Steel Mill update.

Background: The Rolling mill line is a small Shortline line coming off the Republic Steel Mainline. It has three dead end spurs and one run around siding one spur leads to a boiler power house which needs coal the other two spurs run into the Rolling mill.

Here are a series of photos about switching the Rolling Mill it shows you don't need endless space to have fun with O scale.

The photos show an empty coil train being switched into the mill the run around track is small due to lack of space so any long train needs at least two moves the Coal train usually two to three hoppers are much easier to switch. there are other trains like ingots and slabs it can be very busy it is all self contained with it's own power supply and controller even a seat for the operator! It's a fun part of the layout when not busy the same operator runs the trains into and out of the furnace THAT is busy but one operator can handle it just don't fall asleep. Nothing is finished except the track and wiring still lots of details to be added one day... spent today rebuilding locomotives for the Steel mill. Love this Steel mill concept. Roo.

Very cool. Short line fun works. Maybe pop a tunnel or something to obstruct the view to make it look like it is coming from somewhere delivering to the mill if you want to create the illusion it is coming from afar.

Thanks dave.

This steel mill project is taking a long time, very slow progress, when you almost finish something you feel like celebrating, it's a long haul of many half finished models all at once, I have almost finished this Dust extractor and I finally painted the Pouring Floor building next are details and weathering (on the building) when I don't know.  Today I worked on some other items gluing lots of handrails to circular pieces handrails are everywhere on these things and stairs. The winter is starting here and with the cold comes health problems to cold to work at night in the workshop so I work on locomotives inside the house I know our winter is nowhere near America's and that's the problem with nine months of sunshine and hot weather, three months of cold and rain really gets into your joints, then again it could be just plain old fashioned Old Age! I'm laughing today was a bright sunny day. Roo.

It's been pouring all day here, Roo.

First Rate, Roo, First Rate.

I really like that Pouring Floor building, Roo... Hope the winter is not too cold "down under."

MELGAR

I hope it was pouring rain and not molten iron Max!

Thanks Clarence and Melgar. the good thing about our winter it never snows in Perth we sometimes get some snow down south in the Stirling Ranges on Bluff Knoll, google it if your interested, apart from that it's mostly rain and frosts. In our house in Perth we don't even have a heater just wear plenty of clothes but that way of thinking is changing as I get older I might have to buy a heater. More photos soon. Roo.

The steel mill project is coming along beautifully, Roo.

WOW this is really looking great. The only thing I can see wrong with this steel mill project is the location, it really needs to be in my layout room and not yours. Seriously tho, anyone would be proud to say they built this. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt and Marty you made my day.

It sometimes gets frustrating working in an O scale wilderness, wishing I had more access to Plastruct parts would be my dream, when I can buy them direct it usually takes up to five weeks to arrive by then I have forgotten what I wanted them for, the good thing is I am actually making progress, slow progress, but progress. I have had to make the sad decision that I will not be able to build this project how I envisaged it originally, I will have to leave off a lot of details otherwise it will never be finished in my lifetime. From a distance I think it will look OK, up close not sure, lucky I have very few visitors that know about Steel mills! Now I'm laughing always a good sign. The photo shows eight locomotives in various stages of assembly they were all originally Atlas SW's with all the original electrics removed and our own modules fitted very simple as they are all DC with no sound except the flashing light all have LEDs not globes some have cut down roofs all will have a flashing red light on the roof and modified rear headlights they are painted Blue and I have made up decals for "Republic Steel" and "Remote Control"  I have modified some figures to represent the engineers with their remote control box in front of them some locos have the windows blanked out others don't, I'm just shooting in the dark here, building things how I like them I should have called the Mill "Aussie Steel" but I liked the word Republic it sounds more American no disrespect intended. That's the other side of the Rolling Mill if your wondering what that large building is. Roo. 

Hey Roo,

Here's a link to a couple of pictures of the railroad that served Republic Steel Cleveland (Ohio) Works.  It was called River Terminal.  I worked there from 1980 to 1982 in The Machine Shop just up the hill form the engine facility.   Your mill looks Awesome and inspired me to send you the link.   Keep up the Excellent work!! 

http://www.railpictures.net/sh...20Terminal%20Railway

Chief Bob (Retired)

Great Photos Thanks Chief Bob.

I like the colours of the buildings and the dark earth around the tracks something that I must do.

Thanks again. Roo.

Roo posted:

Matt and Marty you made my day.

