We Need a Coal Tower Model, Don't We

Yes!  I still am amazed how no one makes railroad structures.  It seems like a huge opportunity.

Norm Charbonneau posted:

Have you seen the nice one made by TW Trainworx? I'm not sure of the prototype but it is pretty cool looking:

https://www.twtrainworxstore.c...oduct/coaling-tower/

 

Yes, it is nice, but how many people here are going to spend that kind of money on one structure. I think we need a coaling facility somewhat less expensive. No, I stand corrected, a LOT less expensive.

Jeff

Trainworx are the Cadillac, BMW, and Mercedes of model railroad structures and are priced accordingly. You certainly get what you pay for with their products!

The GGD coaling tower is not hard to come by right now.   They are in stock at Sunset/3rd Rail/GGD according to their website.

A Concrete option is one of the Suncoast Modeles kits, they did two different ones I think.   One is a very modern automatic one and one a traditional one.   Those kits show up a lot at shows and are pretty cheap.   Just need a model railroader to build it.     Remember when building a building, tolerances and variances are not critical.    It does not have to stay on the track or move, just stand alone in one place!

Crescent Locomotive works make two Wood Coaling towers built up, a two track version and a 3 track version.    I have their ashpit hoist and it is nice for the money.

prrjim posted:

Crescent Locomotive works make two Wood Coaling towers built up, a two track version and a 3 track version.    I have their ashpit hoist and it is nice for the money.

 

Crescent Locomotive Works pre made coaling towers

That is for the responses.  I was not aware of either the Trainworx or the Crescent models.  I am aware of the Suncoast kit, but is more like a scratch building project.  Somewhere  where that and a shake the box kit would be nice.  The Trainworx kit looks great if one is willing to pay for it.  Their website indicates they have 3 in stock.

I still can't help but to think that this would be a great project for Menards though. 

I do like all of the options mentioned and the details on some are amazing but the prices of most exceed my modest monthly train budget.

I would be happy with a detailed plastic kit that could be kit-bashed for under a $ 100.00.

Tinplate Art posted:

Trainworx are the Cadillac, BMW, and Mercedes of model railroad structures and are priced accordingly. You certainly get what you pay for with their products!

I get what I pay for from Plasticville.  Don't get much, don't ask for much.

prrjim posted:

Crescent Locomotive works make two Wood Coaling towers built up, a two track version and a 3 track version.    I have their ashpit hoist and it is nice for the money.

 

CLWs puts together a nice kit. Saw his build-up coal tower at York. Very cool. 

Forty Rod posted:

Tinplate Art posted:

Trainworx are the Cadillac, BMW, and Mercedes of model railroad structures and are priced accordingly. You certainly get what you pay for with their products!

I get what I pay for from Plasticville.  Don't get much, don't ask for much.

Forty Rod - the Plasticville coaling tower looks like it might be a great model to start with! Some on eBay for less than $ 30.00. 

Of course it doesn't have the fine details of those towers mentioned above but it doesn't have the price tag either.

Thanks for reminding me of Plasticville.

The Bachmann Plasticville Coal Station, number 1975, is a good kitbashing kit. 

My first kitbash was to make a raised roof Coaling Station to replace the 1975 flat roof. I always liked the looks of that style coal station.  I used 1/8 inch tempered Masonite with one smooth side.  The sides were scored with a knife to look like siding.  Windows were installed in the top section.  A sheet metal roof, obtained at a train show, was installed.

 If not big enough for you, kitbash two of them or use the above 1/8 inch Masonite to make one you like from scratch.  Not hard to do.

Another Bachmann Plasticville Coal Station to kit bash and make a Coal Mine and Coal Loading Station.  The kit was used to make the Coal Mine Entrance into the underground mine in the mountain.

A new “A” frame roof was built for the top out of 1/8 inch Masonite with a window in the end and the end was scored to be vertical siding.  The roof was roofed with some of the kit roofing.

The Coal Loading Section was also made of Masonite.   The outside walls were scored with a knife to be vertical siding.  Windows were in the installed in the side and end walls. 

 For more details of how make the coal station dump coal see link below:

https://ogrforum.com/...ra-027-layout?page=2

Charlie

I have the Gloorcraft kit and two other oddball kit brands that are boxes of sticks and that would build into as big or bigger structures, which is the problem....l think all are too big for a shortline, and l am mulling over bashing or scratching a one chute smaller one.  There have been more kits offered than these three, including one large one by Smokestack Hobbies (defunct), but all I've seen seem sized for Class 1 mainline.

Although I have not (yet) built a coaling station, they look to me to be an excellent candidate for a scratch-built structure. I think one could be made very easily out of balsa or basswood. Everything you need could be bought at Michael's for not a lot of money.

Don't be intimidated.  Give it a try!

The Suncoast 200 ton tower is not that hard to build. it is mostly plastic and the wood pieces can easily be replaced with plastic. If one does not build the stairways and hand rails by scratch but instead uses pre-built  Plastruct parts it gets even easier. I have built one already and am building 2 more.

Joe

Joe,

Your Suncoast towers look fantastic.  Thanks for sharing, an inspiration for sure.  What paint do you use?  The concrete look is very realistic 

Well, this thread prompted me to Google "coaling towers", and right off l found a tall, slim, small one l immediately started to bash a Plasticville one into, and am sitting here waiting for glue to dry.  I was thinking about putting it on a "stone" base, but haven't seen a prototype for that.

This concrete tower, outside Macon, Georgia, is one I believe would be an excellent candidate.

Jesse   TCA

Scott R posted:

Joe,

Your Suncoast towers look fantastic.  Thanks for sharing, an inspiration for sure.  What paint do you use?  The concrete look is very realistic 

Scott:
The process is (I use rattle cans)
1. flat black about 80% coverage
2. red oxide primer about 80% coverage
3. dark gray about 80% coverage
4. either light gray or white depending on how light you want the concrete to look. The more 'dirty' you want the less you spray.
Joe

if you got the skills either scratch build using balsa wood or other materials or do a drastic modification of the Plasticville tower.  I scratch build using cardboard, matchsticks, Popsicle sticks and of course balsa wood.  enclosing a pic. of my coal tower built in 1983 basically out of all the listed materials except balsa wood.  I did use 1/4 square balsa for the corner posts.  It's a hard job but the satisfaction of building it yourself is unreal.  Take your time and walk away from it once in a while.  It's still standing tall in my yard after 36 years and showing signs of no warping.

Joe Fauty posted:

The Suncoast 200 ton tower is not that hard to build. it is mostly plastic and the wood pieces can easily be replaced with plastic. If one does not build the stairways and hand rails by scratch but instead uses pre-built  Plastruct parts it gets even easier. I have built one already and am building 2 more.

Joe

 

Beautiful tower, Now that's the way to build em.  Really like the work shop also.  10 times bigger than mine.  Like the use of 123 blocks, I even use my old angle plates from my trade for scratch building.  Only a tool or diemaker has those tools.  Height gages work well also.

You get the award for creative craftsman ship Lary both 36 years ago and for a structure standing tall and straight today.

Lary posted:

Beautiful tower, Now that's the way to build em.  Really like the work shop also.  10 times bigger than mine.  Like the use of 123 blocks, I even use my old angle plates from my trade for scratch building.  Only a tool or diemaker has those tools.  Height gages work well also.

Thanks Lary