That means we think a great model of a tank is just as cool as Doris' Sovereign of the Seas, Chuck's abandoned gas station/garage, Jester's ... uh ... whatever it is that he models, Gordon's locos and tractors, Fichtenfoo's bizarre gizmos, Virgil's cars, or Ken's lumber carriers.

Personally I find that extremely refreshing. Don't you?

Russ

   Paul,

   a very good source for information on machinery is Google patents.  If you built belt driven machines, set a time period in advanced search and type of machines and a lot of details, including ( mostly on scale ) drawings.  I have used it to work out and scratchbuilt all the sawmill machines in the large sawmill I built.

  Jacq

When it comes to scratchbuilding machines we should not forget Christophe LeCorre. He does some remarkable work. I am not sure if he is a member of this forum, but he would be a great fit for sure.

Here is a link to a french forum with some of his work:
http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t135-MACHINE.htm

No need to understand French; the pictures speak for themselves.

Quote from: BKLN on March 04, 2011, 06:05:50 AM
When it comes to scratchbuilding machines we should not forget Christophe LeCorre. He does some remarkable work. I am not sure if he is a member of this forum, but he would be a great fit for sure.

Here is a link to a french forum with some of his work:
http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t135-MACHINE.htm

No need to understand French; the pictures speak for themselves.

Some amazing work there. Reminds me of the days when many manufacturers of 1:1 work also had a very skilled model builder. In the US even the Wilamette factory made like 1:20 models of Donkeys etc. Thanks for posting.

Anders ;D

"This leads me to believe that I am not the first to embark on such an endeavor", says he.  Apologies for the late response.  I've been fighting off a bit of the winter crud and transitioning to a new job so a little focused in other directions.  My daughter has a diorama book report to work on this weekend... must not take over...

Cripes - that is some glorious work.  I see that they have interspersed some of Spencer Pollard's work in their as well, one of my favorites from the traditional side (well traditional for me  :D).  I'm kicking myself for not tearing down that DVD player for parts we just sent of to the city recycle center.  I did spend yesterday AM cannibalizing an older generation of digital camera for bits... Ken H. if you need a micro flash unit, a video screen or some lenses, let me know :)

Beautiful references... my head is swimming with trying to match misc. parts at hand to designs (Jacq - I didn't even know of the existence of Google patents before coming here - and hadn't looked until yesterday - awesome)... or planning and fabricating from scratch?

Ed - Nice little motor - and it will look great inside the pump house... my window box was done with the same rationale... in my case, I had seen Chuck's version and wanted to try for something with a less abandoned look (while trying a bunch of things out), but am not quite sure how yet to make the glass look dusted/work stained. 

Anders - which Willamette factory are you referring to? I live in the Willamette Valley and grew up being drug around to their 20 century operating cousins.

Again - thanks to all... I'm picking a design and starting work now  ;D ;D ;D

 

Anders - which Willamette factory are you referring to? I live in the Willamette Valley and grew up being drug around to their 20 century operating cousins.


Paul, I was referring to the Willamette Iron & Steel works in Portland, Oregon. In Merv Johnson´s book In Search of Steam Donkeys (p.240) there is a fantastic model of a donkey probably 1/20 scale built by the above factory in 1907.

Anders  :o

Came across this site today and it has some really nice high res photos of a machine shop

http://stevebriggs.netfirms.com/osmrm/russelhistory.html (http://stevebriggs.netfirms.com/osmrm/russelhistory.html)

cheers Ferd

Quote from: Junior on March 05, 2011, 04:05:33 AM

Quote from: BKLN on March 04, 2011, 06:05:50 AM
When it comes to scratchbuilding machines we should not forget Christophe LeCorre. He does some remarkable work. I am not sure if he is a member of this forum, but he would be a great fit for sure.

Here is a link to a french forum with some of his work:
http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t135-MACHINE.htm

No need to understand French; the pictures speak for themselves.

Some amazing work there. Reminds me of the days when many manufacturers of 1:1 work also had a very skilled model builder. In the US even the Wilamette factory made like 1:20 models of Donkeys etc. Thanks for posting.