It sometimes gets frustrating working in an O scale wilderness, wishing I had more access to Plastruct parts would be my dream, when I can buy them direct it usually takes up to five weeks to arrive by then I have forgotten what I wanted them for, the good thing is I am actually making progress, slow progress, but progress. I have had to make the sad decision that I will not be able to build this project how I envisaged it originally, I will have to leave off a lot of details otherwise it will never be finished in my lifetime. From a distance I think it will look OK, up close not sure, lucky I have very few visitors that know about Steel mills! Now I'm laughing always a good sign. The photo shows eight locomotives in various stages of assembly they were all originally Atlas SW's with all the original electrics removed and our own modules fitted very simple as they are all DC with no sound except the flashing light all have LEDs not globes some have cut down roofs all will have a flashing red light on the roof and modified rear headlights they are painted Blue and I have made up decals for "Republic Steel" and "Remote Control"  I have modified some figures to represent the engineers with their remote control box in front of them some locos have the windows blanked out others don't, I'm just shooting in the dark here, building things how I like them I should have called the Mill "Aussie Steel" but I liked the word Republic it sounds more American no disrespect intended. That's the other side of the Rolling Mill if your wondering what that large building is. Roo. 

 

Hello Roo. Fantastic work! I grew up about a mile from the Republic Steel plant in Warren, Ohio so I have an affinity for steel railroading. You are really capturing the essence of it. Keep it up!

A quick question on your method for repainting the SWs... What is your preferred method for stripping the paint from Atlas SWs and what paint did you use?

Thanks,

Jonathan

Nothing short of magnificent, Roo! Great stuff! Cheers!

Simon

Jonathan, Simon.

Thanks for the kind words. Just for that you get a couple of photos of the Blast furnace and pouring floor buildings painted. There are still more details to be added it seems to go on forever but I am now happy with the progress I wasn't last week but I was sick with the flu now I see it in a different way. we are having a running session this Friday your welcome. Roo.

Absolutely gorgeous! 

jpv in France

Waiting for the slag to come out, awesome ROO.

Thanks Dave and jpv.

I am getting ready for a running session tomorrow so I brought the bits and pieces of the Blast furnace in from the workshop to show off to the blokes when they arrive! In one photo you will see most of the Steel Mill, the Foundry, the Furnace, and the Rolling mill. It will be nice to run some trains instead of working on them! Thanks for looking. I left some details off the furnace just forgot them next time. Roo.

 once more!!!

jpv

very impressive. well done Roo !

Looks great. I would say once all the other things are done(scenery and such), you could take a sky view picture and compare to the real thing.

Thanks fellas!

Dave. Yes, once everything is painted properly and blended into the scenery things will start to look really good, that's the day I'm working towards! I am sending an order to Plastruct next week for parts to build the piping around the ovens for the hot and cold air.

Roo.

Cool ROO. Make sure you write down what the parts are for so when they get to you, you don't forget. Have a bulletin board handy? I know I forget, but usually it is the unimportant stuff I am trying to relay. Nothing more frustrating when you are trying to tell someone about a movie you say umpteen times and you forget the star. Other things I am like a walking encyclopedia, its just in there.

One thing I forgot to ask(see, told you, what was I saying), was if you were going to have smoke units, or any moving parts going about. I know the elevator(?) would be cool moving, but that is not easy to keep tabs on.

Roo,

One word - Incredible!

MELGAR

Thanks fellas.

I have been down in the dirt painting the ground around the furnace and the tracks, next job is something I hate, ballasting the turnouts, everything works at the moment we had a very good session yesterday but once dirt and glue start to encroach around the turnouts that's when your going to have problems maybe do a couple everyday so I don't tear what hair I have left out of my head. I have been using Tamiya Diorama Texture paint I bought a carton of the stuff real cheap the hobby shop said it's cheap because it's old and maybe dried up you take your chances with it but when I mixed it with water for a few minutes, well maybe 15 minutes, I tipped it into an old Baked Bean can and brushed it on no worries mate. it came up good, wait overnight till it dries to a matt finish. That freight house in the background is starting to annoy me it needs plenty of trucks and trailers with people everywhere, do something about it Roo, get off the computer and do it and put a sign on top of the building while your at it, it looks to bare. "But what about the Electrical sub station for the Steel mill I thought that was next" I give up, anyone want to buy a steel mill........

Roo.

