I'm a little late to the party; nevertheless, I have decided to participate by constructing a feed mill. I have a couple of photos I plan to use as inspiration.
I've spent time working on plans for the mill. Meanwhile, because it will be rail served, I need a grain hopper. I have several old McKean kits I picked up a year ago that were labeled "grain" hopper and I have decals for a New York Central covered hopper.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-250126204256-568711280.jpeg)
It's a pretty standard kit, but some problems presented themselves so I will highlight my solutions as I go along.
Mike
First of all, despite the fact that the instructions mention a weight, none came with the kit. I usually use a couple of steel nuts as weights. I secure them in a car my packaging them in a little box:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-250126204256-568741308.jpeg)
and gluing them onto the floor of the car.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-250126204256-568752172.jpeg)
They will never come loose.
Mike
This morning while it snowed heavily outside, I added the roof:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-250126204055.jpeg)
The roof hatches are Atlas parts that I ordered a year ago because despite the box saying this is a grain car, the kit only included round hatches, rather than the trough hatches typical of grain cars. I had to carefully remove some short pins on the roof of the McKean car, as well as remove pins on the Atlas parts.
Here's the modified roof with the stock roof of one of the other kits in the background.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-250126204257-568761641.jpeg)
I guess those are pegs more than they are pins.
The roof is a tight fit, but in the end it sets down very nicely on the sides and ends.
Mike
First time for a McKean car kit build, I think. And it's out of your usual era, too.
dave
Michael nice start and I'll be following along as you progress.
Great start Michael.
Michael, kitbashing a grain car with a grain car kit that isn't a grain car kit. Now that is an interesting twist. ;D
You are off to a great start.
Looks like your already into doing this.
Jerry
Great way to add the weights. I'll be copying that. 8)
Jeff
Michael,
I'm looking forward to your mill challenge. The grain hopper is an extra bonus to watch.
Tom
Quote from: deemery on January 25, 2026, 09:31:00 PMFirst time for a McKean car kit build, I think. And it's out of your usual era, too.
dave
Yes, you don't see many of these cars around, although there are many on EBay.
Sort of a long story behind this project, partly that our club has adopted the late 1970's as a time period.
Mike
Quote from: Larry C on January 26, 2026, 07:24:38 AMMichael nice start and I'll be following along as you progress.
Thanks, Larry.
Quote from: elwoodblues on January 26, 2026, 09:41:19 AMMichael, kitbashing a grain car with a grain car kit that isn't a grain car kit. Now that is an interesting twist. ;D
You are off to a great start.
Ron,
Thank you.
Yes, the irony of it all.
Mike
Quote from: Jerry on January 26, 2026, 09:54:28 AMLooks like your already into doing this.
Jerry
I think this is going to be a case of projects within projects.
Mike
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on January 26, 2026, 11:17:31 AMGreat way to add the weights. I'll be copying that. 8)
Jeff
Thank you, Jeff. Hasn't failed me yet.
Quote from: ACL1504 on January 26, 2026, 03:29:45 PMMichael,
I'm looking forward to your mill challenge. The grain hopper is an extra bonus to watch.
Tom
. . . and building the hopper gets another kit off the "to do" shelf.
Thanks for watching.
Mike
I was missing gravity discharge doors because they were on the same missing sprue as the trough-style hatches, so I scratchbuilt my own:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-260126162331.jpeg)
Nothing fancy, but I think they look better than the ones that were supposed to be supplied with the kit. Here they are glued in place:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-260126162419-568901355.jpeg)
I then added the end cages:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-260126162419-568921149.jpeg)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-260126162419-568931065.jpeg)
The ladders don't look too bad in my opinion.
I'll add the brake wheel and it will be ready for the paint shop (my garage) currently closed because of the frigid temperatures.
Mike
Mike the discharge doors look really good; nice imagineering. The rest looks good as well.
All around nice job Mike.
First of all, thank you, Larry and Curt.
Today I finalized plans for the mill and ordered supplies.
Mike
My rough plans for the mill, front:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-290126100929-56895896.jpeg)
One end:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-290126100929-568981052.jpeg)
The other end:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-290126100929-568991713.jpeg)
I haven't drawn locations for windows and doors: I'll determine where they go as I go along.
The siding is a mix of wood and metal. I've ordered the corrugated iron; I have enough wood.
The building is based on an actual one in Pennsylvania. Photos are at the bottom of this page:https://portroyal200.com/view.php?id=76 Appropriately enough, they were taken by a model railroader extraordinaire: George Pierson.
Mike
Mike
Michael the Feed Mill looks like a fun project. Looking forward seeing what you do with this one.
Don't forget to add some cyclones to help move the dust out of the mill. I'm not sure when those started being used, but they were definitely a requirement by the time your covered hopper was in use.
add: Your prototype is from Vagel's corner of the world, right?
dave
Quote from: Larry C on January 29, 2026, 10:23:39 AMMichael the Feed Mill looks like a fun project. Looking forward seeing what you do with this one.
