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I've been all through the Walthers catalogue and maybe I missed them somewhere but I am having a hard time finding some small bushel grain bins. Like the ones you see all along the countryside in fields. The Westeel-Roscos, the Chiefs, the assorted other brands. You've all seen them... short round corrugated steel with sloped tops and lids.
I just ordered the Rix one and HOLY CRAP!!!! it is huge. Not what I envisioned when ordered it but I will make use of it somewhere. However, it is the short smaller diameter ones I am looking for. Anyone have any intel on such critters?
And while we're asking, how about hopper bottom bins in smaller sizes than the Walthers Surger bin?
My farmers are about to revolt if I don't get them some bins.
Most of the bins they make a the bulk bins for loading into rail cars not for placing on farms. While they might take a lot of work to get to look right in ho the Ertl S scale farm bins might work
Columbia Valley models used to make them. Unfortunately I think they are out of business, but you can still find them on Ebay. They run about $15-$20 for the kit, which, if I remember correctly, makes 2 bins.
Heres a couple of pics of the Columbia Valley bins. They are the small Butler bins you see by the thousands on the prairies. I think they are exactly what you are looking for. Second pic shows the size of the bins.
They have the nicest detail of any bins I have seen. The roofs are a little tricky to build though. They consist of 17 pieces and are tough to hold in position while gluing.
Most of the products you linked to are silos for silage storage. They can be converted into grain storage but that is not their intended purpose.
There is a dairy farm 4 miles North of my parent's place that converted one of their upright silos to hold grain. The others were tore down and they went to a bunker silo for their silage needs.
Exactly what I am looking for. But, hmm... is that a toilet paper roll bin? lol
What else comes in the kit? Do you have one completed yet?
I wonder what the measurements are on the roof panels; a guy could almost make his own if he knew the measurements and could figure a way to make the corrugated curved siding pieces.
Most of the products you linked to are silos for silage storage. They can be converted into grain storage but that is not their intended purpose.
There is a dairy farm 4 miles North of my parent's place that converted one of their upright silos to hold grain. The others were tore down and they went to a bunker silo for their silage needs.
Must be an age difference then. When I grew up in Illinois out on the farm west of Chicago (area is now all suburbs), we didn't have the newer corrugated metal bins, we had the tall concrete ones next to every barn. They stored corn, soy beans and grains in them.
Here's the measurements for the bin and a quick how to on building them. You will need a tube 2 1/8" in diameter. That's 15'3" in HO scale. All measurements from here will be in HO scale. The base is 16'3" in diameter. Cut the tube to 13'3"high.
To make the roof:First draw a circle 19' in diameter. In the center of that circle draw another circle 3' in diameter. Now draw a straight line through the middle of the circle. From that line draw another line 20 degrees to the right. Keep drawing lines at 20 degree intervals untill you have gone 320 degrees. This should give you 16 roof sections with a 40 degree cutout which will form the slope of the roof. Now cut out the center hole and score and fold the roof to the right shape. I would make the roof out of styrene or cardboard and just score the sections instead of trying to build it from separate sections. Top each roof joint with a piece of 2"x2" strip. For siding use Cambell's corrugated sheeting in 10' length(part#0802) or similar cut in 3' widths. Bend them around a 3/4"-7/8" dowel to bend them to fit the bin. The door is 2'9"wide x 7' high. The ladder on the roof should be positioned like in the picture and can be made from.015-.025 wire. On the panel to the right is a hatch 3' high x 16" wide about a foot from the bottom edge of the roof. It is round on both ends. Throw a cap on the roof and some brand names on em and you should have some nice bins bins. If you need any other info just PM me. Ron
Must be an age difference then. When I grew up in Illinois out on the farm west of Chicago (area is now all suburbs), we didn't have the newer corrugated metal bins, we had the tall concrete ones next to every barn. They stored corn, soy beans and grains in them.
Jerome, I should have added that this is in So. Ill. I don't get out much so I could very well be wrong with other areas. Around here the large elevators had concrete bins (they were of the continuous pour type, not made of blocks), the small farms had graineries (until the metal bins became popular). They are a typical looking barn but if you look at the barn from one of the ends, there will be doors on the left and right. The center would consist of rooms where grain would be dumped into. There were other designs of graineries but that is the more popular around here. Most have been torn down but some are still used for regular storage (wood, parts, etc.)
Just as an FYI for anyone who may not be familiar with Ag and easy way to differentiate between a silo and a grain bin is the way it loads and unloads. If you look at http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/152-190 you will notice on the left is an area that juts out from the silo and runs the height of the silo. This is where the silage unloader blows the silage into and then falls to the feed bunk below. It is then either shoveled by hand and taken by conveyor to feed the cattle. On the right side is a pipe that runs higher than the blocks of the silo. This is how it is loaded. A silage blower is placed on the bottom of the pipe. A silage wagon is then pulled beside it and unloaded. The silage is then blown up the pipe via the silage blower. When the silo is full (or at desired level) some one(s) climbs the silo to level out the silage and to set the unloader (inside the silo) so the silage can be fed.
Thanks Ron! I'm going to give that a try when I get some Campbells corrugated siding. I used to make my own with tin foil and a toothbrush, but was never happy with the results. It always looked so flat and squished.
Incedently, on my travels yesterday I saw a lot of old wooden grain bins. Not graineries which are square wooden structures of various sizes and shapes but rather round like the corrugated ones. Sorry, no pics.
Made of plywood and strapping they are not very large and were probably the predescessor to the corrugated ones or at least an inexpensive version. I am going to try to make one or two of these also. It should be fairly easy with some cardstock and electrical tape for the banding.
When I get to it, I' ll drop in some 'how-to' photos.
