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Post by g3750 on Sept 5, 2022 2:32:16 GMT
Updated 9/4/2022: All the front walls for the 4 open hearth ovens have been assembled (brick paper on styrene, door frames painted and applied, holes cut, angle iron strapping applied). The 20 oven doors (5 / oven) have been painted, weathered, and had their chains (also rusted) installed. They just got their final layer of DullCote. The wing walls (either sides of the doors) are next.
George
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Post by ptc on Sept 5, 2022 13:45:59 GMT
Can't wait to see the changes, George.
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Post by g3750 on Sept 13, 2022 2:27:58 GMT
Updated 9/12/2022: This update is focused on the Open Hearth currently under construction. - Originally, I planned to have the top and front of each furnace glued together as one piece. It was supposed to be removable from the furnace. I have rethought that. That wouldn't be strong enough to endure repeated movement. And I've determined that the smoke unit(s) in the furnace can be reached with a pipette through the open center door.
- I also decided to space the vertical "C" channel stiffeners further apart on the walls of the furnaces. This will eliminate a few of them (a bit less work and less expensive) while still conveying the "look and feel" of a 1950's open hearth furnace.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by g3750 on Oct 14, 2022 21:59:58 GMT
Updated 10/14/2022:
Not a lot of modeling has taken place in the past 3 weeks as life has gotten in the way of the hobby. But there is some progress: - Some Plastruct items have arrived (I-beams, motors).
- The front wall of each oven has been re-designed and glued together as one assembly. That way it will be easier to attach to the furnace itself.
- The long I-beam and the 6 shorter coped ones that hold it to the front of the oven has been redone several times (still not 100% happy with it). This beam overhangs the oven doors and will support their pipes, motors, and pulleys.
- Tested 2 colors of paint (different brands) for the Charging Floor; they turned out to be virtually identical! They'll do fine with some weathering.
- Picked up some pulleys for use in the bridge crane assemblies.
Oh yeah, and I'm back working part-time at the hobby shop. I don't expect much to happen next week as I prep for York.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by atsda on Oct 15, 2022 4:04:26 GMT
George, Thanks for the detailed updates. I appreciate your interest in authenticity. None the less, the changes/ rearrangements do not detract from the realism. Alfred the
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Post by g3750 on Oct 16, 2022 15:08:49 GMT
George, Thanks for the detailed updates. I appreciate your interest in authenticity. None the less, the changes/ rearrangements do not detract from the realism. Alfred the Thank you. I agree. The modifications don't have a serious impact on the authenticity of the structure. Steel mills tended to make hundreds of on-the-spot modifications, repairs, and deviations from "normal" that we don't and can't know about. My approach is to gain an overall "look and feel" for the prototype, but some detail may be sacrificed for the sake of practicality and so as to finish the project in a timely fashion.
Although, I must confess that this project has already taken much longer than I expected or hoped. 
George
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Post by g3750 on Oct 30, 2022 19:42:17 GMT
Updated 10/30/2022:
Unfortunately, life has been getting in the way of model railroading for most of October. Some minor progress has been made on the I-beams that will sit in front and above of the oven doors. I hope to be back at full speed this week.
George
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Post by papa3rail on Oct 31, 2022 16:48:25 GMT
Updated 10/30/2022:
Unfortunately, life has been getting in the way of model railroading for most of October. Some minor progress has been made on the I-beams that will sit in front and above of the oven doors. I hope to be back at full speed this week.
George
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Post by atsda on Nov 1, 2022 2:32:35 GMT
George, Dave, It's a matter of keeping everything in balance. When I'm away from the layout for a time, it is refreshing to get back - and at times when frustrated with how things are going on the layout, it's good to do other items. Alfred
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Post by g3750 on Nov 5, 2022 2:14:15 GMT
Updated 11/4/2022:
There are a few things going on with the layout:
- Back in April, an electrician friend (and fellow NMRA division member) and I discussed some of the electrical issues I have been experiencing. He recommended that I eliminate the use of "suitcase connectors" or IDCs (Insulation Displacement Connectors) in favor of terminal strips. Last weekend he was able to visit and give me some pointers on wiring. I plan to put all these into practice over the next few months.
- At York last month, I picked up some interesting structural items from a table of "junk". They turned out to be supports from a Lionel 164 Log Loader. To me, they looked perfect for re-purposing as supports for a pipe bridge.
- Finally, a friend of mine 3D printed a transfer ladle for my Open Hearth mill. Check it out!
More when I know it.
George
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Post by Country Joe on Nov 5, 2022 3:16:30 GMT
Neat acquisitions, George.
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Post by g3750 on Nov 6, 2022 14:12:07 GMT
Neat acquisitions, George. I think so, too. The 164 log loader supports, particularly if I hide the bases, will simulate the supports of a pipe bridge quite nicely. In fact, the pipe bridge will appear (to my eyes) to precede the adjacent building, which is IMO a nice effect.
The transfer ladle is absolutely spectacular as far as I'm concerned. I am going to test fit some components inside it today.
George
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Post by atsda on Nov 7, 2022 17:22:59 GMT
George, Nice going. Pleased that you like the effect. Enjoy moving forward. Alfred
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Post by josef on Nov 8, 2022 13:26:00 GMT
Thanks for sharing your progress. Very interesting.
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Post by g3750 on Nov 14, 2022 0:07:22 GMT
Updated 11/12/2022: We are making some headway. - Over the past week or so, I have installed the 1/4" height supports for the Pouring Floor. The 1/4" supports raise the floor up to the level of the rails, making it look as if the rails are embedded in the floor.
- I also installed both sections (each is 12" x 36") of Pouring Floor after scrubbing them with iron wool. Ever see a mill floor that wasn't scuffed?
 Afterwards, they got a coat of Rustoleum Aged Iron texture paint for that dirty, scaled spattered effect. The floor sections were glued onto the 1/4" supports and weighted down until the E-6000 took.
- I then measured (several times
 ) and cut the holes for all but 2 of the mid-line steel columns.
More when I know it.
George
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Afterwards, they got a coat of Rustoleum Aged Iron texture paint for that dirty, scaled spattered effect. The floor sections were glued onto the 1/4" supports and weighted down until the E-6000 took.
) and cut the holes for all but 2 of the mid-line steel columns.