Arnold factory makeover

[Michael B]

Hello everyone.

Did you know that the Arnold factories are operational?
Operating cars dump "coal product" into a bin, the conveyer then lifts & dumps
it into the top of the big building, where it kinda falls through all the
way down into a car waiting on the lower track.
Real operations in N without uncoupling!
They also have a sister "dumping station".

I tried for a month to sell this stuff for $250, no buyers, but lots of lookers.
Pretty rough condition...but hell, there were six cars in there.

Lots of potential - but it looks like it is up to me to realize it.

Here is a pic from the attempted sale...

 

[Michael B]

Day 1.

Here we have a "before" shot of the factory in question, and one of it disassembled.

 

[Michael B]

Also today, we made a sub-base which has a nice access port so
the mech can be dropped out if needed. I installed foam to
insulate the mech so she runs real quite.

 

[Michael B]

Day 2.

Quite a bit happened today.
I hacked, scrapped, and chopped on the base and got it into primer.
Those concrete fences had to go, and the cobblestones too.
I also got a servo installed which will cause the cars to dump into the bin.

 

[Michael B]

Day 3.

The brick building's front facade gets window openings and a patch.
After it was made to fit, that is. Man, it was close - had to scrape plastic
to get enough clearance. Luckily, this servo runs quite.

Suddenly, the brick building looks "feasible".

 

[Michael B]

Day 4.

Today we installed 4 leds that will light the interiors of the buildings, and the area
below the big building where the "target" car sits.

Finished closing up a hole in the big building's base, and gave it some rail
sections and uprights for support.

Suddenly, the large building looks more "feasible" too.

 

[Michael B]

Day 5.

Almost finished the base today. Just that patched area to finish and a little paint.
Extended the sub-base enough to install the concrete bridge and pillar.
The model was missing the smoke stack, so I made one.
Got the windows made, except for the exterior trim.
I started work on new stove pipes for the buildings.
Each building had two, but I want just one pipe per building - I will
close up the extra holes with bondo...

Getting stoked now, she is starting to come together!

 

[Michael B]

Day 6 & 7.

Yep, it took 2 days to finish the base and build all the railings.

Note how the railing is made in place. In the pic you can see how things go.
BTW, I use finger nail clippers on those posts - after all the soldering is done.
Much faster, more accurate, and does not stress the joint.

 

[Michael B]

Day 8 & 9.

Finished up the brick building, installed the smoke stack, and installed
HO C100 rail supports above the bin.
So it was a good day...
Then crap, I lost one days pics.
They were of the lighting build and install...

 

[Michael B]

Day 10.

Some final painting and weathering to cover my patches...

More picture taking, and editing...

Now finished, she will be listed on feebay starting at $150.

Have a look at the awesome lighting I laid on this bad boy.
11 lights in all.