Anders ;D

Thanks ;D BKLN sorry I don't know your firstname !
There is to much things to say about machines and scratchbuilding
in the link you have mentioned you can find good pictures about naval shipyard in England using lathes milling machines planners etc...
Let me share that model with you here, this a gaz compressors factory for a coking plant I made
It's all scratch using metal parts, PVC, styrene, brass and every materials I can found


More to come... ;)
 

Wonderful Chris! WOW!

philip

Anders - Portland would be the part of the valley I live in... I need to do more looking into the old mill stuff here.  We were also famous for Shanghaiing folks out of Portland during that same era... loggers, farmers, workers, etc., guys would hit the bars and wake up working on a ship bound for the Orient  ;D

BLKN - and Christophe, I've used up about 3-4 hours this weekend going through Christophe's work and that British Lathe/Tool reference site... and I'm pretty much stunned. My daughter's school project took a day and half this weekend, so I didn't get anything worth taking a photo done.  I hope to get a little work done this eve on a large vertical milling machine in 1:35th, inspired by the one in your factory project.  I'm working doing a 1930s era version (I'm assuming they had them then), along the lines of yours, but perhaps with a touch more of a "rough cast look" to the base and the armature.  I did manage to find some snippets of Soviet wartime production from propaganda films in middle of the night (fighting a cold) so that I can have some other tool designs to work from   :)

I've got about 25 questions about your work - but will start small here  ;D
First - in looking at the powerhouse - did you build your first set from scratch and then cast the next four, or did you make all six units from scratch???

Second - as my French speaking daughter is away this weekend - what is the master plan for the large tool and shop room (the one with the multiple production lines)?

Stunning stuff all around, sir - really inspiring... and thanks to everyone that has jumped in here...
Paul

In fact it's only 4 units but all scratchbuilt
My Paradise
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg60.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F0%2F1%2F7%2Fdsc07151-248da6a.jpg&hash=df8727070b02f2c3dd5fb14b796701124448700f) (https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg60.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F5%2F9%2F0%2Fdsc07152-248da77.jpg&hash=df1531eed7a08eb3180fad0eeaf618ac34f22827)

Recycling...

(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg51.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2Fc%2F0%2F8%2Fdsc07153-2497e5d.jpg&hash=fcbef93bda6ce9f40919032408b29e8184f467f9)

(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg60.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F3%2F9%2F3%2Fdsc07154-248da90.jpg&hash=4036fcb3037009ec055fa08956fef9d18bc19aa1)(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg60.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0%2F2%2Fdsc07155-248da86.jpg&hash=aca01c2b2229ef0a9598a45510b031a14a8663ee) (https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg47.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F9%2Fc%2Fa%2Fdsc00241-8c519b.jpg&hash=31cb3a4663408b639d17e6fad2fd9d5eb3a7e7cd)(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg40.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2Fd%2Fd%2F4%2Fdsc00243-8c51ac.jpg&hash=870d820a467b81c549d6a9ed2e5fd73b5f262e51)

Transforming...
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg61.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0%2F9%2Fdsc07157-2497f0a.jpg&hash=eea6924a458bc3d79984939a2b4357e2cfd7b3c7)

Result...
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg53.xooimage.com%2Ffiles%2Fb%2Fa%2F6%2Fdsc07159-2497f4f.jpg&hash=714ad37c8d462d751bd0fac45a1008bf5903affc)

It's funny but that's like I proceed, you can't imagine our society through in this kind of area  ::)
For the rest it's only observation with pictures & documentations you can find on web, c
Casting for 4 machines take me too much time so I made 8 or 16 pieces of each and then you assemble them !
With the first coat of paint  you give life to your model

The second question is a bit difficult it's depend of "what are you producing in ?" generaly you have several buildings : power house , foundry, casting shop, milling area, electrical, assembling etc...
So is it for tiny parts likes bolt gears etc... or it's the final assembling line for tractors
The buildings in this case are huge with a metal structure Overhead crane etc
Here's a link on my thread http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t135-MACHINE.htm?start=75 (http://teamtrack.xooit.com/t135-MACHINE.htm?start=75) where you can find pictures of a naval ship yard
Another interesting link: Mesta machine works near Pittsburg, Mesta was a company who made machine for mills & other heavy industries, nices pictures of vertical lathe etc... http://digital.library.pitt.edu/images/pittsburgh/mesta.html (http://digital.library.pitt.edu/images/pittsburgh/mesta.html)
In my opinion it's difficult to build all of this :-\ (too much parts too much time etc...money ;D)
But making a part with an open side, 3 feet long 4 feet long is possible along your backdrop for exemple with two line of production inside
racks for parts on the back, machine on first plan, overhead crane on top, you can have different possibilities
Hope I was clear ;)

That´s a fantastic model and what a collection of parts :o! Could you please describe how you painted the rusted parts, smoke stack etc.

