grain chute for loading off Silos

There is a caged ladder that would be attached to the silo to the platform with opening wheel.

Since Plastruct makes caged ladders I didn't  need to.

Nice Alan.

Plastruct makes different caged ladders, which one would be the best size? I'm trying to add to my grain silos to make them more realistic.

CL 8  or CLS 8 they are 12 inches long  you will likely need more than one.

The last time that Alan was over to check our progress on the layout, he was kidding me about having a number of stairways on my layout that didn't have railings.  The discussion progressed to other areas that were missing detailing.  My son Jim asked when I was going to detail my grain elevator complex?  As with so many things on a layout, that is something I definitely wanted to do.  Alan showed interest as he is extremely good at designing and producing complex and accurate detailing of all types.

We left it that I would send him some pictures of what I had in mind and he would take it from there.  The first two pictures show the area of the grain elevators I want to start with.  This is my version of the type of massive grain elevators I was so impressed with when I lived in Wichita, KS. 

When I was modeling in HO, I took pictures of the grain elevators in my wife's home town of Ruthven, IA.  They are no where as large as the Kansas versions, but the basics should be similar.  I found the pictures and forwarded some of them to Alan.

As you can see from the previous posts, Alan has done an amazing job of designing the grain chutes as per these pictures.  We have been working together to tweak the measurements so they will properly fit my model.  He needed to know the OD of the silos and how far out can they project out to be aligned properly over the covered hoppers?

So I sent him these pictures.

Alan is real pleasure to work with!

I'll post more as this project moves along.  Thanks Alan!

Art

This is a little update on adding the details to my grain elevator.  The most difficult and complex part was the grain unloading chutes.  I was pleased and amazed at how Alan made them.  We felt that there was no reason to 3D print the caged ladders as they are readily available from Plastruct, assuming you can find them.  I was lucky in that regard too as my local hobby shop had them in stock.  I have added 4 grain chutes and caged ladders on the loadout silos.  I just added a caged ladder on the main silos and have repainted all the silos.  I just added sand, grass, and weeds to the base of the elevators.  I still want to add some lights over the main head house doors and some workers, but things are pretty close to being done.  here are a few pictures.

Every time I think that I am about done, after i take pictures I see more things that I want to add or change.  Isn't that what makes this hobby so much fun?

Art 

Wow, so nice!

@Chugman posted:

This is a little update on adding the details to my grain elevator.  The most difficult and complex part was the grain unloading chutes.  I was pleased and amazed at how Alan made them.  We felt that there was no reason to 3D print the caged ladders as they are readily available from Plastruct, assuming you can find them.  I was lucky in that regard too as my local hobby shop had them in stock.  I have added 4 grain chutes and caged ladders on the loadout silos.  I just added a caged ladder on the main silos and have repainted all the silos.  I just added sand, grass, and weeds to the base of the elevators.  I still want to add some lights over the main head house doors and some workers, but things are pretty close to being done.  here are a few pictures.

Every time I think that I am about done, after i take pictures I see more things that I want to add or change.  Isn't that what makes this hobby so much fun?

Art

The silos look great Art.

I have to comment on the ladder. Back in my younger days I was a theatrical stage hand. I worked in an old theater on Long Island for a while that had a ladder like that , up 60' to the rigging deck over the stage where we hung the scenery.

The climb was quite pucker-inducing......😂😂😂

And it didn't have the cage behind it either.....🤯🤯🤯

Bob

Bob, I can only imagine how thrilling that must have been.  Oh, when we were young and felt like we were invincible.  I used to love as boy to climb on anything high, roofs, water towers, and etc., now a few broken bones later I am afraid of heights.

Art

Art,

Great silos !!!  Are they scratch built or from kits ?

Alan,

Great unloading chutes !!!

Thanks for sharing your progress !!!

CB&Q Bill

@Chugman, @AlanRail wonderful modeling! They look amazing! Nice addition.

Mike

Art, I love what you did.  I just bought a Korber Models grain silo kit, with 4 extra silos, which will provide me with 8 silos in total.  I was wondering how you attached the unloading chutes to the side of the silo?

Also, Alan, if I copy this idea, would you be willing to make 2 unloading chutes for me?

@CBQ_Bill posted:

Art,

Great silos !!!  Are they scratch built or from kits ?

Alan,

Great unloading chutes !!!

Thanks for sharing your progress !!!

CB&Q Bill

Bill, I made my silos with 3 1/2" PVC pipe.  I copied the plans from an old Suncoast HO kit and made the walls with foam core board braced with wood supports.

Thanks, Art

@LT1Poncho posted:

@Chugman, @AlanRail wonderful modeling! They look amazing! Nice addition.

Mike

Thanks, Mike.  I have loved the looks of grain elevators for as long as I have loved railroading.  If you model a Midwestern railroad, you have to have them.

Art

@John Cubic posted:

Art, I love what you did.  I just bought a Korber Models grain silo kit, with 4 extra silos, which will provide me with 8 silos in total.  I was wondering how you attached the unloading chutes to the side of the silo?

Also, Alan, if I copy this idea, would you be willing to make 2 unloading chutes for me?

Thanks, John.  The chutes are very light weight so I just used a small amount super glue to attach them.  Alan made the backs to the same profile as the 3 1/2" OD of the PVC pipe.

Art

John

These were, of course, custom make to fit his diameter of silo, height to unload to car and extended to the siding track as spaced.

Art's model if not exactly the same dimensions would not fit any other application.

Given my other projects, the upcoming holidays and other factors I cannot get into new models until next year.

Alan

Thanks for the reply Alan, I did not realize the customization in your design. I don't have my kit built yet, nor do I expect to have it built in the near future. I will contact you sometime after I have it built.  Thank you.