Textile Mill Diorama

[gbritnell]

Still following along John. Just outstanding work! I like how you think about the little things like where the fireman would stand to shovel coal into the boiler.
gbritnell

[Tennessee Whiskey]

J.L., just fabulous attention to the details. I remember in an old schoolhouse boiler room about the same coal “corral” you’ve shown, however, I think the back wall was a bit taller and the side walls came out a little farther. Really enjoying this one.

Cletus

[Roger B]

Splendid attention to detail as ever      Still following along and enjoying the pictures 

[Ian S C]

I wanted coal for a little traction engine I built for a friend, I got some fine gravel, washed it, glued it in place and painted it black.
Ian S C
         

[Steamer5]

Hi Ian,
 Many years ago I help a mate set up a HO gauge layout. We wanted a coal pile so off to the ME club grab some coal fines sieved to get the size we wanted.
Placed a pile were required & watered down some PVA glue, carefully applied in several goes the coal was stuck down & had a bit of gloss to boot.

Cheers Kerrin

[J.L.]

Thank you gentlemen for the kind comments. It is good to have you peeking over my shoulder.

Hi Cletus,
I added a brick to the width of the crib and put another row on top. Thanks for the input.

I remember when I lived in New Liskeard as a child, we had a coal chute at the side of the house with a little door. Dad shovelled the coal from the walled bunker in the basement into the furnace. I remember his picking out clinkers often.

I should have gotten out of the boiler room! I fully intended to get back to machining the front and back covers for the cylinder, but got caught up in more modelling possibilities in this room.

The first shot is usually a tragic one after devastating fires. The only thing left standing is the chimney. But here in our boier room, it is the beginning of a gable roof. I think the cylinder is going to be waiting until June. 

I really have begun to understand the potential of a milling machine for modelling wooden structures. In the second photo, a bird's mouth is being cut in thirteen rafters. Several passes with the milling cutter and the notches are done. 

[Larry Sw]

You mean you aren't using a tiny little framing square and crosscut saw to lay out the end cuts and bird mouths ?  :>)

Larry

[J.L.]

Hi Larry,
Sounds as though you know something about rafter framing. Remember the brass stops you could set on your framing square to set the rise and run? With our trusses today, those are long lost skills.

[Larry Sw]

I've been trying to attach a pic of my Starrett No. 111 Stair Gage Fixtures and
my copy of the 2 volume set of:   Practical Uses of the Steel Square by
Fred T. Hodgson  copyright 1903.
But never having posted any photos here before can't quite figure it out now.

Larry

[J.L.]

Lots of help available here for figuring out the photo thing Larry.

Welcome to the site.

Hi Ian,
I forgot to thank you for your idea of painting fine gravel to represent coal.
Brilliant.

[Ian S C]

Using coal might be ok. but it breaks down as it oxidises over time, and the gravel just happened to be there at the moment. The gravel used was about 1/8" across, crushed not smooth round stuff. Ian S C

[J.L.]

Collar ties...

Looks as though one rafter fell a bit short against the ridge pole...

[J.L.]

The framing of the main part of the engine house is complete.
In the second photo, you can see the flywheel and the crank of the mill engine in the engine room and the coal crib in front of the boier.

[J.L.]

As to the coal, here it is.

If you get cold this winter, I have a bag of milled coal...

[crueby]

Enough coal in model there to pop a few kernels of popcorn while watching the build...!