Anders ;D

So first I used Humbrol matt 186 mix black 33 sprayed with an airbrush
after it's a combination of oil artist burned sienna and some chalk from different colors oxyde dark oxyde etc...
you obtain a rusty texture. I used different kind of brush also a tooth brush to sprayed artistic oil recovered with chalks :)

Christophe,
I am very excited to see that you are indeed a member here. Your work is absolutely amazing. I find myself going back to "Team Track"at least once a week and every time I discover some new nice details in your work.

Christian

Great work and really inspiring.

Could you maybe send some information on how you did the brickwork on the brick buildings ?

Regards,
Marc

Chris, excellent build both in the construction and finishes. I particularly like the traveling gantry crane (what can be seen of it in the photos) Thanks very much for sharing.

I would like to know about the bricks too...bricks are one of my pet peeves in models and these are superb to my eye!(as is everything else!)

Paul

Thanks  :D

For Chester ;)


For the brick I'm not sure but it's a guy in Germany who made that, Lockfüehrer lukas, in fact one of my connection bring me "panels" in resin of this factory
and Ask me to made something, with ARA productions in Vichy we made windows, doors and all the rest have been scratchbuilt in brass and styrene
I think for each panels, have been drawn on computer and he made a master then produce a mold for casting ???

This module will be added to the coking plant I should connect pipe to the oven's one

Not bad. -- Russ

You should put some crappy, shiny plastic figures in the photo ... so we can actually tell that we're looking at a model!  ;D

(Really outstanding)

Cheers,
Dallas

Yes I think it's not bad for a model that weighs 80 kg/160 pounds;D

Expletive delighted.

Chris, your work is model building at its very best.
The word "crisp" comes to mind....and I mean that in a very complimentary way.
Wonderful job.  Thanks for posting and thanks for joining our little group.

Thanks Ken
it's funny because this afternoon I just have a look at your albums on Fotki
One word whaaaaouuuu  :D
I love particulary the Lumber Stacker diorama
original, fantastic, words missing :o

Wow Chris - incredible work!

Chris, thanks for sharing this wonderful work.

Please post some pictures of some of the machines and workshops you have built. I think those are just amazing!

Christian

I made maybe 40 different model of press, steam hammers in 48, all scratchbuilt but there are so many type and models that you need thousand years to make them :P

Charles Brommer (CHB Models) would have loved to see this. Spotless Chris!  :o :o :o


Anders ;D

Very nice Chris. What scale are these?

Gordon Birrell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/

Quote from: Scratchman on March 11, 2011, 03:45:56 AM
Very nice Chris. What scale are these?

Gordon Birrell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/

I was wondering the same thing. If it's 1:48 .. I'm getting a new hobby .. :/

Merci, Chris!
Magnifique!

What impresses me about your work is the amazing focus and discipline in your theme. There are no romantic assumptions or fluff, just straight forward almost analytic modelbuilding.

Thanks eveybody I'm honored  :D
it's O scale machines
I start with a base in plasticard & then I added details like wheels etc...
I found catalogs from Betts, Niles also a locomotive cyclopedia from 1941 with explanations of different kind of equipment that you can find in a shop
And some visits at Steamtown shops and other museum like Strasburg and EBT, people here were very nice and pleased to give me some details
Big thanks to them hope to return one day ;)

Quote from: eTraxx on March 11, 2011, 03:48:04 AM

Quote from: Scratchman on March 11, 2011, 03:45:56 AM
Very nice Chris. What scale are these?

Gordon Birrell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/

I was wondering the same thing. If it's 1:48 .. I'm getting a new hobby .. :/

How about collecting stamps Ed?  ??? It´s really in fashion right now! ;D Seriousley keep up the good work and be inspired!

