Wichendon Machine Shop (restart)

[PRR Modeler]

Outstanding Dave.

[friscomike]

Howdy Dave,

The tools look terrific.  It's fun seeing the machines connected to power.  Congrats on an excellent build.

Have fun,
mike

[deemery]

I didn't finish all the machines.  The big lathe needs the front half of the belt glued, and then I need to add the small lathe and drill press.  But I found the perfect tool to hold the belts into position on the pulleys while the glue dries, bent tip normally closed soldering tweezers.


dave

[PRR Modeler]

That looks excellent Dave.

[elwoodblues]

Dave, the belts look excellent.

[ACL1504]

Dave,

I agree with Ron. I'm sorry now I didn't get this kit and happy that I didn't. 

Tom

[deemery]

The machine tools are all installed and belted:




I need to add the steam engine and connect the belt to the drive shaft (top left hole), the forge and blacksmith stuff (bottom left on the brick pad) and the operators.  But first I need to weather the floor under the machines (in part to hide epoxy stains from positioning the tools  

But this has been A LONG TIME coming.

dave  

[PRR Modeler]

That is top-notch modeling Dave. Will the walls or the roof come off to see this?

[deemery]

That is top-notch modeling Dave. Will the walls or the roof come off to see this?

This is a 2 story building, so there's a second story to be glued to this.  You can see that in one of the LED test photos (previous page.)  But I'm still pondering either making a wall removable, or maybe doing a wall in clear styrene.   After I finish the ground floor, I'll start on the 2nd floor's interior.  This should go A Lot quicker, mostly I'll be building the kit interior as designed.

dave

[deemery]

Steam engine and its belt installed:

I'm pretty sure that's the Rio Grande Models kit.  It's a beaut!

The foundry goes behind the steam engine, I'll start on that part next, while waiting for my 'oil staining products' to arrive.  I need a good Blacksmith figure, any suggestions?

dave

[PRR Modeler]

The steam engine is very cool.

[deemery]

Here's my latest thought on making the machine tools visible:  Laser Modelers 3 is still in business, as a custom architectural models firm.  I sent them an email asking if they could cut the trackside (viewer side) wall from clear Plexiglass.

dave

[friscomike]

Howdy Dave,

The mill is looking fantastic.  That shop is going to be one noisy place.    I hope you have a good place on the layout to show off the mill.

Have fun,
mike

[cuse]

Great stuff Dave!

[deemery]

Where I've commented on other people's builds of machine shops, roundhouses, even lumber mills, I've often commented "the floors are too clean and monochrome."  i watched a video on armor modeling using 3 MIG products for oil and grease stains, and bought them to play with.  I put a drop of each on a piece of wood (since I'm working on wood floors, rather than styrene "armor.")

The 'fresh engine oil' stain is very thin, as you can see.  'Engine Grime' was thicker, but still thin compared to regular paints.  These are enamels, not acrylics, so you'll want some paint thinner to work with them and clean the brushes afterwards. 


There were some shiny blobs of epoxy exposed from when I was positioning the tools.  That's not a total catastrophe, but I need to color them correctly.  I started with Engine Grime, making sure to get a good coat on the epoxy blobs, and generally working that around the tools.  Then I went back with a brush dipped into paint thinner, and spread that out a bit. 

I used 'Fuel Stains' next, working closer into the tool, and also along the length of the main drive shaft. 

Finally, I used Fresh Engine Oil, applying that to the tool and engine surfaces where machine oil would be applied.  I also applied a thinned wash of Engine Grime over the brick foundry floor.  That brick looked too bright to me, and I think the result blends better into the structure.

Overall I'm happy with the result.  Next step will be to add the workers, and to position the forge parts.

dave