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Post by g3750 on Feb 19, 2022 17:54:04 GMT
Updated 2/17/2022: Work continues on the Open Hearth. I've made some decisions and changes in approach: - I've decided that it makes sense to complete all the remaining roof trusses before continuing work on the furnaces themselves. There are 3 half trusses left to build. These will represent the Pouring Floor extension on the south side of the prototype. I can't determine exactly when the extension was added, but it appears in the famous 1957 photograph of the mill complex. It's visibly cleaner than the rest of the mill in that photo, leading me to believe it is very new, but I've no way to verify its actual date of construction. So we're going to make the assumption that it was built in 1950.
- There is still no sign of the bulk of my Plastruct order. A few parts have dribbled in. Hobby Express (my excellent LHS) has been vigorously pursuing the components through their distributors and other sources, but so far nothing. The most significant of the missing parts are the 1/2" (2 s') H columns and all the column feet.
- Once the half trusses are done, and assuming the column components named above are still AWOL, all efforts there will go on hold and that particular workbench will be temporarily cleared of its jigs and tools. It will become a holding area for the 4 furnaces which take up a lot of real estate.
- The center table will continue to stage materials for the build. The remaining work bench will be used for the actual construction.
If it sounds like this model is taking up a lot of space, that is absolutely true. Over the past few weeks, I've cleared the workshop of other projects and cleaned up some storage boxes. I was also able to deliver some items I had sold, freeing up more space. That's good, because I'm still building pieces and sub-assemblies of the mill, with the floor and integration yet to come. And we still have the electronics to work through.
Also, I am pleased to announce that the 4th installment of my series, "Pour Me A River" has been published in the March / April issue of O Scale Trains magazine (Issue No. 120). It deals with the scenery on the WV side of the river. Installment 5 will cover the pouring of the river itself and the final installment will illustrate the placement of the bridge on the piers and its final installation. More when I know it.
George
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Post by ptc on Feb 19, 2022 20:34:41 GMT
Very nice job with your article, George.
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Post by g3750 on Feb 20, 2022 4:45:20 GMT
Updated 2/19/2022:
Just finished the 3 half-trusses. We are now done with all the roof trusses for the main building! 
George
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Post by Adam on Feb 20, 2022 8:55:24 GMT
Great update. I need to look for a copy of the magazine.
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Post by laz57 on Feb 20, 2022 13:44:51 GMT
CONGAS GEORGE a on the article. Great job👍👍.
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Post by g3750 on Feb 20, 2022 15:04:17 GMT
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Post by g3750 on Mar 5, 2022 19:53:27 GMT
Updated 3/5/2022: - Positioned the base of the Weirton Steel Open Hearth model (part of the base is visible on the left side of the photo below) on the layout to determine exactly where the model would reside. It’s a big footprint! But I was able to finalize its position on the bench work. This will help determine all the other buildings’ positions relative to it and the divider.
- With the base of the mill on the layout, I also determined the position of an access hole that will be used to service the model. The Strip Steel building will sit next to the Open Hearth on top of the access hole. It will be removable and while large, hopefully relatively light. The access hatch is outlined in blue Sharpie. You can see that I measured at least twice.
- Found what Fastenal calls “Type B Connector Bolts” on their website. These have a flat, thin circular head (with a hex socket) and are often used for “knock-down” or easily disassembled furniture (the stuff often made of melamine). These will jut up from under the base and hold the “Lean-To” in place on the model. After disconnecting wires entering the main structure at its terminal strip, the “Lean-To” will be removable for separate transportation. This is necessary, otherwise the model won’t fit through standard 30” width interior doors. The Lean-To will hold electrical components, power supplies, the Arduino, and all the smokestacks. It will be anchored on a 6” wide piece of poplar. I ordered the bolts and flange washers. They will arrive at the local Fastenal outlet for pickup sometime next week.
- I briefly toyed with the idea of cutting out the bench work top around the base of the Open Hearth and fitting the base down directly onto the frame, but rejected the idea. Doing that will make the model harder to move on / off the layout (not that it’s going to be a regular or easy operation). Instead, I plan to install handles at the rear edge of model (jutting up from the base) and a fixed caster dipping into a hole cut in the bench work. That will allow a person standing in the access hole to lift the model so that the caster sits on the bench work. The model can then be pulled forward and off the layout from the front.
Not that there's a lot of visible progress to show for all the steam that's been pouring out of my ears (i.e. thinking), but I'm hoping that with this planning out of the way some real work can be accomplished soon.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by g3750 on Mar 7, 2022 2:40:41 GMT
Updated 3/6/2022: Today we managed to cut the access hole per the plan.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by Country Joe on Mar 8, 2022 19:49:10 GMT
It's a bit hard to visualize in my mind how this will work but I can see that you are making good progress.
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Post by ptc on Mar 8, 2022 19:57:51 GMT
Access for areas not easy/impossible to get to are important in the planning and construction stages. I sure provided for them where the tracks would tunnel.  |
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Post by g3750 on Mar 9, 2022 3:36:35 GMT
It's a bit hard to visualize in my mind how this will work but I can see that you are making good progress. Joe, I know it's hard to visualize.
If you look at the plan below, you'll see a bright green parallelogram. That's the access hole and it will be UNDER the Strip Steel building and alongside the Open Hearth. I've left it on top so as to be visible.
The access hole is alongside the Open Hearth. There are a few reasons for this choice: - The model itself is 37" wide x 72" long. It's located at 45 degrees to the divider (that thick, vertical, dark green line to the extreme right of the plan) and pretty much inaccessible from the front (which is also 3' from any aisle).
- The model needs a stiff base (no hole in its base, no access from below) because I may (may) try transporting it to an event (I have no plans to do this repeatedly). The base has got to be stiff because it will be supporting a very large structural styrene model - too much flexing may cause it to fail.
- There will be at least 5 smoke units in the model which will have to be refilled. I will have to reach into the model, so parts of the roof will be removable.
- I don't anticipate derailments inside the building, but you never know.
So, access is necessary. And this is the only way I could think of providing it.
Hope that helps,
George
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Post by Country Joe on Mar 9, 2022 16:26:34 GMT
Thanks for the explanation George. I understand what you are doing. It will be fun watching it come together.
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Post by g3750 on Mar 15, 2022 15:18:57 GMT
Updated 3/14/2022:
The "Cinder Pot Express", Weirton Steel Alco S-2 #203, joins the roster at Weirton Steel on my PRR Panhandle Division. This Lionel Legacy-equipped switcher is the former Chicago & Northwestern #1031. Christine Braden executed the transformation wonderfully. Isn't she a beauty? No. 203 joins stablemates 207 and 208. As assigned on the prototype, #203 will haul slag pots from the mill to Standard Slag and back.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by JKP on Mar 16, 2022 22:27:36 GMT
Updated 3/14/2022:
The "Cinder Pot Express", Weirton Steel Alco S-2 #203, joins the roster at Weirton Steel on my PRR Panhandle Division. This Lionel Legacy-equipped switcher is the former Chicago & Northwestern #1031. Christine Braden executed the transformation wonderfully. Isn't she a beauty? No. 203 joins stablemates 207 and 208. As assigned on the prototype, #203 will haul slag pots from the mill to and Standard Slag and back.
More when I know it.
George
She is a beauty, very well done. Great addition to your Weirton Steel roster.
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Post by ptc on Mar 16, 2022 23:05:48 GMT
Sure is a beauty.
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