Progress (?) at the Paper Mill

I found second ebay offer for DPM parts:

   To go along with the first

 Seems there’s enough to keep me busy for a while!  But I got a start:

Gluing up second design with additional section.

Even with all those pieces, I needed to trim a piece for the extra section to get:

Taking shape, but lots of work left to do! 

 

 

 

Paper Mill Ideas

So, the May, 2024, Model Railroader Magazine had an article by Charles Trevey that featured a paper mill in the Southeast -- sounds familiar to me!  I inquired of MRR if there were more photos (since the article didn't really show any) of the paper mill or if they could put me in touch with Mr. Trevey.  Well, by the next day I had an email from Charles and pictures of his paper mill!

I liked what I saw, so I asked where he had gotten the structures and piping -- DPM and Walthers piping were the answers.  Then, off to ebay to find some deals, maybe. . . .  One was a package of DPM (Design Preservation Models) modular parts.

This was 1 2/3 kits for about the price of one.  Even though the "era" and number of windows may be off a bit, maybe we can work out something.

Pulp and paper mills are pretty large -- the Panama City, FL paper mill measures about 700X100 feet via Google Earth -- Charles suggestive a good bit of  "selective compression".  This setup measures about 100X40 feet!?!?!?  Oh well, what the heck.

The piping arrived yesterday,

That ought to get me started.  Again, on ebay, this gave me two Walthers Cornerstone Piping Kits, 933-3105, for about the price of one at retail.  The decal for one set was a little dirty and the staples on the packaging for the other were rusting!  Didn't hurt the pipes.

Just gotta find time to work on these new parts. . . and figure a way to close off some of the windows on the paper mill.

Another Grandkid Recruit

 Over the Easter weekend, another grandchild has shown interest in the Blacktop Crossing extension.  We had a few instructions while his uncle worked on the Element:

Then we made a few trees out of grape stems, polyfiber, a little course foam, and hair spray.  Maybe the best place might be on the shores of Watson Bayou?!

Products of Lakeland, FL

Thanksgiving often means a visit to in-laws in Lakeland, FL.  It also means I will take some things to do, like a bike to ride (it's really flat!) or kits to assemble or books to read so when the ladies are chatting or cooking or crafting, I'll have something to keep me busy.  Yep, got in a bicycle ride, ate LOTS of delicious food at in-law's and at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, AND did some train stuff.

If you're going to have a pulp and paper mill, you gotta have pulpwood racks.  I had been collecting racks at various shows and stores so figured it was time to put some together.  Had THREE Tichy Train kits:

Don't know why I would have waited so long to try one before obtaining another.  These kits are VERY detailed and "fiddlely".  At least on one, the brake system is almost installed properly. 

Hoping to get some insight into assembling these kits, I went online. . . .  Found one guy who had done a similar thing, purchased a couple of kits and let them sit a year or two or three; then decided to assemble.  At one point he comments that assembly of these kits might better be done by paying somebody.  Nevertheless, he forged forward and confirms:  would be better to pay someone to do them.  I might agree!

Made some progress on two and had a third, non-Tichy that needed trucks and couplers:

Not real sure where side panels go and sent email to Tichy.  Still have not heard.  Waiting to figure where to put them before placing decals.

Also had a C&O boxcar kit.  Much simpler although brake system is pretty detailed.  Made an attempt at weathering; needs a little refining. . . .

If you're in Ybor City, it's just a hop, skip, and jump over Old Tampa Bay to HR Trains in Pinellas Park.  Used to be one of the three largest model train shops in USA; now claims to be largest in FL.

Since a friend of a friend was cleaning out her attic, found a 1957 HO scale Lionel train set, and gave it to me but the Rivarossi Loco didn't run, I was in the market for a replacement motor.  HR Trains repair guy pulled out a couple of old motor boxes while Alice and I looked for pulpwood racks and other cars.

Walked away with another Tyco rack (not highly detailed), a tank car, another Tichy Train kit (oops), hopper car, and possible replacement motor -- all for a "steal" Dennis suggested!  Whether or not I got a good price, they were certainly fun to deal with.

Just means more work, I guess.  Tested motor quickly; not confident it's going run :(

Paper Mill Scenicking Begins

Another granddaughter visit; this time a rising 3rd grader, and some interest in the paper mill addition.  Mixed and applied a little "ground goop".  Also installed a few store-bought trees and two hand-made trees; a grape stem by granddaughter and a tomato stem by me.  Both used hair spray for glue and polyfiber plus large, green turf with burnt turf added in.  Ground cover is same as "leaves" on trees.  Looks pretty good from where I'm standing!

From a different view:

Lots more to do. . . .

Granddaughters' Visit

 Well, two granddaughters visited to join us in a banquet but we just HAD to check out possibilities for additional scenicking with the Fathers Day gifts they had gifted!  The older granddaughter, rising senior in college, was most interested in being a train engineer.  Although I KNOW she's a very smart young lady, we had a hard time ensuring the long-long-short-long horn was sounded befor the crossing.  You'd think that with the layout named "Blacktop CROSSING", knowing the proper crossing signal would be important.

The younger granddaughter, rising senior in high school, did seem to approve of earlier work with scenicking from the gifts.  She also thought another dog should be placed in the park near Mill Hill.  She picked out an appropriate canine.  We forgot to name him, but for the time being we'll call him Bernie the St. Benard.

You might note that Mr. Terry has loaned one of his canons to the park -- if Mayberry can have a city canon, so can our Mill Village!

Spoils of a Father's Day

Frankly, I have just about everything a guy could want, but I do get spoiled on Father's Day and other gift-giving occasions.  This year for Father's Day, some of my son's family made a stop or TWO at New Brookland RR & Hobby shop in Columbia, SC.  The spoils of those stops became apparent June 18.  There are plenty of figures and a good bit of bushes inventory yet to be used, but here's a start!

Several garbage cans were picked from the Woodland Scenics "Junk" selection.  This could improve the sanitation on Mill Hill.  The retired couple put a can neatly in the back corner of their neatly trimmed hedge, of course.  The family with kids is trying to be neat but evidently one of the kids used the top of the can as a shield playing knights of the round table.  She didn't do a very good job of putting the top back on.. . .

The Greaser's (maybe I'll do a little searching on this blog to come up with their names, but for the moment they are all forgotten -- later:  someone needs to index these posts, still don't know individual names but the family is the MILLners) have a new junk frame and flathead engine to deal with.  Maybe they should move the chassis out of the walkway/path!  Manana. . . .

Over at The Cotton Factory, a couple of workers at the loading dock are straightening things up for the next rail delivery.

And, it looks like we're about to have a fracas back over at the Greaser's.  OMG.  Uncle Joe Bob (or whatever his name is) looks a bit perturbed with  Allie the alley cat on the white top of his favorite pick 'em up. Rufous the Bassette Hound is hoping he'll hear Joe Bob say, "Sic em, Rufous, you ole hound dog!!"

One of the granddaughters who may have been partially responsible for the excellent Father's Day gifts has suggested that I write a book.  I figure when I retire I can; in the meantime I'll have to refer her to my Blacktop Crossing Blog!