Deadwood Smelter

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M

mdcustom

Bridge and Building Dept
Something new, this is the first building from Deadwood Smelter that I am building as a possible entry into next years Narrow Gauge Convention's model contest. Piece is built with full studs and rafters and is even complete to the nailers under the individually applied shingles. The hole in the shingles and the loose/missing boards allow the interior features to be seen. Note also that the sides and rear did not have any exterior sheathing on the prototype. I am building this piece off of a single photo of the prototype. What really intrigued me about this smelter is the way the angled pipe goes thru the main building to reach the stack.
 
Nice work. Is that in O scale. Was just looking at the width of the door on your cutting mat. Appears to be close to an inch across. I too, use real individual shingles on many of my buildings. Takes forever but looks great. Ron.
 


Ron. your correct piece is being modeled in O scale. I like the detail is possible in O. Modeled in HO since the early 60's before switching my personal layout to O in 2006. I cut the individual shingles from prestained scale 1x8's for the most part.
 
Further progress on the smelter storage building. Roof shingling was finished with "holes" on both sides. Floor with full joists, posts and bracing was completed. Then the door bumper was added complete with recessed bolts. This is the first (and smallest) of five structures that will comprise this complex when completed.
 
You are doing a fantastic job. Contest winning quality.
The Black Hills is a place I wish I had discovered 20 years sooner. I found the early railroading there more interesting than Colorado.
It's nice to see someone modeling it. I look forward to seeing your progress.
 
Started working on the main building this afternoon. Walls on the main building are 2x6's. I am planning on a stone foundation on the structure with perhaps a wood block floor (this type of floor was used in a large number of industrial and railroad locations). Instead of trusses as in the smaller building the roof on the main building will be supported by heavy beams and posts with rafters in between.
 
Got the basic structure for the lower main building finished. This section of the building is 40'x28'. 6x6 posts support the 6x14 beams that will in turn support the 2x8 rafters. The beams have splice plates in the center held in place with large bolts. Also added the section of wall that forms the clerestory portion of the upper main building. Note that the posts under this section do not go all the way to the ground as there will be a stone wall cast to accommodate the level change between the two sections of the main building.
 


Got the rafters installed on the building, each of them is notched to fit flat on the 6x14 beams. Started installing the nailers for the shingles, they are 1x6's spaced 6" apart.
 
Jim, this is all in "real time" I am a full time model builder (retired architect) and usually spend 8-10 hours per day working of pieces. Normally I have 4-6 pieces in various stages of production on the work bench at any one time, but right now there are 7, Deadwood Smelter, SLIM&M Car Shop, Como High School, Hotel Gwendolyn, Thornton Building, a Shortline Water Tank, and a Diner. I try and spend an hour on personal builds and an hour on pieces for various shows, right now those pieces are the Deadwood and Car Shop. All of the rest are for clients.

Matt
 
After taking a short brake on work on the smelter to allow me to finish up the Hotel Gwendolyn I started applying the individual shingles to the lower main building. These are cut from scale 1x8's.
 
Rlundy it would be a fun piece to do in HO, I think it would be easier to leave out the interior in HO which would allow you to use an Evergreen core for the piece.

Spent a bit of time today adding to the shingles on this piece.
 
Matt, are you using the carpenter's glue in a syringe trick for the shingles too? How many shingles do you estimate youre going to need for this project? I'm just trying to guess at what point you might go totally insane. :)
 


Jim, usually for large areas of shingles I use Walthers Goo laid in a short (2-3") line to which the shingles are applied with the tip of a new #11 blade and secured with a small piece of basewood. As for an estimate of the number, I figure that the entire complex will take 12-15 packs of lumber.

Set more of the shingles today.
 
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