Anders ;D

I'm depressed now  :'(

That is some first class model work there!   I like your philosophy of treating every piece as a scale model unto itself, supported by research.    I also like how everything shows precise alignment, no tool is balancing on three feet, no parts are leaning off at drunken angles.   End result, everything looks purposeful, as a big machine shop does.    Perfect!

Dave

What a magnificent collection of machines. Beautifully built and finished. Truly inspirational, thank you for sharing these Chris.

Quote from: DaKra on March 11, 2011, 09:04:25 AM
That is some first class model work there!   I like your philosophy of treating every piece as a scale model unto itself, supported by research.    I also like how everything shows precise alignment, no tool is balancing on three feet, no parts are leaning off at drunken angles.   End result, everything looks purposeful, as a big machine shop does.    Perfect!

Dave

I like the term Drunken angle  ;D but you know sometimes everything go wrong, when Murphy is here  :P even I try to do my best !
First class I don't know, sure it can be perfectible but for me it's OK I 'm happy with (maybe one day in other life)
I saw so much beautiful models, dioramas here from everyone like for exemple Anders garage, Ken, Gordon, Chuck, Edward, Doris, etc... so I try to climb slowly at the same level :-\
A few days ago we discovered Alan Wolfson "urban scultures" http://www.alanwolfson.net/sculptures.htm (http://www.alanwolfson.net/sculptures.htm)
"Ohh la vache" I said in front of my screen, I was blown away, give me inspiration to change flat fronts on our layout in O scale,
but it's difficult to have the same level on a twelve meters long layout so...
Anyway I will post the steam hammers,  I think it could be interesting for people who wants to make a forge or a foundry  :)   

So here's first pictures of steam hammers :D

Absolutely beautiful work Chris - just blown away by your machinery and the module. It was difficult to tell it's a model, especially in the last vertical shot you posted. Reminds me of the photographs of by Bernd and Hilla Becher...

Paul

This just keeps getting better and better.
Each of these machines is a piece of art.
Thanks for sharing, Chris.

I concur with the above comments. Moreover I am very pleased you are posting on this forum. -- Russ

Thanks everybody
It was a long time, I'm observing and contemplating the works of what I consider the bests modelers here
give me a lot of inspiration... ;)

I'm speechless Chris.

You probably already know this, but Jet Lowe took great photos of machine tools as part of his documentation for the Historic American Building Survey (HABS) and the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER).  The photos are in the Library of Congress and many of them are available online in high resolution. 

I own a little Index Model 40 vertical mill.  You've got me thinking how big it would be in 1:20.3 scale...

Quote from: Chris on March 11, 2011, 08:18:11 AM
it's O scale machines

Chris,
At first I was in doubt as the scale and 180 pound weight of the model. After checking the link and observing your research photos, bench photo with you grinding metal, this is in epic proportions. Those are truly amazing huge industrial 1:48th machines. Also a very nice link to the shop photos!

Really motivating...now take me to the recycle center. ;D

Philip   

Philip for coking plant and gaz compressor it's 1/32
The rest is 48  ;)

   Chris, 

   stunning work. There is one thing bothering me though. Looking at the weathering the airbrush use is nice but gives away the models. I think with a bit more subtle weathering around  details, like hinges, handgrips etc the difference with reality will be lost completely.

  Jacq

I'm not an expert  :D
well I'm agree with you in fact I used also chalk and wash with dilued paints !

Beautiful work, Christophe - the steam hammers (especially the first picture) look great.  I like the first one as I think it evokes the look of an older model - which is not only what I'm looking for  ;D, but also makes a nice contrast to the newer looking versions.  Sorry for not responding sooner - but things have been busy.  I'm about half way through the major components of a 1:35th scale milling machine, and will post in a day or so - as I'm struggling to get that circa 1920s and 30s style and look I'm going for.  The few Soviet examples I have to go from pre-WWII show them to be powered at the unit (electric motors on the tools)- and not from common overhead belt drives.  I'm assuming that this is due to the relatively late re-tooling (1920s and on) of Soviet Industry?

