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This blog presents my thoughts, information and activities in my model railroading world.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Finished barrel factory model

The barrel factory is finished and installed on the layout.  I will probably do some more detailing around the factory but essentially it is done.  This has been an interesting project.

The barrel making process is interesting.  The green wood (bolt) is delivered to the factory by rail and dried in the area behind the factory (real small on my model).  When reasonably dry it is run through the drying shed on a rail trolley.  It then enters the factory where the wood is split and cut into staves.  Heading pieces are also cut and when the barrel is assembled, a groove called a "crozing" is cut into each end of the staves to allow the heading to nestle tightly into it.  The barrel is then formed and hoops of wood (or more recently metal) are fastened around the barrel to make it tight.  This is a very abbreviated version of the process but gives you the idea.

Below are photos of the barrel factory on my layout.


The industry is located at an inside corner of the layout thus the rear and right side are not viewable.  You can see a truck at the left.  I added a truck loading door on the side of the factory behind the office.  You can also see the boiler house stack behind the small water tank on the factory roof.


This view is as good as it gets for viewing the barrel conveyor and the trackside platform on the right where the barrels are loaded on a rail car.  I added some wood scrap behind the factory which can be seen just beyond the office.  I also placed a variety of vents and details on the factory roof for visual interest.  With most of our model structures the most prominent feature we see is the roof.

In answer to the comment/question, the sign on the front of the factory is dry transfers on a wood strip and the sign on the office roof was made on the computer.



2 comments:

Jim Musser said...

Very nice model Stan. How did you letter the sign? I like all the detailing around your structures.

Barry Kingsbeer said...

Lovely job Stan, looks right at home on the layout.