Anyone know where I can find either a kit or plans to build a blast furnace? The only kit I can find is an HO Walthers kit. That doesn't help much. Is there a site on the web for scratchbuilding plans? D6
There was a two part article done sometime ago in N Scale mag where a steel mill was built using the HO Walthers models. Some would argue that the HO size is closer to the real size anyway. If that doesn't do it for you... there's a guy name Mike Rabbit that sells scale drawings for all kinds of steel buildings. He might be able to reduce them to N. His number: 610-688-3352 Dave D. Los Angeles, CA The Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Photo Archive & E-Mail List: http://eje.railfan.net The Ashley, Drew & Northern Railfan Page: http://eje.railfan.net/adn Southern California Trains: http://eje.railfan.net/socal
Steel mills are huge complexes. So using the Walthers HO kit is not a problem. Bernie Kempinski of the Northern VA NTRAK group has a module set called "Alkem Steel" at this URL http://www.nvntrak.org/modules/alkem_steel.htm In the middle of the page is a link to another page where he tells about how he built the mill, using the Walthers HO kit. This complex was written up in one of the recent model railroading magazines -- I will try to find the issue when I get home and post a note on it later N Joy Don Brown Tucson AZ USA
I was in the same position as you a few months ago. No plans but some good pictures and a view of Dofasco and Stelco in Hamilton gave me enough direction to scratchbuild my steel mill with two blast furnaces. I used those flickering flame Christmas lights inside to give the glo and flicker of steel work. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside [This message has been edited by Robin Matthysen (edited 30 November 2000).]
Robin, nice mill. Ahh, Hamilton. I lived there for 3 years before I moved back to my home in the Ottawa area. Hamilton is a great city, I miss it. I don't know how familiar you are with the city, but I lived near Bayfront Park with a clear view of Stelco and Dofasco. I'm kinda wishing I had that view now! Stelco will the be the mill on my layout... Hamilton Harbour included. Unfortunately, Stelco's website doesn't have much in the way of pics... and not too many are available thanks to Stelco & Dofasco's policies on photography of their operations. What are the dimensions of your mill? I have about 8 square feet for mine... looks like a little selective compression is in order. D6
Is Hamilton the place where the freeway goes over on a huge fly-over? I remember one when we were on the bus from Toronto to Niagara. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Yep, that's Hamilton (aka: Steeltown)... that is the "Skyway" Bridge over the canal between lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour... the busiest Canadian port in the Great Lakes. You get a great view of the steel mills from there. Actually they're pretty ugly and dirty, I guess you'd have to live there to appreciate them. D6
Hamilton is on the edge of the Niagara escarpment and the lower downtown is often covered in soot from the mills. I was store manager of the Eaton store in Limeridge Mall for two years. D6 The dimensions of my steel mill are 43 inches long by 7 inches deep. Here is an evening view. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside [This message has been edited by Robin Matthysen (edited 30 November 2000).]
Robin, That's cool... I worked as a producer for the radio stations Y95 & 900 CHML for 3 years. You're right, the northeast end of the city got pretty dirty sometimes. Where I lived, near Bayfront, it was clean and I had a great view of those mills. They looked so cool at night with all the towers lit up and the exhaust stacks blowing 200 foot flames... quite a sight. D6
I have the Walthers blast furnace palns and will scan and send them to you if you send me your email address. Ira Goldberg
