Bashing O scale B'mann Coal Tower into G

[vsmith]

Hi all,

I thought I'd share some pic's of my coaling tower that started off as a O scale bachmann plasticville structure.









This is my first attempt at painting and weathering a large scale structure. I needed a coal tower, I didnt feel like scratchbuilding one and I didnt want to pay over $200 for a Pola kit. It also had to cover an existing wall outlet and cord. I thought the Plasticville tower might be modified and converted to large scale. I added a base of LGB pier sections with a styrene sheet on top as the base. I also added the tower section at the rear to cover an electrical plug and cord that powers my empire. This is how the tower looks one the layout and the power cord routing.




After getting the major construction done, when I got around to painting it i decided to go for a darker brown paint, the roof is soft aluminum rolled thru a paper pleater, painted grey, then drybrushed with browns and rust, then washed with rust and ink/alcohol washes, same washes were applied to the body. The base was painted with acyrilic paint. just 6 different earth tones and brushed on mixing colors, no cleaning brush between stones. I found this technic very enjoyable to do. A coat of Aged Concrete on top of the base and an ink wash and its now done, I still need to add a ladder and dull coat it, then replace it onto the layout.

Finally, the first structure is done![8D]

[Anonymous]

LOOKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!

[wa1lbk]

VERY impressive, given how toylike the original O scale tower was! [8D] Nice weathering, too! Tom Lapointe

[toenailridgesl]

Weathering is excellent, Vic, as is the modification. Clever way to hide the power outlet too.

[Anonymous]

Hey Ya'll

That is some coal tower.

Uh,Oh, afer seeing what you can do with plasticville structure, know I am off and running.

Nick

Beware, the monster is off an running, there might not be anymore detail parts and strip wood and posicle sticks left afetr I am done.

[Anonymous]

Just a question that I have regarding plastic model kits in general. Would it not be possible to cheaply acquire a kit (say from eBay) in another scale (N, or HO) then scan it into a computer or xerox them, then blow them up to the required size to get 'drawings' for constructing them in G?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Starhelm

Just a question that I have regarding plastic model kits in general. Would it not be possible to cheaply acquire a kit (say from eBay) in another scale (N, or HO) then scan it into a computer or xerox them, then blow them up to the required size to get 'drawings' for constructing them in G?

The Answer is yes, People do it all the time, i just wish I could find the formula. There is a mathimatical way to go about, but math was never one of my[X-)][D)][%-)] strong points.

[Anonymous]

That is a very nice model.

Bachmann actually made this model tower in G a few years ago and included it in some of their sets. I have one. I think it has been discontinued. It is funny to see the same kits made in different scales like the Pola garage that was made in HO and G. You would think that the manufactures could just make different ones. How many scales was this tower made in I wonder?

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by emmaandy

That is a very nice model.

Bachmann actually made this model tower in G a few years ago and included it in some of their sets. I have one. I think it has been discontinued. It is funny to see the same kits made in different scales like the Pola garage that was made in HO and G. You would think that the manufactures could just make different ones. How many scales was this tower made in I wonder?

Check your scale[:D] I think you'll find that the coal tower B'mann provided in the Big Hauler sets was same O scale coaling tower from there Plasticville series. The secret is to measure the stairs and hand rails. At even 1/24 scale (1/2" to the scale foot) the hand rails should be 1 1/2" high to represent a 36" high scale handrailing, The Bachmann tower rails are only 3/4" high or 18" at 1/24 scale. the stairs are also a big giveaway as the treads are only 3" high at 1/24 scale. Bachmann just took an O scale tower and included it in the early Big Hauler train sets as an extra because they looked reasonably close to G scale. They never made a true G scale tower. This from the horses own mouth, the Bachmann forum where a question about the scale of the coaling tower came up a while ago and I got to read it from Bachmann themselves.[;)]

Thats why I chose this O scale tower as the basis of my bash but I added the base and changed the handrails to scale. I also added height to the tower but that was to help conceal the outlet mentioned. This is a great base kit to build a good looking reasonably close to G tower for a few bucks and a little elbow grease. It realy does need to be raised about 1 1/2 " so the coal chute clears the tender. I used a Bachmann Annie for my clearances. [8D]

Next, bashing an LGB TOYTRAIN water tank into something better looking than Stock![:p]

[Anonymous]

I stand corrected.

It's funny even the instructions say G. G seems to be a quite accepting scale like O toy trains. I guess these early Bachman sets were considered that way. And I'm sure the pola garage I mentioned is not packaged for both G and HO but is a scaled up kit.

Anyway I really like your model.