I want to model the iron mine in the attached photo . I'll scale it down somewhat (this thing is huge!) but I want to capture the essense of it. Any suggestions on kits that might serve as a good starting point? Materials to use for a scratchbuild? Thanks, Dan.
This might be a good start. If you were doing N scale, you'd be in good shape, but looks like they're coming out with HO sometime soon. http://www.blairline.com/cashmine/ contact the owner, i'm sure he'd be glad to talk to you about it.
The rock house is sheathed in corrugated steel. In 'HO' scale , Alpine Division Scale Models makes this material , as well as a number of kits of corrugated sheathed industrial and railway buildings. This includes several mine related structures. You can find them on the web and their products at comprehensive model railroad stores. There are kit bashing possibilities galore in their stuff. These kits were part of the Suydam line and later were California Scale Models before the present ownership coming along. Good-Luck, PJB