Hello Everyone,
I built 3 small kits prior to this (BTS Company House, AMB Company Houses (3), and Blair Line Truck Coal Dump). I decided to start small since I haven't built anything in about 6 months because of the layout tear down. The plan is to build all my major structures then start on the layout. I don't do very well jumping from project to project.
I have been working on this kit for about 10 days now and it is by far the most complicated kit that I have built but I love the look of it and B.T.S. did a great job putting it together. They even pre-drilled the NBW holes! I figure I still have about 10 more days to go with it. I hope you enjoy the build as much as I do.
The kit new in the box.
The paint and Blaken fluid I have used.
Starting the lower tipple base.
The upper tipple base.
Windows. Each window has 7 steps and each door has 5.
I'll be looking in on this one Curt......have fun. :)
Lower Tipple legs and framing.
The upper Tipple goes on it's base.
Bracing work. This is the back side, the front looks the same.
Another side.
Front view.
Details after using a Blacken fluid. This is the first time for me and I was surprised that the change was immediate.
Sorry for all the posts, although I use a photo resizer I still had issues and couldn't post a couple of the photos. The next step in the directions is to put on the roof which I will do last since I need to add lighting after it's finished. The roof will have Branchline 3 tab shingles and not the rolled paper provided in the kit.
Greg thanks for following and your 1:1 builder insights.
That is coming along great! Nice build.
Any time Curt.....glad to help. :)
Nice work Curt. BTS kits are great enjoy............
Mike :)
Coming along very nicely.
Jerry
Looking good Curt. Keep the pictures coming. ;)
Curt,
Just getting caught up on this one. Very nicely done. Good thing you have some Pennsy hoppers.
Great build my friend.
Tom ;D
Hey Curt:
That's coming along nicely so far. I never blacked castings like that before. Let me know how it is painting them over the black.
Karl
Thank you Darryl, Mike, Jerry, Bob B., Tom, and Karl for following and your kind words. I'll have a update tomorrow.
Very nice--I love coal and related structures--must be my heritage.
Anyway, this is looking very cool. Love the bracing and just the general look of the kit. Nice job so far. Those multi-step windows and doors certainly take considerable time and patience, but are worth it. Yours look great.
--Opa George
George thank you for your kind words.
Yesterday and Today I spent the majority of my modeling time building the 2 coal chutes for the lower tipple.
I figured it would be easier to weather them before mounting them since I mounted the lower tipple walls to the base too early...oops. One thing I did extra was super glue a piece of wood (sprue) against the brace and thread to make sure it didn't come loose. Tomorrow I'm working on the headhouse.
Good Afternoon,
Today I built the headhouse and slathered grimy black on the inside since that is where the coal is dumped and moved. I also built the 3 main roof sub floors and test fit. Tomorrow I plan on putting the shingles on.
Whew, Giddyup - you're really cranking through that build! Very nice.
Interesting structure. You do really good work, Curt. Thanks for letting us follow along.
Nice and dirty looking , going strong Curt.
Hey Curt:
Looks just great so far. Keep the pics flowing.
Karl
I like grimy...nice looking interior.
--Opa George
Looking good Curt..... 8)
Curt,
Did you sand down or lighten any of the laser burn marks on the wood or just paint over them in your construction ?
Tommy
Thank you Vince, Bill, Jan, Karl, George, Greg, and Tom for your kind words.
Tom- Some I did but mostly no. The darker craft paint (hippo grey) covers it well. The lighter grey not so much.
Today I put shingles on the lower tipple roof (the largest). I had forgotten how tedious doing this is. :-\. More shingle work tomorrow.
Looking good Curt. That is an interesting looking structure/assembly. Hope I get to see it some day. ::)
How's planning for the new layout coming? By any chance would you happen to need a long and/or short wooden trestle? I have two kits from MicroScale Industries that are yours for the taking if you happen to be interested in them.
Looks fantastic, Curt.
Cheers, Mark.
Bob and Mark thank you.
Bob- I actually have a track plan ready to go. I believe Greg is running it through his CAD program as he gets time. I really appreciate the offer and I may be able to use them but not sure yet. If it's OK I will let you know later. I don't want to take them and not use them.
