2025-2026 Winter Challenge - Feed Mill

[Mark Dalrymple]

Looking good, Michael.

You're finishing with a bang!

Cheers, Mark.

[Michael Hohn]

Looking good, Michael.

You're finishing with a bang!

Cheers, Mark.

Mark,

Thank you. 

Mike

[friscomike]

Howdy Mike,

The finishing touches look terrific.  It's those little details that make the scene believable.  The stone foundation complements the building. 

Have fun,
mike

[Michael Hohn]

Howdy Mike,

The finishing touches look terrific.  It's those little details that make the scene believable.  The stone foundation complements the building.

Have fun,
mike

Mike,

Thank you. I've enjoyed doing all the "fiddly bits" on this structure.

I'm happy with the foundation. The coloring is subtle but I think true to what I see in the real world.

Mike

[Michael Hohn]

Final Pictures

I'd like to thank those who followed along. Comments are encouraging.
So now . . .  the results.

Feed mills modern or vintage seem to have one thing in common: complex combinations roof lines, bins and elevators.  That's what attracted me to this structure. 



The building itself is scratchbuilt from plans that I drew from photos.  The wood siding and trim are Mt. Albert sheet and stripwood.  I used a couple of products new to me for the simulated corrugated iron (Mine Mount Models) and the standing seam roof (a styrene sheet product from JTT Scenery Products.)  Window castings are from Grandt Line (now San Juan) and chimnet casting from Tichy.  I built the freight doors and one of the man doors from stripwood.  Stone foundation sheet was from Rusty Stumps (now sold by Rail Scale Models.)







The two grain bins are from BH Models; I have no idea if that business still exists.  The elevator is a Rix Products model.  In the past year I have used a number of their products and I really like them.  The buildings are sold as grist for the kitbashing mill and they are all that.  The styrene is relatively soft so cutting it is straightforward.  The bins and elevator were built according to the directions.



The covered hopper is an old McKean kit that was missing some parts.  I substituted Atlas grain trough hatches for the round hatches supplied in the kit, and I scratchbuilt the discharge gates. Decals are from K4.



This photo shows where the grain is unloaded.  Looks like critters found some spilled grain.



Rich "Pennman" and Curt "PRR Modeler" suggested the rats and where to buy them (Miniprints). Thanks guys!

This diorama will become part of my layout once I build a little extension to the benchwork.

Mike

[deemery]

I like the rooflines.  Interesting, but they look appropriate/reasonable.

dave

[Michael Hohn]

I like the rooflines.  Interesting, but they look appropriate/reasonable.

dave

Thanks, Dave.