CPR 2 Track Coal Tower Project

Al:

Nice start - are you using basswood or balsa wood?

Joe

Hello Joe

 I actually ripped a piece of pine 2x4 into 3/16" beams and purchased some 1/4" basswood(less hassle than cutting your own).

   I would like to find a good accurate mini table saw(4" blade) to do more accurate cuts but use my basic table saw for now.

 I have assembled the sides and fronts, so far.

   I will be working on the roof and cross bracing next. I can see myself building a few more CPR structures(sand house comes to mind).

   Here are few more pics of the progress from today

 Al

  Here is a Prototype pic from back in the day.

That's gonna keep you busy a while, Al.

Hi Max

  Your probably correct. I am enjoying the challenge of scratch-building and saving some $$ building one.

 You should see my layout! That's has kept me very busy in a good way as well...lol

Al

Hi Al,

I also scratch built my coal tower. It's been about ten years since that build, and I still remember it being at least 3 months of evenings to complete it. Worth taking your time, and making it special since such structure become favorites for visitors, and as such receive close inspection. Scratch building is why I'm in O scale...nice to see your doing the same.

Bob

Me too.

Very substantial looking prototype. Loaded with intricate, eye-pleasing hardware.  Think I see a boxcar in the coal receiving track........amazingly, boxcars were also used in company coal service !

Wow your doing a great job.Nick

The Golden Gate Depot, coaling tower from several years ago. Way back when it could be had for $160, new.  Your scratch built model is wonderful, thank you for posting pictures.   Mike CT

I had purchased a lot of Kapplar lumber, in dimension pieces, which seemed a bit easier to work with.  This inside detail of a Korber 304 Round House was done with Kapplar Lumber.  Most is Bass wood, a bit, more straight, and maintains straight and true, IMO.    Can be stained most any color you want.  Again beautiful project thanks for posting.    Mike CT.  

 I purchased a mini table saw last Tuesday of the 'bay and it showed before the weekend! So I have started cutting the bracing and installing.

   Seems to be going a lot better with the saw for sure.

 I had a first run of the GGD coaling tower. It was detailed and the G scale staircase was removed and an O scale version installed.

   I sold it to a fellow 3 Railer in town here.

 I was itching to build a CPR Version and so far, it's been a great project.

   Here are a few more pics showing the bracing

 Al

It has been a marathon Sunday workin on the project. A good 8hrs of time put in figuring out how to cut the acute angles on the small bracing without loosing fingers lol.

 This has been much easier now with the recent purchase of a mini table saw.

 Here are the latest pics

Al

A disk sander would help with some of those angle cuts.   Another nice tool is an NWSL Chopper II that does some nice accurate cutting.  Save those fingers, please   Safety meeting of the day.

Bench Disk Sander.

NWSL Chopper.

Hello Mike

 Great suggestion! Totally forgot about the Chopper. I will be looking to pick one up.

  I would like to get a belt disk sander and a a few more tools too..$$

Al

At the time I also purchased a small band saw.   My sweetheart.

 ...a little bit more done on the bracing. 

Al

Laid out the windows for the top sections of the tower. Cut out one end tonite, to see how they will look. They are a little over-size(by 6" scale) and have the incorrect # of panes, but close enough. The windows were kitbashed from extra's from my Atlas roundhouse kits

    I have been thinking about having operating chutes(atleast the front two). This would be a cool feature, if I can pull it off.

 Hopefully, have the roof assembly completed this weekend and maybe all the ladder details, etc

Al

Good job! I like the saw! Been thinking about that for a while. All I have is a big chop saw, saber saw and Skil Saw. Great for building a layout and terrible for cutting O'scale pieces.

Here's a Gloor Craft coaling tower I built in 1997. I re-designed the chutes to make them sort-of operational and added lighting and NBW castings. The feeder track runs down the center, but I never installed an opening in the Ross track to simulate an unloading pit.

Well, I have finished the roof and it has been a challenge to get it "right".

