2025-2026 Winter Challenge - Feed Mill

[Michael Hohn]

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.



It's a pretty standard kit, but some problems presented themselves so I will highlight my solutions as I go along.

Mike

[Michael Hohn]

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:



and gluing them onto the floor of the car.



They will never come loose. 

Mike

[Michael Hohn]

This morning while it snowed heavily outside, I added the roof:



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.



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

[deemery]

First time for a McKean car kit build, I think.  And it's out of your usual era, too.

dave

[Larry C]

Michael nice start and I'll be following along as you progress.

[PRR Modeler]

Great start Michael.

[elwoodblues]

Michael, kitbashing a grain car with a grain car kit that isn't a grain car kit.  Now that is an interesting twist.  

You are off to a great start.

[Jerry]

Looks like your already into doing this.

Jerry

[Zephyrus52246]

Great way to add the weights.  I'll be copying that.  

Jeff

[ACL1504]

Michael,

I'm looking forward to your mill challenge. The grain hopper is an extra bonus to watch.

Tom

[Michael Hohn]

First 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

[Michael Hohn]

Michael nice start and I'll be following along as you progress.

Thanks, Larry.

[Michael Hohn]

Great start Michael.

Thanks, Curt.

[Michael Hohn]

Michael, kitbashing a grain car with a grain car kit that isn't a grain car kit.  Now that is an interesting twist. 

You are off to a great start.

Ron,

Thank you. 

Yes, the irony of it all. 

Mike

[Michael Hohn]

Looks like your already into doing this.

Jerry

I think this is going to be a case of projects within projects.

Mike