Tramrail on the W.H.E. factory

I have constructed the Tramrail for the warehouse handling equipment factory.  The Tramrail is made from I beams using wood structural shapes to simulate steel I beams.  The trolley that moves along the Tramrail is made from styrene.

I glued the entire structure to a manila cardstock base a little wider than the structure so I can add some scenery around the base of the structure.  The factory will be about a foot from the layout edge and behind a row of main street structures - specifically behind the blacksmith shop and the gas station.  For that reason it is easier to do the scenic detailing before the structure is installed on the layout.

There is more scenery and details to be added but I wanted to get something posted as it has been a while since the last post.  Some factors such as shoveling about 2 1/2 feet of snow and a series of  routine doctors appointments got in the way of my modeling.

W.H.E. Factory Boiler house

I have completed the warehouse handling equipment factory boiler house.  It is a small wood structure located at the opposite end of the factory from the loading dock.

The boiler house sits on a concrete base with wood sides and a corrugated metal roof.

I have installed a number of details inside the boiler house.  The details include a boiler (not much detail on it as it is not readily visible,  just a simplistic scratch build),  a wood coal bin with a scratch built shovel leaning against it, an open top barrel made from a soda straw, a wood filing cabinet,  and a piece of machinery made from pieces of cast metal truck side frames, wood scraps and metal bits.  I have no idea what this machine is but it cost nothing and occupies some vacant space.

Above is a view of the inside of the boiler house from the side that will be attached to the factory.  It is kind of dark but gives some idea of the interior.

And above is the framework of the boiler house before I added the siding and roof.  Only the boiler and coal bin are inside.

My next task is to build the tramrail that runs along side of the factory.  Then the final details before installing on the layout are some factory products for the loading docks.

Warehouse handling equip factory progress

The warehouse handling equipment factory is progressing.  The main structure is essentially complete.  I have added a few details on the loading docks and the roof.

The loading dock on the right is for receiving and shipping materials and products by truck.  It is also for loading supplies onto the tramrail which will run along this side of the building to load supplies into the material loading windows/doors.  The small structure on the main roof houses an elevator to the main structure and provides access to the roof for additional work space.

The loading platform will have some of the factory products added.   

The above view shows the rear of the structure and the trailside loading dock.  Originally I made the roof for the upper section as a peaked roof but it did not look right so I removed it and made another flat roof.  

Next I need to add the tramrail, a small boiler house on the other end to provide power for the factory, signs,  and workers.  

Onward!

Warehouse handling equipment factory start

I have started the warehouse handling equipment factory and have mostly finished the basic structure, but there is more to do including details, weathering, a roof top structure, loading docks, and of course the exterior tramrail.  I like to update this blog at least every our or five days to keep it fresh.

I am building this structure using mostly styrene.  The walls are commercial styrene scribed siding and the trim is styrene.  I  first painted that siding using Scalecoat II gray which resulted in a somewhat glossy, slow drying covering.  I was very disappointed - I really miss Floquil paints.  I then covered that with a light coat of light gray acrylic craft paint which gave a better flat finish.  As a result, I painted the styrene trim strips only with the craft paint which adhered nicely.  The windows are commercial plastic Pikestaff products.  The three doors on the long side are old cast metal freight car doors and are intended to be the means of inserting manufacturing materials into the factory via the tramrail.  The block base is a cardstock product made by Micro Mark and glued to a wood backing.

The initial design was a tedious task as I redrew my sketches three times before I was satisfied with the approach.  It may not look like much at this point  but hopefully will flesh out as I proceed.

Tram rails were used in many industries in a wide variety of configurations.  Below is a photo of a tram rail being used in a timber yard - slowly replacing the elephants which were previously the main means of moving the timber.  I thought this would add a little humor.

I will now proceed with this factory....  but no elephants.

Warehouse handling equipment factory model

My next model will be a warehouse handling equipment factory.   I wrestled with the design on this for several days based on the following photo as my inspiration.  The actual model will only slightly resemble this photo.

The main feature I will be using from this photo is the external tramrail for,  in my model,  delivering product construction materials to the loading windows in my structure.  The products my factory will be  manufacturing are items such as elevating trucks, portable elevators, self-loading trucks, and trailers for electric tractors.

The above facility is about 1910-1915 vintage whereas mine is 1939 so there will be no wagons and the actual tramrail design will be different.  My facility will have a rail loading dock at trackside and the tramrail on the other side such as above.  There will be a truck loading dock on one end.  The model will have no interior details this time.

After making several sketches of the intended model,  I finally just started building the sides.

Below is another photo of a tramrail installation being utilized for handling bar stock and products.  This tramrail installation has an operator cab to control the operations.

While tramrail installations were usually operated by electricity, the forms of power were also used.  Sophisticated tramrail implementations also employed rail switches of various types, signal lights, lift-out links for elevator doors, and other devices.

Well flat car model & truck kits

While thinking about what to build for my next model I finished off two kits I have been working on, one is the PRR well flat car kit by Funero & Camerlengo and the other is a Jordan Mack truck kit.

The well flat car is an interesting freight car manufactured starting in 1938 which fits my layout time era.  It has six wheel trucks and the kit supplied the truck frames but not the wheels, but I have a lot of wheel sets so that was not a problem.  I also have about a dozen six wheel trucks but they were too long for the kit so I used the kit trucks.  The load is a large cast metal gear and support frame from my scrap box.

Above is a photo of the well flat from a higher angle showing the well deck.  I secured the load with wires simulating cables.

My other project was a Jordan Mack truck kit which includes only a frame at the back - I created the truck bed.  The truck on the left is the one I just built while the one on the right I did some time ago.

I built the new one as an updated truck with more modern headlights otherwise they are essentially the same.  I will add loads when I decide what industry i want to use them for.

I have almost decided what structure to build next and am working on some sketches.  At this point it is a generic industry and I will decide what it is as time progresses.