Now that my wife Margie is on the mend I have had time to think about expansion of the Steel Mill (I haven't given up on the furnace just put it aside for a couple of weeks I am at the stage where I need some time to myself to concentrate on the piping with no distractions hard to do when the primary baby sitter in the family can't use her hands and has to rely on her husband to do everything that's me by the way !) after all the layout is about operation first scenery second.

Anyway changes. I have decided to install a small yard behind the Rolling Mill only three tracks but will provide some much needed storage for Ingot cars and maybe one track with empty Coil cars waiting their turn to be loaded it's all about movement that's my main aim keep those trains running around the mill.

In the photo you will see a spur track in Valley Forge has been lifted to make way for a large gantry crane spanning two tracks in the New yard the drawing shows the crane in Black. the track and turnouts are Peco because they are easy for me to buy. Take care crossing roads. Roo.

I was going to mention that to make way for the new yard I had to demolish some buildings this made me sad I liked this area all gone now.

I forgot to snap some large format photos before I ripped it out. compare it with the above photo. Roo

I continue to work on the small yard at the rear of the Rolling Mill. The track is down, feeders soldered and painted the Tortoise machines are in today My friend bruce is coming round to fit the relay board and join up all the wiring I will continue on and ballast the track. It's called progress! 

Soon I will start back onto the Furnace on the right of photo and sort out all the pipework.  Take care crossing roads. Roo.

Friends.

Bruce my friend and fellow operator has just finished the new Rolling Mill Control Panel. The new yard is on the left. The buttons work the turnouts and the switches are for isolating the tracks, we are dinosaurs still work on DC. Now to wire it to the layout.  Roo.

Talented friends can sometimes be in short supply when it comes time to lend a helping hand. Your fortunate Bruce is so capable and willing. He does the kind of job we all hope for. Looks great Nev.

Bob

Thanks Bob.

And to think I knocked him back the first time on the electrical when I first met him years ago. How wrong I would have been!

On my side of the project the track is down the feeders are in and the ballast is laid next up is the crane for lifting the covers off the ingots.

The new panel is installed and another day's work the turnouts for the new sidings on the left will be working.

Installing the new sidings has also opened up the possibility of expanding the Rolling Mill by adding a small annex at the siding end. One day it will all be painted and finished. See you next Friday for an operating session.

Take care crossing roads. Roo.

I Like this layout! all is said!

jpv in France, on the other side of the planet!

Thanks jpv.

Yes, West Australia is a long way from France next year when we come to the UK we are thinking of a non-stop flight 16-18 hours who knows might even drop over to Paris and have a look at the Tower! Never been to France...... yet.

Back to the Steel Mill. I have put the extension together using 3mm MDF it's quite a solid structure next up is the cladding for the walls and roof. Roo.

Looks absolutely beautiful

The scenery is not finished but everything else is .The stripper yard is fully operational track and electrical finished.

I made the Ingot buggies myself I wanted eight wheel cars not four as they travel all over the place and eight wheels run better than four only my opinion, they need numbers and weathering I ended up making 17 one extra in case I messed one up I didn't so I have one spare most of the ingot castings are from Marty at Scale City some are from Tom Yorke  wish Marty made more items for the Steel Mill does a good job they are nice items.

I have had some treatment on my back and can't do nothing except look for a couple of weeks hopefully It will be all right otherwise it's a major OP I suppose like everything things wear and have to be sorted out.  The furnace in the background has had no work done on it for a while. That's all I can offer at the moment but I'll get back into it soon, in the meantime I'll keep reading my Phantom comics and sleep..... isn't that what modellers do when their not modelling.

I did dig that red and white stuff out and built some stuff from the 50's at least it's O Gauge size and easier than the furnace!

Take care crossing roads.  Roo.

Wonderful work! 

One question: where did you get your bumping posts? Or are they home made?

Thanks

jpv in France

Nice progress Nev...no dust gathering on your workbench that's for sure. Take care of your back and make more railroad plans while your relaxing...all good looking so far.

Bob

Thanks for the kind words.

jpv: The Bumper posts are from Harbor Belt Lines. I wrote an article on them in OST #92 this year. Roo.

Roo (Nev),

You have a wonderful eye and your scenes ALWAYS look real. I can't accurately begin to describe how you pull it off every time, but your stuff just has "the look". I have the feeling that given the same materials as you, my result would not come off looking half as good! Some modelers scenes look contrived, while your work always looks real, even in preliminary and intermediate stages!

Please tell us about the red and white structures in the last image....they are interesting!

Cheers,

Simon