Dave,

A company called: Wisconsin Ice and Coal would be an example.

Brian M

You are welcome.  Notwithstanding that I'm retired, some other projects have had to take priority over my hobby activities so I enjoy an opportunity like this to make a contribution to the discussion.

John: It will be interesting to read what you find out about the area that you depict in your layout. 

The reality as early as the 1920's of block ice demand exceeding the availability of stored ice, even if only for the latter part of the year, necessitated that the mainstream ice vendors invest in mechanical refrigeration and the cost of the latter was progressively getting more attractive due to ever expanding adoption in other industries.  Example: meat chilling, freezing and storage; dairy products production and storage; etc.  Of course as time went on and demand for refrigerated food and associated storage increased it is likely that block ice production by mechanical refrigeration became cheaper than traditional winter ice harvesting with long term storage so the latter rapidly faded into history.

Food for thought: If you are depicting a real backwoods area with just a few ice bunker reefer cars a week then I would think an ice harvest/storage arrangement to be quite appropriate.  Maybe even showing the harvested ice elevator or hoist along with some of the ice sleds and scrapped/damaged sleds in the area of the storage building.  However, if you plan regular freight service from or through the area of the icing platform with intent to ice and/or re-ice (for long haul) numerous refers on a daily basis then I suggest that the ice facility incorporate mechanical refrigeration.  Either way, the difference depicting mechanical refrigeration could be fairly simple providing you do not plan to show any interior detail.

EDIT:
Now, my sincere apologies but I should have gone back to page 1 and re-read your overall plan before commenting above.  Looking at the photos it is clear to me that transporting harvested ice to that area will involve some intriguing logistics with an interesting back story (unless the ice comes in by rail box car which could be feasible {marginally profitable ice sales business} and could generate additional rail traffic - ice in by rail, ice out in reefers and maybe some local distribution by road vehicle if you decide to add road access to the low elevation platform at elevating conveyor end of the structure.).  Alternately I respectfully suggest going the mechanical refrigeration route but that does not really fit with the FSM ice platform kit design.

I feel have overstepped my privilege by excessively ambushing your thread so please feel free to contact me by PM (natrefATgvtc.com) if you would like to do some off-thread imagineering and/or would like some historic photos of both harvesting and mechanically producing block ice.

Brian M

John, Sorry, I'm a bit late to comment but a bit of long-winded refrigeration history that may be of interest:


Assuming that the complex was built late 1920's through WW II or even into the 1950's then:
1]  The primary refrigerant of choice would probably have been ammonia;
and
2]  The bulk ice storage room(s) would probably have had static coil banks, or "grids"located on the upper walls and across the ceiling of the room(s) - typically 1-¼" Sch. 40 pipe recirculating ammonia refrigerant, or sometimes depending on the jurisdiction where the facility was located, 1-½" or 2" Sch. 40 pipe recirculating a secondary refigerant comprising calcium chloride brine solution.  Literally miles of pipe in a large complex.

Assuming also that the building in the background is part of the ice house complex, then the structures that you marked protruding above the ice platform shade roof probably housed refrigeration equipment.  Some of the handling and product storage areas/zones often incorporated roof structures such as shown in the photo containing refrigerated coil banks and blower fans recirculating refrigerated air to and from the serviced zone via sheet metal ducting.

The block ice making tank containing refrigerated calcium chloride brine solution would typically have been at ground level with an overhead gantry crane to handle the sets of ice-making cans, placing them into and removing them from the can-carrying structure spanning the brine tank.  Typically the refrigeration compressors and associated equipment would be housed in a separate room adjacent to the ice tank room.

In the other photo the cylindrical structure on the roof (mid-left) appears to be an evaporative cooling tower for the refrigeration system condenser water.

More than you probably ever wanted to know about block ice making in that era using mechanical refrigeration!!

BrianM

My sincere condolences on the loss of your mother, John.  I'm glad that you could be with her during her final moments and I hope that will help you get closure.  Think of the good times!


Brian M in San Antonio Texas.

Both projects are looking good, John.


BrianM

Hi John,


I grew up on a dairy farm (but in a different part of the world, as you know) and from my recollection a decent size cow pattie from a cow in milk getting supplemental protein meal is about 10" to 14" across.  Say, +/- 3.5mm across.  However, once the pattie is mixed with the hay or other bedding during barn clean up the entire mass becomes a conglomeration of materials, colors and textures with the result being a dirty mess.


This is very minor detail so even if you make no changes to it in the wheel barrow/trailer scene, Beech Farms will overall still be a winning diorama.


Take care,
BrianM

Hi John,


Thank you for repositioning the cow on the hill in a more natural posture.  I think she now blends a lot better into the scene.


I continue to be amazed at the quality of your modeling and extensive range of skills.  The Beech Farms module is a winner IMHO and along with all the agricultural action in mini-scenes makes for very nice rural contrast to the industrial areas.


This is a very, very minor detail: You mentioned a manure spreader in an earlier post about your grandfather so assuming the waste hay in the wheel barrow and trailer (the last photo you posted) came from the barn floor then it might be worth dirtying it up quite a bit with some manure mixed in. 


BrianM

John,


Your scene is amazing and I look forward to seeing the finished scenery and diorama in place.



However, a small detail: If an animal (or person) is standing and facing up or down a slope then the legs are almost vertical to, and not perpendicular to, the slope.  It may therefore be more realistic to place the cattle parallel to the contour lines of the slope (simple IMH and totally ignorant opinion) or modify the legs to accord with nature (probably not worth the effort taking into account the scale of this scene relative the total layout and  much more time consuming).


Best wishes,
BrianM

John,

Here's the most up to date information that I could find:



https://nngc-2018.com/schedule/[/size][/size]Not sure yet if I will rent a car but if I do then my layout visits will be focussing on the HOn3 layouts and in which case I will bring my DSLR to (hopefully) get better photos.

You might try chatting with Joel Bragdon to see if he has any suggestions using his methods and materials.  More expensive than plaster but extremely light weight.


BrianM

I'll be there.

Jaime,


Once again you have excelled and posted a huge number of really great photos.

Having seen the exhibits in person I appreciate how much time you must have taken to get so many shots that bring out the details and high quality of the modeling on display.

Thank you!

Jaime: Fantastic job on posting the EXPO 2015 diorama competition results so soon after they were announced for the benefit of all those who could not attend (and as a reminder for all of us who were at this EXPO but suffer from short memories!).


Thank you.

Alan,
I got an email on December 31st confirming that my FOS Oyster Hill kit had shipped and as it tuned out it only arrived yesterday.  The long delay was due to USPS and I've never had this type of problem with USPS before.  However, the good news is the shipping carton arrived undamaged.


Mike, Jaime and Janbouli:
This probably will not make any of you feel any happier but FWIW here's a brief history of my order.  I paid for the kit (plus two others I ordered at the same time) on November 4, 2014, using PayPal and received a PayPal receipt of payment email and a separate email from Doug confirming receipt of order and payment along with a FOS order tracking number.  I received shipping confirmation emails from both Doug and PayPal on December 31st.  The USPS tracking system was intemittant and there was no update available between January 5th through when the package was delivered yesterday.  This was unusual compared to my other experiences using the USPS package tracking tool.


I know it's not easy but hang in there, Guys!


Mike, I can understand your wife's frustration but really admire her perseverance.  Mine (nearly 44 years, now) would have given up long ago!

My Oyster Hill kit finally arrived today.


Long wait but looks to be a very nice kit and I'm pleased I bought it.