Oh - and I'd like to order 2 Kilos of your finest bushings and gears, please  ;D ;D ;D
PWR

Working on some 6" Gate Valves for my pump house. Playing at this size is mostly ok .. until something goes *TWANG* .. and the #000-120 valve stem you were working on has sailed into .. non-existence. :/

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Pretty much finished. Let the cement set overnight. I will slightly radius the tops of the braces where they attach to the screw support (whatever that thing is .. screw collar?) and lightly sand (600 grit) any 'dangles' of styrene.

I will cut off the valve stem on two of the gate valves as these represent a 'rising-stem' gate valve and with the valve opened the stem should protrude about 1/8" (6" valve). When closed the stem will barely protrude past the hand wheel. That means I need handwheels first (HO brakewheel *migh* work) .. then 'snick' off any excess stem. Prob will feather where the belly round up into the main body w/some putty.

Gotta admit .. pretty happy with how they came out - finally approaching this forum's standards! Looking forward to painting them

Edit: Last night I came awake. Looked at the clock .. was 11:51 .. had one of those ideas/thoughts that finally crawled out of my head. Handwheels ... HANDWHEELS!!! Dave's "Steam Age Industrial Gears and Handwheels.  Jumped out of bed and grabbed the package I had got from VectorCut the other day. YES!!

So .. I have handwheels. Now if I only had a cure for my memory lapse :)

Not half bad. -- Russ

Here they are. I used handwheels from VectorCut. Mounted on toothpicks until I get my Plastruct piping in .. one gate valve is open (stem extended) and two are closed. Usual "extreme closeup magnifies mistakes and errors" ..

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Wanted to see how they will look in my Pump House so just stuck them in .. still on the toothpicks. Well .. the toothpicks are about the same size as the pipe that will go in .. (waiting on shipment from Plastruct)

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Toothpicks notwithstanding the whole thing looks quite good. -- Russ

splendid !  nice job Ed!

Ed, the wood grain in those pipes is a little heavy... I think that's why the Romans went to lead instead of wood.  And we all know how well that worked out...  ;D  Nice rigs.

Been off the site for a few - made a corduroy road (after some intensive Spring pruning) dio base and have been working on this little number, inspired by Mssr. Christoph.

I'm hoping to make some casts of it so be ruthless.  Please excuse the blue tack, but a number of bits are not going to be fixed so that they could be cast.  Also the support shaft and its mount motor and fittings are still a work in progress (and need some serious loving yet - so any ideas you may have are welcome).  Overall, it needs a number of additional detail fittings and casting texture, but hopefully it you get the idea... the chrome toaster looking thing is going to be an adjustable pedestal with capped with another row of machine rails.

And more... I don't have a Mr. Mudgeon on site, so I'm working with yet to be armed Industrial Hans...

Ed -- Real nice!

Paul -- Looks impressive so far.  Buzzing thru here at the moment ... is that 1:16 machinery with a 1:35 scale dude or am I missing something?

Cheers,
Dallas

Thanks Dallas... no that is a 1:35th machine and a 1:35th dude...

This is supposed to be a pretty large milling machine, as seen in the examples posted on Cristophe's site.  I intentionally went for something at the large end of the spectrum, as there are a couple of man height drill presses out there in 1:35th already.  This is meant to be something for the Tractor Works, or for milling armaments. I'd really like to find out what the Soviets used to mill the turret races on T-34s, and make one of those... and do a assembly space with two or three turrets.  Are you familiar with the late war color shots of the Panther factories?  If no, I'll dig some out and post them...

While I feel like I'm getting the mechanicals sorted out... I'm struggling with achieving a "copied from a 1929 Capitalist design for our the New Workers's Paradise" look... I want the right look... and just dropping in some cyrillic casting numbers would be cheating  ;D

Nice work Ed.

M

I don't see anything to nitpick. -- Russ

Very nice, but it is really a Radial Drill Press.
What is the toaster like thing on the table/bed?

Lets see some more machines!

