I am working on a structure for a customer. Most will recognize this as an old Suncoast Models kit that used wood and plastic. I am making changes which include an all plastic construction plus raising the height of the coal bin. When the kit was designed (I think in the 50's or 60's) the height was OK for steamers of that period. Today's steam locomotives are too tall to make it through under the coal bin.
This is the basic box for the coal bin. A sheet of black plastic was installed at an angle inside the bin to give it it's sloped appearance.
The coal chute is a two piece construction with a brass pivot pin.
The customer will be able to slide the chute assembly in and out inside the coal bin to hopefully give some control where the chute ends up over the tender.
Before I applied the trim ( hard to cut from 60 mil sheet since I did not have the correct size rectangular stock) I glued ST-12 legs to the bottom of the coal bin flushed with the outside edges of the bin. I then cut the 60 mil stock to the width of the legs and starting with the ends glued the white styrene from the bottom of the leg to the top of the bin where it was cut to match the slope of the roof. Once these 4 pieces were attached I filled in the trim all around the bin. I glued more styrene strips to the side edges of all legs.
The 60 mil trim stock for the outside and inside of the legs had to be cut wider to allow for 2x the thickness of the already applied trim stock (hope this makes sense).
Next came the foundation and leg panels - all 80 mil thick stock with an 80 mil strip stock top.
Tomorrow I will work on the elevator.