Yes, I think I'll have fun with this project.
Mike
Quote from: deemery on January 29, 2026, 10:27:13 AMDon't forget to add some cyclones to help move the dust out of the mill. I'm not sure when those started being used, but they were definitely a requirement by the time your covered hopper was in use.
dave
Dave,
We will have to see. There is a lot of equipment in the fresh air and I don't see any cyclones in the photos. I suspect calling this a mill is no longer accurate; "feed store" is more appropriate. There are several large and small bins to hold grains of various sorts.
Mike
Howdy Michael,
I'm looking forward to your build of this unique building. I like that you are including rolling stock in the project. This will be fun.
Have fun,
mike
Quote from: friscomike on January 29, 2026, 05:49:05 PMHowdy Michael,
I'm looking forward to your build of this unique building. I like that you are including rolling stock in the project. This will be fun.
Have fun,
mike
Thank you, Mike. I guessed that including rolling stock would be something different.
Mike
Looks like a fun scratch build.
Following closely, especially as you are scratch building.
Thanks for posting, Mike.
Quote from: PRR Modeler on January 30, 2026, 09:20:44 AMLooks like a fun scratch build.
Thanks. I've entered the "fun portal" from he mundane task of drawing plans to actually cutting wood siding.
Mike
Quote from: IWannaRetire on January 30, 2026, 10:29:42 AMFollowing closely, especially as you are scratch building.
Thanks for posting, Mike.
Thank you for following along.
Mike
Mike,
I am definitely late to the party, and no doubt this will be another
showstopper build as well. I grew up in rural farm country and grainery
buildings were abundant. Maybe you could have some 3D printed rats for
the bottom of a silo. ;)
Rich
Miniprints
Great work Mike;
Thank you for participating in the Winter Challenge. I love the work you have shown, this is going to be a fun build to watch. Love the grain car!
Jim
Quote from: Pennman on February 01, 2026, 12:38:54 AMMike,
I am definitely late to the party, and no doubt this will be another
showstopper build as well. I grew up in rural farm country and grainery
buildings were abundant. Maybe you could have some 3D printed rats for
the bottom of a silo. ;)
Rich
Rich,
Never too late.
Feed mills, stores or granaries are getting less common but bigger, I think.
Rats . . . that's an idea. I think I have some cats as well.
Mike
Quote from: Jim Donovan on February 01, 2026, 10:10:48 AMGreat work Mike;
Thank you for participating in the Winter Challenge. I love the work you have shown, this is going to be a fun build to watch. Love the grain car!
Jim
Thank you, Jim.
I've cut out walls for the main part of the mill. I'm in the process of staining them with Hunter Driftwood. I stain both sides, and sandwich the walls between paper towels and weight them down. This shows several after staining with walls still drying behind them.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-040226133741.jpeg)
I'll start adding bracing next. That should take care of the little bit of warp.
Mike
Nice progress, Mike.
Looking forward to watching this one come together.
Cheers, Mark.
Mike, glad to see you've found a use for core and hand samples... :)
dave
Mike I use 2 large heavy books and put the material sandwiched between tin foil.
Quote from: Mark Dalrymple on February 04, 2026, 02:42:47 PMNice progress, Mike.
Looking forward to watching this one come together.
Cheers, Mark.
Mark,
Thank you. It feels good to be actually cutting and gluing.
Mike
Quote from: deemery on February 04, 2026, 04:09:41 PMMike, glad to see you've found a use for core and hand samples... :)
dave
Dave,
I was given one by a colleague and the others are bookends I won in a drawing.
Mike
Quote from: PRR Modeler on February 04, 2026, 04:46:52 PMMike I use 2 large heavy books and put the material sandwiched between tin foil.
That would work. Had not thought of the tin foil.
Mike very nice coloring on the walls.
Mike,
I like your wall coloring/staining, looks natural to me.
Yes, I agree, anytime we get a model off the "to do" shelf, is progress.
Tom
Quote from: Larry C on February 05, 2026, 10:12:57 AMMike very nice coloring on the walls.
Thank you, Larry. Driftwood has become my go to stain over the years.
Mike
Quote from: ACL1504 on February 05, 2026, 10:51:13 AMMike,
I like your wall coloring/staining, looks natural to me.
Yes, I agree, anytime we get a model off the "to do" shelf, is progress.
Tom
Tom,
Thank you for your observations.
Mike
Added bracing:
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1660-050226183232.jpeg)
Some more sides remain to be cut out.
Mike
Michael the bracing should make a nice strong and straight building.
Quote from: Larry C on February 05, 2026, 08:10:47 PMMichael the bracing should make a nice strong and straight building.
Larry,
Thank you. There's strength in numbers.
Mike
Howdy Mike, nice work on the walls. I'm looking forward to your build. Have fun, mike
Mike,
Just catching up, the build is looking great.
Great job on the bracing.