Paul

QuoteI don't have a Mr. Mudgeon on site, so I'm working with yet to be armed Industrial Hans

Wouldn't that be a "Mr. Hands Free"

Nice work! I have always liked machines shops

-Marty

Dang. That's some excellent work. I've ran a drill press almost that large. Which .. brings me to make a point about older machines. I worked in a machine shop in the mid 80's (oil field) and some of our machines were OLD. Our Monarch lathes were from WWII and we had a lathe with 130" swing that had originally been belt driven and converted to electric motor drive at some point. The thing is .. the basic design of a lathe, or mill hasn't changed that much. We have fancy gizmos nowdays .. but .. like with that big lathe .. when something wears out .. the machine isn't tossed .. it's repaired .. and that machine continues on. The machinists could care less that the lathe is a 100 years old. It's a lathe. Shrug.

On size of machines. We had a mill / or vertical lathe (think of a lathe with the chuck horizontal and the body above it. This sucker had a chuck that was a 100 in dia, took 1" (at least .. I forget) bits and weighed 96,000 lbs. Just imagine a 1:35th scale machine with N scale people working it!

Pretty much finished the plumbing for my pump house. Still need to work on the paint/washes/weathering on the pipes but this is mostly 'just for fun' since the building will get roofed over and the machinery will be visible only through the doors and window. Need to add a bench for my LP to rest on (Marc's bench gave me ideas of course), stuff on walls and lighting.

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Looks great for something barely seen Ed. But what I really like is the concrete work.

Sweet Ed - besides digging the machinery, I have to agree with Chester on the concrete kudos - I really like the cracked portion in the rear with the leak staining.

Okay - not milling machine - but jumbo "radial drill press" then... nomenclature, nomenclature, nomenclature  ;D

Here is a bit of what I was looking to achieve.  Pardon moi Cristophe, for hot linking to your image, but it is way too large to copy/post here, and I don't have any editing software on this computer (I'll try and correct this eve).

http://img42.xooimage.com/views/6/1/7/maint-shop-2009_0...ll-press-1533deb.jpg/

As you can see the toaster is a base of sorts for setting up the drillee at odd angles to the driller.  Ed, what would one call the lower assembly?  Thanks all, for the look... more ahead.

Paul

I like the views through the doors and windows. Good modeling with good composition. -- Russ

Ed

That is some nice modeling.  Great pictures looking through the door and windows.

Jerry

NO problemo :D
Your model is simply fantastic
keep going
I have several drawings for this kind of machine if you are interested ;)

Good work all, good enthusiasm too in this topic! I might get back to that trip hammer for my blacksmith shop...

I too am glad to see Chris has joined us here!

I've learned so much in this one email string it isn't even funny - some extremely cool resources and talented mentorship... a really great community within these forums...

Chris - I'd love to see any drawings you would care to share... and thank you for the offer.  Chuck - dig it out and show us your machine...

Okay - getting there... sorry about the blue - but otherwise the styrene disappears against my white backdrop.  Obviously some "cast" texturing to add, and how about that cracking seam at the pedestal base... I think I need to re-liquify my Mr. Liquid Putty?  Known shortcomings: still need some additional fittings and both of the motors need some detailing and a touch of wiring.  Any key ideas or concerns?

Thanks all - Paul

What did we decide on for a name... "Hans Frei"?

Last one

Looking good to me. One point that came to mind. The drill press that I ran at the machine shop which was similar in size had a similar table .. except .. over the years it had been drilled into. Talking about everything from 1/2" bits to huge honking bits 2" dia. The table was cast iron of course so it had also been repaired over those years with brass. That was a pretty common way to repair anything made of cast iron .. brazing. The welders would heat the piece up with torches to it was red then braze it up. They would then pass it off to us machinists. Back to the drill press table. That meant that you had the cast iron table with T-slots. Not painted of course as any paint would have been scraped off. The table top and T-slots where a drill bit had gone into the cast iron had been brazed and then machined so you had all these round yellow brass repairs.

You have identified the only obvious issue: The putty. Fix that and you'll have a beautiful machine. -- Russ

Yeah, putty issues mostly.  Might need to address a couple of the seams from laminating styrene -- especially on that top-most piece.  Overall looking real good.

I've got an armless guy named "Mr. Venus" ... but I think "Hans Frei" is much better!  :)  -- Dallas

Paul

One minor point: if you're still planning to cast this, the printing on the piece of tube you've used for the main column will more than likely reproduce really nicely on all the castings. It would probably disappear under a coat of paint, but if you can sand it off without damaging the finish or the model it might be a reasonable precaution.