   Trainman, thanks for the encouragement!

 I ended up finding a new 6" disc/belt sander for $120 and has made things easier.

   Here are a few more pics showing the progress

Al

Like the project and detailed explanations.  Neat structure and great modeling skills.

 Thank you Pennsynut for the kind words.

 I have purchased a bunch of Plastruct motors and pulleys for the operational end of things. Approx $25. This more $$ than I had into the project thus far lol.

 I will make the chutes out of brass stock and figure out how I will design the system to work.

   I am doing this on the fly, so bear with me.

 I have drilled out where I will install 2-56 bolt and nut detail. Of course there is an approx 6"x6" plate behind each nut(so how do I do that?lol)

   Here are some updated pics taken outside, so you can see how I managed to glue it all together.

Al

That is nice!  l have a couple of different commercial kits for large coaling towers, but think l need to either kitbash one or scratch build a smaller one chute tower that would look logical for a short line in the boonies. On the "to-do"list.... Haven't found a one chute wooden tower photo l like.

Albert that sure is one quality build you've got going on.  Enjoy and be proud.

Its coming along great!Nick

 Well, here is tonites progress. I managed to install the windows on the back of the tower which would illuminate the stairwell/conveyor hoistway.

   Framed almost all the windows and hopefully start the pilings/footings for the base. Here are a few more pics

Al

Albert that is quite impressive.  Did you use masonite for the siding and roof?  How did you scribe the "boards" into the siding?  What gave you trouble while making the roof?

  Abutments, pilings, footings..whatever you would like to call them(base?lol), were laid out and has now added the "missing" height, in my eyes.

 I used 3/4" pine and 1/8" MDF for the foundation.

 Al

Hello CoachJoe

 To scribe the MDF(masonite) I first use a sanding block to remove the shiny glossy finish. This is essential to have white glue adhere correctly to bare "wood"lol.

 I mark out my lines in pencil. Then, bring out the set square and I use a razor saw corner and scribe the line.

 You can go over the line back and forth, to get the "depth" of line you like.

 Home Depot sold 1/8" MDF at one time but now only Masonite board seems available.

   I hope you go ahead with some of your own projects and see how "easy" it is to make your own projects.

   The learning is in the mistakes and I have made a few with this project lol. It's all good and try never to get discouraged.

 There is an in credible pool of talent on the OGR forum and lots to see and learn from others here.

 Here is a pic of how I have done the lines

Al

 Ooops! Yes, the sides and roof are all 1/8" masonite(MDF) which I had to remove all the gloss finish off with a sanding block(220 grit)

Al

I wasn't happy with the look of the base, so I went back to the drawing board to get it "right". I decided on one piece of 1/8" x 9" x 9" to layout the grid for the 3/4" cube pilings.

 Here are the recent pics.

Al

Kitty thinks it's pretty.  Me too.

Did someone mention a cat?

albertstrains posted:

I wasn't happy with the look of the base, so I went back to the drawing board to get it "right". I decided on one piece of 1/8" x 9" x 9" to layout the grid for the 3/4" cube pilings.

 Here are the recent pics.

Al

Nice work Al.   But now the secret is out as to who is really supervising your project!!

Nick

 Well, now everyone knows the "Cats out of the bag" lol

   Kali is the Chief Carpenter overseeing construction and has a critical eye for detail.

   Lola, well ......she plays with stuffed animals under the layout. This crew helps keep things working smoothly

Al

Nice chamfer on the tops of your pilings Al.  And a fine looking crew of supervisors you've got there.

Max your Shepard is so life like.  Your modeling skills always amaze me. LOL.  But that is truly one handsome dog a near perfect specimen of the breed.

Thanks, Joe.

 I had a little time tonite to work on the "nuts n bolts" of the project. Ideally, I would have used square nuts if available, but hex will work as well.

 Here are a few pics showing one side with all the nuts n bolts installed. Probably look better when painted. They are too shiny imo.

Al