I have finally begun. I have started construction of my HO bandsaw mill kit. This is the old Keystone Locomotive Works kit #HO-112, which has been sitting in a drawer since its initial release.
I recall that I really couldn't afford this kit. The price on the box says $59.95, and the instructions show a 1978 copyright. We had a new baby in the house who had plenty of medical issues, and money was tight. I knew, however, that this was a limited-run kit unlikely to be around for very long so I went ahead and ordered one. I knew that this was the era and type of structure that I wanted. I have assembled a number of the Keystone Locomotive Works' other kits: Planing Mill, the powerhouse/boilerhouse, kindling wood factory, and the 3 company houses. For all of these years, though, the space for the bandsaw mill has been shown on my layout by a piece of paper cut to the dimensions of the completed building. That piece of paper is rather yellowed after 30+ years.
I thought that this winter, the winter after my 60th birthday, would be a good time to tackle this kit. I saw one of these unassembled kits for sale at the Timonium train show last February, and I think that the asking price was $260. I've thrown several extra detail parts into the box over the years, which I hope to incorporate.
The photo shows the completed framing for one of the side walls, with the framing for the other side being laid up on the plan. The kit provides metal castings for the 45 degree bracing, which are to be painted to match the stained frame beams. I find it hard to paint metal to look like wood, so I cut 45 degree braces from scale 8" x 8" stripwood. I had used this same method in construction of the Planing Mill and it worked well. For the bandsaw mill, the plan says that there are 92 of these braces... Several other modifications or (hopeful) upgrades of the kit are planned, although it will retain its original overall design and size. I hope to provide y'all with some updates on an irregular schedule as key construction points are reached.
If you haven't started YOUR winter project, perhaps its time to begin.
Bill
Are you planning for a dry landing or a mill pound? On the below prototype, a reel winch pulled a cable looped to the log's end, and up the sheetmetal-covered ramp.
I have room for a small log pond. The log dump track is already in place. The kit provides the jack slip, chain, and chain dogs. Although the log pond has been "dug", I won't scenic that area until the bandsaw mill is completed so that I know just how the jack slip will fit.
Lovely kit, good luck, I'm envious, My winter project has just started today with 6'' of snow, and my new snowblower, it's time to blow 35 tons of wet snow on my neighbours lawn, life in Canadaland eh?
Off topic - I learned the hard way here in Colorado that many-to-most snow blowers are pretty useless with wet snow. At best, wet snow blows a couple of feet, and at worst, wet snow clogs and stalls the snow blower. Luckily, most of our snow is dry snow for about 12 hours after it's fallen. If I use the snow blower during the golden time period, it does a great job of clearing snow.
Fred W
It's pretty rare for it to snow at all here at the beach (twice in the five years I've been here). When it does we just close the drapes so we don't have to look at it. Its usually gone by Noon...