Blacksmith Shop

[Philip]

My attempt at scratch building the old builds of Masterpiece Models and Stoney Creek Designs.
It looks like Stoney Creek borrowed Thomas Yorke's original design.

I'm currently working on the drawings. Let me know if these PDF are viewable.
Philip

[deemery]

I'm no expert, but that basic architecture doesn't look very "blacksmithy" to me.  ("Free Outhouse" - now there's an incentive you don't see every day!)  

Think about where the actual forge would be in this structure.  That includes the fire pit, the bellows and the smokestack.  The full-length clerestory makes sense if the structure is a single story, but the dormers wouldn't be much use and would be expensive to build  

At least the Stoney Creek structure sits directly on the ground, the Yorke design on piles would imply a lot more work for the forge and for the anvils, etc.  

By the way, Sierra West sells a -great- 3D printed blacksmith set, I think it's available in both O and HO.  I used parts of the HO set for my machine shop.  

dave

[jbvb]

Modern "internet search for what AI feels like showing us" found only this photo, though I'm sure there are thousands on photo sites:

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/491/images/Railtown%203-1-23%20(Merritt)%20(23).JPG

The building is at ground level, though there might have been a slightly-sunken loading area on the RH side.  The prototype's big dormers and gable window are clearly there for interior lighting.

[Philip]

Dave, I can tell you any extra outhouses in a kit helps. Especially the 2 story ones  

And here I am thinking about placing it on stilts. I can see where addition pilings and a joisted floor would be essential. Gads! More work!

I'm looking at what I have so far and the framing isn't to my liking yet. I have the non gabled walls laid out wrong. They are off by 12". Easy enough fix (I think) I may balloon frame the gabled ends

Thanks for the photo James. I agree the dormers were for natural light. Was this the prototype Tom Yorke based his kit on?

Thanks for the comments as I gather information!
Philip

 

[deemery]

Of course, the facts supersede opinions.  And yeah, it looks like that Jamestown blacksmith shop was the inspiration.  The dormers there are pretty big, and they're probably 'strategically located' as far as the shop layout is located.  The far one is located directly over a wall window, letting in a lot of light in that part of the building.   Video of that area here, starting at the 8 minute mark.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3pa0LBQomc

dave

[jbvb]

Thanks for the photo James. I agree the dormers were for natural light. Was this the prototype Tom Yorke based his kit on? 

I just fed what Mr. Yorke put on the cover of the box to Goog. My only visit to the general area was driving from San Jose to Yosemite via Merced.