Today I completed what I could until I ran out of shingles (I thought I would have enough) :-\. Of course after checking about 10 different sites I only found 1 for sale of course with a mark up, but I bit the bullet because I need them to finish. I also spray painted the conveyor parts for tomorrow.
Good Afternoon All,
Today I built the conveyor building. Although it is in place it is not glued to the tipple or headhouse. It's roof is also not glued on so I can put roofing on it. Speaking of which, I am undecided about what to use on it. I guess the major choices are 3 tab shingles like the rest of the roofs, metal, or rolled roof. Any ideas? Probably no modeling tomorrow since I have a house project. The next step is building the 4 sets of stairs (I believe). This worries me, as to put it bluntly I suck putting them together :'(.
Put together (not glued).
Curt,
Very nice my friend. Looks really good.
Tom ;D
Hey Curt:
very nice looking kit. Very well done so far.
Karl
Nice work Curt. Very interesting kit. Looking good!
John
Okay, that really looks nice. As to roofing, what is used on the main structures?
Thank you Tom, Karl, John, and Bob.
Bob- The rest has Laser Art 3 tab shingles, so I guess that's my answer. I really didn't want to shingle the conveyor roof, but that is laziness talking :o.
Nothing new today. I think lighting is up next on the agenda.
Yesterday I got the lighting fixed and today I think I'm about 75% complete with the 4 stairs.
Curt,
I read through your thread completely and have to say I am impressed. This is quite the undertaking and will definitely be a focal point on your new layout. I can already visualize the gritty scenery and strings of hoppers.
Hey Curt:
Steps are fun aren't they. They look just great.
Karl
Looking really good my friend. Great job as well.
Tom ;D
Good Afternoon,
Thank you Jerry, Karl, and Tom for your kind words and encouragement.
Today I glued the 4 stairways in. To my eye the vertical poles supporting the handrails were very long (height) compared to HO people so I ended up taking the hand rails off cutting the supports and regluing the handrails. After that I built the entrance to the mine which I probably will not be using but I made it just in case. I also made a test shingle platform (scrap wood) to test 2 different weathering techniques tomorrow.
The board the mine is on is only for stair stability and tacked on by a little bit of white glue. The first picture is the back of the mine and the second is the front.
Mine entrance with closed doors.
Hey Curt:
Stairs are all in place and it looks great.
Karl
Thank you Karl.
Today I built the 2 outhouses and mine cars. I couldn't believe how many parts each had. The coal load in the cars is still wet. The shingles should be in tomorrow. I think I'll work on detail parts tomorrow.
The mine cars.
Good Afternoon,
I finished up the kit today. On the roofs I used a Tamiya Nato Black wash (thinned with blue windshield wiper fluid) and applied with a makeup sponge. It has a nice streaky weathered look. On the walls I applied 2.5% A&I followed by a light brush of black weathering powder. The headhouse and conveyor are not glued in place for ease of movement. The mine cars, outhouses and metal detail parts are all complete and on a shelf for safe keeping until needed. None of the roofs are glued on either.
The kit did come with rolled roofing but I chose to apply Laser Art (Branchline) 3 tab shingles after talking with Greg about roofing. These took 3 days to apply.
General comments: This was a enjoyable kit to build and by far the most complex for me to date. The kit production is very good and the directions are excellent in great detail with plenty of pictures and drawings.
More views.
Finally.
Curt,
Excellent build and great looking structure, er, coal tipple.
Tom ;D
Great job Curt.....roofing looks right. 8)
Hey Curt:
Looks just great. I also like the roofing.
Karl
Thank you Tom, Greg, and Karl for your kind words.
Hey Curt:
You are quite welcome.
Karl
Looks like you were building this kit at "Greg Speed"..... ;) .....did the outhouses come with the kit, I don't remember seeing them in mine? :o
Greg, I don't know about Greg speed :), but I spent at least 3 hours a day for almost 3 weeks on the build. Yes the outhouses are part of the kit.
You're doing better than me.....I can't get a partial build complete in the last 3 months. ::) Good news about the outhouses. ;D
Curt a beautiful build!!
Jerry
Thank you Jerry.