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Walthers Steel Mill returns

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Walthers Steel Mill returns
Posted by josephbw on Thursday, August 1, 2019 8:43 AM

I just got the Aug - Sep issue of the Walthers Flyer. On page 6 they are announcing that the Steel mill buildings are coming back with updated tooling in 2020. They have a 6 page article listing all the buildings, cars, engines, and scenery that will be reissued next year on a limited edition basis.

Find out more at walthers.com/steel.

 

Joe

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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, August 1, 2019 10:36 AM

When Walthers first issued its steel mill buildings, they also released an excellent book on modeling steel mills by Dean Freytag, whose clinics on the topic were legendary.  The book really told what to do with (and how to modify) the structures.  

Eventually in common with the other excellent Walthers industry books (automobiles, lumber, ports) it went out of print  BUT in this one case, the NMRA picked it up and reissued it.  NMRA members know this because it is advertised in each issue of the NMRA magazine but non-members might not realize it.

Freytag wrote a followup book called the Cyclopedia of Industrial Modeling.  I believe Plastruct sells it (they should as the book has projects that call for a lot of their products!).  Those two books make splendid resources for anyone purchasing some or all of the Walthers steel mill structures.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, August 4, 2019 8:59 AM

That loud thud you just heard was the resale price of the previous releases (Works and Ashland) falling through the floor!

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It is about time. The blast furnaces have been demanding insane prices on eBay.

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I will buy a furnace just to use the pieces for wargaming terrain. I cannot wait.

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[EDIT]: Whoops... I spoke to soon. The price on the new Blast Furnace is $250.00, I guess my definition of "Insane prices on eBay" needs to be revised. I will not be buying one of these for wargaming. Oh well.

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-Kevin

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Posted by caldreamer on Sunday, August 4, 2019 12:45 PM

I have quite a few pieces of the HO blast furnce that I go years ago.  Now in N scale, so they are just rusting away in a parts box.  Any interest out there?

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Posted by Marc_Magnus on Sunday, August 4, 2019 2:26 PM

caldreamer

I have quite a few pieces of the HO blast furnce that I go years ago.  Now in N scale, so they are just rusting away in a parts box.  Any interest out there?

 

 

 

 

Just to say the Ho furnace is usuable in N scale, it's has just the right size of a blast furnace of the 40's in N scale.

Some details need to be reduced like guardrails but the rest is OK for N scale.

This was discussed in a book published by Kalmbach some years ago.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 6:42 AM

caldreamer
I have quite a few pieces of the HO blast furnce that I go years ago.  Now in N scale, so they are just rusting away in a parts box.  Any interest out there?

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What was said about the HO blast furnace actually being an N scale model is 100% true. I do not understand why Walthers did not include N scale stairs and railings to make it both scales... oh well.

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If you really do not want it, I am interested. I do want to make some post-apocalyptic wargaming terrain from a blast furnace.

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PM me with details.

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-Kevin

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 6:44 AM

The steel mill series was/is pretty cool and I imagine it will drain quite a few wallets.  I don't have space for such a beast.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by NittanyLion on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 10:18 PM

The rolling mill always seems like a good source for parts, but that price is steep for what amounts to corrugated panels. 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, August 10, 2019 6:24 PM

NittanyLion
but that price is steep for what amounts to corrugated panels.

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Yes, The Electric Furnace looks the sames way to me.

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Both of those models have no character. I doubt anyone not modeling a Steel Mill had much interest.

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-Kevin

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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, August 10, 2019 8:38 PM

SeeYou190
Both of those models have no character. I doubt anyone not modeling a Steel Mill had much interest.

You can add character:

 E_furnace2 by Edmund, on Flickr

I still have lots more to add to it but, as you say, I am modeling a steel mill of sorts. I have the rolling mill up on a rise and it acts like a view-break so it draws attention rather than the wall behind it. I have the roll-stands sold as a detail add-on which I'll get around to installing... someday. Whistling

Regards, Ed

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, August 11, 2019 7:59 AM

gmpullman
You can add character:

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Very nice.

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Is that wall open on the model, or is that a modification?

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-Kevin

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Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, August 11, 2019 2:21 PM

SeeYou190
Is that wall open on the model, or is that a modification?

The rolling mill and electric furnace both have score-lines on the back side of the wall/end panels so that you can place openings as desired. I left openings at the bottom of my rolling mill so the inside could be viewed. I also split the building down the middle and joined both halves end-for-end since you couldn't see the back side. Again, I'm using it for more of a view break.

Back in the late 1990s I wandered around the Monongahela Valley taking various photos for reference. Here's a painting example I don't think would translate well to a layout:

 Weirton_mill by Edmund, on Flickr

Cheers, Ed

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, August 11, 2019 2:47 PM

Interesting information about the score lines on the building panels. I have bought many Cornerstone buildings and been surprised by extra little features they had. I would think Walthers would advertise these building options because they might be a good selling point for many consumers.

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If I didn't know different, I would swear that is a picture of the Evercane Sugar Mill back in the late 1990's.

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It is amazing how mant corrugated industrial buildings are so similar.

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-Kevin

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 12:12 PM

SeeYou190
I would think Walthers would advertise these building options because they might be a good selling point for many consumers.

They got it covered —

 

 Roll_1 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Regards, Ed

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, August 15, 2019 12:25 AM

gmpullman
...They got it covered —

Well, for the construction options, yeah. 

However, that 2200º rolling temperature seems to me to be a bit on the low side - okay for some grades and sizes, I suppose, but most of what we rolled was between 2300º and 2350º.

Wayne

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