How would you create a model of a galvanized metal grain bin? What materials are available that would provide the "corregated" metal look for cylindrical bins?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
You could wrap corrugated metal around a form or...
What size of grain bins are you tying to make?
If you can find a Walthers grain bin kit, you could use that.
As suggested above, I used a Walther's "Cornerstone" HO grain bin kit, but since
I wanted more and larger ones, and the Walthers ones are pricey, I used Plastruct corrugated sheet and wrapped it around a cardboard tube (for other sizes and more solid structures, I'd use PVC pipe similarly wrapped). Same material, Plastruct, can be used to fabricate a cone top. The Plastruct needs to be scribed to simulate structure
assembled from panels. Mine are then painted silver and spray dusted with rusty
red.
You might want to try Walthers. They have currently in stock from K&S Engineering some 0.002" Corrugated Aluminum, 2 sheets 5"X7", in stock (370-16132) at $4.29 per package. Corrugation spacing is 0.060", which is 3" in O gauge parlence.
Your other 'problem' will be to get the strips of corrugated metal to bend in a direction they don't like to be bent naturally...lengthwise. Now, if you're REALLY into this, and your tooling budget has been looking for a new acquisition lately, try Micro-Mark's bender, item #81356. It's currently on sale for $105.00 (reg. $142). It'll do the job nicely...first class, in fact.
You can find other sources of appropriate corrugated materials, metal and paper. You'd have to be more careful with the paper, however, since it will be even tougher to bend in the long direction without crushing the corrugations.
FWIW, always...
KD
I found some styrene corrugated material at of all places, Hobby Lobby. It will easily bend to make grain bins.
JTT Architectural Model Parts #97402
WJP,
You can use Evergreen Stryrene in either flat sheets or corrugated styles. For painting to get the galvanized look, use grey primer and then dust will silver in spray cans. Galvanized surfaces are not a uniform color if they are hot dipped. If they are electroplated they will look more uniform but not completly
Brother Love is correct about getting styrene sheets from Hobby Lobby if you cannot get them direct from Evergreen.
Alan Graziano
I would have mentioned the plastic choices for, say, a corrugated roof where the panels would remain flat. For such an application, in fact, plastic corrugated material is a great choice...easy to work with, bond, etc.
However, in bending corrugated plastic material the problem I've encountered is 'spring-back'. Since it won't hold a bent shape well without good clamping or some heat (good luck with that!), especially bent in the long direction, I would think it harder to wrap into a grain-bin sized structure.
But, not having tried it myself, I could be wrong....I'll admit it.
Soft aluminum, on the other hand, if carefully rolled should hold its curvature better, make forming into O-scale grain bin panels easier, require simpler clamping (rubber bands?) to hold to the substrate (mailing tube? PVC pipe?) while the adhesive sets.
But, just some thoughts...and choices....FWIW, always.
Hey, show us your technique and results when done!?
KD
Go to eBay and search for 1:64 Standi grain bin. There are several. Issues to consider would include any ladders and door sizes when using "S" scale structures in "O scale" applications. Otherwise, the "corrugated metal" profile would be acceptable in most all cases.
I have even found some Ertyl plastic grain bins to be acceptable if weathered and repainted.
If you position the non scale items in your scene where the molded on ladders or hatches are positioned so that they are not visible, and you repaint and weather, you might find that you can accept these items on your layout.
In my case....all I have to do is take my glasses off and I can't see that third rail, so trust me, I never even notice any problems with 1:64 structures on my layout. Who am I kidding? If I take my glasses off, I can't see the layout.
Another idea...
Find some Lionel Quonset huts...before Alan Miller does
...and stand them on end. About 3 of them should be enough to trim into a full cylinder of corrugation. Make a shallow conical top from card or paper. Add some door/hatch details. Paint the whole magilla silvah. Bada-bing, bada-boom!
KD
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
As Tony indicated there should be corrigated grain bins available. This was a Will Allen project that came to the TCA Fort Pitt High Railers a few years ago. I think most of it is Ertl. I always liked the way Will split the storage bins and did an exceptional diarama. It wasn't much of a project to adapt the diarama to existing Fort Pitt Modules. Click on the following link to access a slide show.
Originally Posted by WJP:
How would you create a model of a galvanized metal grain bin? What materials are available that would provide the "corregated" metal look for cylindrical bins?
WJP These Grain bins were made by Alex Graziano who mentioned how to paint them up above in this thread.
Attachments
Images (6)
I AGREE, 1/64 Ertl Farm Country Grain Bins are the easy and inexpensive way to go. They look good and are "no work". Use your modeling skills on something that is not easily available.
Paul Goodness