Holy Early Risers, Batman!  Ed, do you live in the Mid Atlantic tending buoys?  And I thought I suffered from "wakin' up too earliness" disorder...

Points all noted and on the punch list...
Ed - I like the idea - that will now come out in the finished paint job... and I may tear into the top, and then "fix" with putty to show the repairs.  This table actually has T shaped bars - but after screwing around with it, I just couldn't come with a way of setting them up so they cast up well, so I've added the end plates.  I'll add a couple of bolts so that they look like they are made to come off?

Russ - yeah that was a bit of a surprise to wake up and see the gaps... I've never had the Gunze product do that - it's either needing some re-freshing (nail polish remover? glue?) or a new jar.  I had also applied it in a heavy coat over a ring made from solder - so potentially the wrong product being used for the job at hand. Time for a bit of Magi-Sculpt.

Dallas -I'm not thrilled with that top mount  - and am still doing some head scratching on design... none of the photos I've been through seem to focus much on that detail, so I've cobbled together my idea on Chris's prototype (which is executed much better), but mine is still way far too clunky to use... but yes, there are a number of lamination spots that need lovin'...

Krusty - thanks! I never would have thought of that, and it would have been annoying to discover later.  On a side not, my wife is an RN who works in the Urological side of things.  Because they get a ton of stuff from reps, I always have to be careful about which pens i take to work - or cannibalize... I think Vesicare is for overactive bladders, and I know that there are a bunch of Viagra and Cialis pens in the computer desk - fortunately, they weren't the right diameter for the project  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks!!!

Hey Paul,

I just got myself hook-up on the forum so I'll be able to post comments to you directly (vs. phone).   Anyhoo - looking good and I'll talk to you soon.

Rick

Ah!...the man behind the curtain reveals himself ;) ;D  Great to see you posting here Rick.


Marc

Okay... a little stale, but the mighty drill press is at the casting shop as I write  ;D (insert Huzzah!, Huzzah! Huzzah! sounds here).  I'll let you know as my %#$@& web site gets up and running, and post some pictures as we get a couple of them painted.  Now, I'm going to sit down and figure out the next part of the line up :)

At the National Narrow Gauge Convention last month, I got to visit the museum in Denton NC and spent most of my time marveling at the complete belt-driven machine shop.  While there I shot a bunch of videos with my iPhone (my main camera's battery died, that's another story...), in part with the idea of extracting machine shop sounds to play beneath my (long planned but no further :-) machine shop/roundhouse.    These are all large (Apple QuickTime) files, so please don't try to download all of them at once, so you don't clog up my home business internet connection...   http://www.earlyrail.org/NNGC/Videos/

dave

David. Thanks .. those are some great videos. I'm downloading to my HD so I can have them on-hand for a weathering and color resource.

David - great stuff... how cool would it be to have a scale op that worked?

I've book marked this thread and go back to it daily for inspiration. Gonna have to put machinery on the to do list. What fantastic scratch work. :o

Rob

Thanks for sharing the videos with us. Takes me back to the time when I started my apprenticeship in a local engineering factory (1954-1959) when about half of the machines were still run off an overhead lineshaft.

Rowley

So, after a long winter, many lessons from the casting crew, and a steep learning curve on setting up an E-Biz, we have a first look at the completed drill press.  I ended up assembling it at the kitchen counter as my shop space has been given over to one of my teenage daughters (returned to it's original purpose as a bedroom), which will be best for everyone  ;D - some remodeling will hopefully get me out of the kitchen soon.

I put down the base coats, and turned it over to Rick Lawler for some weathering and photos and here is the initial shot.  This is built with only the resin kit components, a styrene rod for the elevation gear, and two most excellent plaques from Vector Cut (Go Dave!).  I've not included any cable line or tubing at this point (i.e. solder), thinking that I will leave it up to the builder to add.  Hans Frei got packed away somewhere, so we can't show scale (you'll have to go farther back in this string to see the size, and more photos to follow), but this is almost 4 meters tall in 1:35th.  We'll dig out figures in 1:35th and 1:32 this week to provide some scale perspective.

