I told them I'd do it!

[CSXFan]

Well all I've decided to give it a shot. I'm going to attemt a kitbash! I have decided to use an old Walthers HO North Island refinery for part of a madoern power plant that I'm building for my future (fingers crossed) layout. However, the power plant I'm basing my model on Is huge and boxy. What should I use for the boxy part? The refinery will be used for smokestacks etc.

 

[Catt]

How about using Evergreen's Metal siding and scratchbuild the whole building.

 

[billk]

Well, since we seem to making everything else out of foam these days, how about making a huge, boxy foam block and covering it with the siding Catt mentioned? Might be easier to keep thing squared up.
BillK

 

[roryglasgow]

It's funny you should mention that, BillK. I was pondering the virtues of using foam insulation to build the mine for my layout. It would make a cardboard structure a little more durable...

-Rory

 

[60103]

Foam buildings

We went on a layout tour this month and on one layout there was a mockup of a freight shed made of layers of inch-thick insulation with a cardboard roof, painted a dark brown. I'd walked by it a few times before I saw the end of it and realized what it was.
Builder said that it hadn't been commented on that much.
There was another one on the layout as well.

 

[Catt]

Ya know somethin' BillK,I think your on to something here.I may just have to give it a go .

 

[CSXFan]

re?

whee would I aquire some of this foam and siding? I think the local building supply has faom, but what's the best kind to use for secnery and or building material?

 

[billk]

For scenery, the general concensus seems to be to use the building supply stuff, comes in 4 X 8 sheets, anywhere from 1/2 to 2 in thick, and usually pink or blue depending on who made it.

For buildings, there might be better choices. I've seen some blocks of light green stuff at artsy-craftsy places, I think for flower arranging or something, that might work better than the ol' pink or blue. I recall you could get blocks maybe 4-6in on a side. At least it won't cost a lot to experiment!

The siding Catt mentioned is, I think, a pretty standard scratch-building material. Try a model RR-oriented hobby shop, the Walther's site
(http://www.walthers.com), etc., etc. Or try making your own out of thin cardboard or something ... again, it can be a pretty cheap way to experiment.

 

[Drew1125]

I tend to view any kit as just a collection of parts that with a little imagination, will turn into something original...
I would LOVE to get my hands on one of those refinery kits!
Here's a chemical plant I kitbashed for my N scale layout...
The large tan-colored building is part of the Walthers Superior Paper Co. kit. I've made two decent sized factories out of this kit, & still have lots of leftovers.
This would be a great starting point for a power plant...There are TONS of detail parts with this thing!

 

[Matthyro]

Thats a great addition to your layout Charlie. Nicely done.

In making larger buildings I have used wood, foam, masonite corrugated cardboard , left over plastic vertical blinds and MDF board.
Just about anything will do. Depends on what I have on hand.

 

[CSXFan]

HO?

Charlie, is that chemical plant kitbashed form the Walthers HO Kraft mill? How's the railfanning in Louisville? I bet it's crowded there with the derby coming up this weekend.

 

[Drew1125]

Hi CSXFan!
The model in the picture is N scale...Like I mentioned, the large tan-colored building came from a Walthers Superior Paper Mill.
The metal building to the right came from Walthers New River Coal Mine kit, & the brick structure on the other side is made from DPM wall sections. The black incinerator is made from pievces of the coal mine floor, the 3 gray silos are little water vials from a flower shop, with legs from the coal mine kit, & the tanks came from both HO & N scale Walthers Interstate Fuel kits.
The railfanning is pretty good from my house...I can walk over to the local brick yard, & it's right where the double track main ends on the CSX main coming into Lou. from Cinn. There's a lot of lay0over action, waiting for trains to clear the main.
As far as the Derby...If it doesn't stop raining , the festivities this week are going to be rather damp.

BTW...The Derby's for out-of-towners...The Oaks is our race...that's the day before Derby.
But it still gives all of us an excuse to do a lot of eating & drinking for a couple of weeks!