I recently bought the Walthers HO scale concrete coaling tower
for my layout. Before I get to in depth on building this kit, I'm trying to research information about realistically (somewhat) weathering of it, paints, etc. I'm modeling the N&W hence why I went with the round style I did. I have looked at photos of the prototypes but am wondering what others have done to model the paint colors, coal dust, where said coal dust would accumulate, etc.
Thanks
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
I used the same Walthers kit at my Lowbanks engine terminal, but modified it slightly by making it into a single track version, as space there is very limited. I also replaced a lot of the Walthers add-on parts with stuff from Tichy, as I had lots of such leftovers from building two of the larger Tichy towers. These include most of the ironwork - steps, ladders, platforms, coal chute, etc. I also added a scratchbuilt sandhouse and a dry sand storage tank, along with sanding pipes and even sand delivery hoses for my diesel-electric doodlebug, the only non-steamer on the layout.
Unfortunately, I'm not too happy with the colour I chose...a little too grey, I think. After it was on the layout, I did go back and brush-paint the roof areas, as most prototype towers applied tar to those surfaces. I've added only some basic soot staining, but It needs more weathering, I think, even though it's supposed to represent a fairly recently-built facility.
A lot of the Tichy details are available as separate items, and are more finely-rendered, if that's of importance to you.
Here's one of the Tichy towers, photographed before it was installed permanently on the upper level of the layout:
Wayne
Thanks for taking the time to reply to this post, and adding the pictures. I appreciate it! Good information here that I'll be using as I build mine.
Wayne, great job on your coaling towers!
Thanks, John.
I built two of the Tichy towers, pretty-well simultaneously, although the placement of the details varied and each used a different colour for the ironwork. One was built for a good friend, who very generously supplied the second one for my own use.
There are great pictures on the Web. I would use washes using black paint with a bit of rust here and there. Wayne did a good job with the airbrush to simulate the black soot left by the locos.
Here's a photo of a real coaling tower, although it shows little evidence of the steam locomotives for which it once served...
However, when the photo was taken in July, 1986, it still served to supply sand for the road's diesels, but has since then been demolished.
Those cast concrete structures were not easy to demolish, that's why so many of them were left standing long after steam had vanished. Ones straddling main lines became victims of double stacks and stuff.
The Walthers style one is based off a common style that was built in various sizes for railroads all over, so it's a plausible model. I need the square styles one for my layout, although smaller than the prototype because full size won't fit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Those cast concrete structures were not easy to demolish...
Those cast concrete structures were not easy to demolish...
That's a fact. They tended not to skimp on re-bar. I watched one being demo-ed in Michigan (maybe the C&O?). They'd bash it a buncha times with a steel ball and then someone would do a lot of cutting of re-bar. Then more bashing. Then more cutting.......
Ed