Getting here is based on inspiration from many on this site, and if you had told me a year ago I'd be making scale machinery, I'd have thought you were delving into the medicinal tequila a little early in the day.  A huge thanks to all of you with input, ideas, leading the way and especially to Cristophe and his deep seated industrial madness.  I've included some of the early base images of the plans - which are now waiting on corrections, photos and text.

Ideas, criticisms and brick throwing welcome!

Quote from: pwranta193 on March 01, 2012, 11:13:41 AM
Ideas, criticisms and brick throwing welcome!

Congrats!  Will study, ponder and critique later ... meanwhile, here's the result of some brick throwing for you!  ;D

Nice work!

Nice! Great to see you expanding the line..

My only question would be, why not do the assembly drawings in 3D/perspective views? Would make things so much clearer/easier to see the intent. Would probably be pretty much a snap to do in a very basic program like SU.

Thanks gents!  Dallas - you need a set of interchangeable eyes for Mr. Mudgeon (like Mr. Potato Head) to express his various moods... I see that the brothers of the girl in the Traveler's wagon have finally caught up with him.  Those vacation indiscretions have a habit of catching up with one... oh, and your package went out to today (finally).

Thanks Ray - BTW, I'm still digging on your tile roof work from the Hotel.  I tried something similar years ago for 1:35th scale Italian farm house, but for an entire roof.  Needless to say it is in the bottom of a box somewhere.

Marc-san... I went with the 2D on this, due to time constraints.  I can do Visio in my sleep, but burned up an entire day trying to learn the basics of one of the 3D freewares  ::).  Attempting the four legged chair with a back tutorial almost cost me the vision in one eye, a trip to and in house de-tox program and brought on the urge to take up golfing as a reasonable past time.  Fortunately, my country club application was rejected and I'm back at styrene  ;D  I'm going to try to have a little more prowess by the time the next project hits the resin works, as it won't lend itself well to 2D instructions.   

First order went out yesterday  ;D

Okay - some other angles and a little more box art work... I'm a little rusty with posting pics, and struggling with trying to stay within the 200K mark on pics.  We dropped in a dude for scale - still looking for just the right guy.  The second pic shows the need for for cable and hose detail to make this all come together in my opinion... but I'm hoping guys will customize them.  On to the next thing  ;D ;D ;D

Adequate. -- Russ

Awesome!
Especially in 1/35th!
I have begun my drill press in 1/16 and it is tough.
Hope you sell a lot!
Marty

Beautiful. Now get casting so we can order one!

Thanks all - knowing what I do know I'm tempted to go back and make a new "camel back" drill press in 1:16th, but I don't see much of a demand in that scale (frankly, I really like the scale, but as you know, you run out of display room at the end of your first project).  Maybe in 1:35th...

Russ: I'm hoping to be successful enough in the resin market to both buy vineyard property and advertise in the annual  :o

Marc: And here you go:  ;D  8)  ::)

http://www.bigredcollective.com/Accessories/35-accessories/radial-drill-press-factory-35-large-size

Sorry - the website is still a little clunky, but I'm learning one late night bottle at a time.  Seriously, the hardest part has been figuring out the shipping rules and regulations to anyone outside of the US - Fortunately Rick is just across the river for the panic calls.  I'm still exploring how to ship the Corduroy Road, as it requires the flat rate medium box  :'(  (and talk about expensive!!!).

If anyone has problems with the site -let me know!!!

i understand this thread is almost 5 years old, but did Big Red Collective ever take off? links & search got me no where. thanks

I was just looking at the site after a LOOOOONG hiatus.  BRC, sadly died - the usual suspects of trying to work a micro business by committee, the economy requiring some re-focusing of spare time, and a year plus trip to A-stan.  I also only had about five people ask for the drill press as a kit.  I think that with the ability of folks to get what they want with printers now, this sort of thing will be harder to do without some real skill in vector programs.

Personally, we have just gone through a big move and once settled, I will be able to dig out the old and unsold kits.  Let me know if you are interested, and I'll cut you a deal :)

Again, once the dust settles on remodel and move, I'd like to start doing projects again, if not casting stuff for sale.  Great to see folks still cranking out amazing stuff!

PR

Id be interested, so yes when you dig out please let us know.

Thanks

-Michael

Welcome back!