I am starting this thread to share my efforts in working up a minor kitbash of a flour mill complex. I have been stuck in a rut with modeling for a while now – completely stalled. Hopefully by sharing this I will get motivated/inspired to make progress and I can move forward not just on this project, but on the overall layout. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well! First, some background information. My interests have pretty firmly settled on a few eastern roads for a while now, and as time goes by those roads are getting even more firmly settled. This is a good thing as it is allowing me to be more focused and hopefully better able to progress. Those roads are the B&O (my primary road), the Southern (a very close second) and the C&O. I have an interest in the Western Maryland and N&W as well, but have not really honed in on those. I have a VERY small switching layout. It’s not a permanent layout as I am not in my forever home and I wanted something that could be potentially movable if needed, or alternatively something that is not so large/so much effort invested that if I have to dispose of it when moving, I can do so without too much regret. The track plan is from Keith Jordan’s layout for the Santa Fe Patch switching district. https://www.patchrailroad.net/The_Patch/Patch_Home.html In terms of a theme, I am using the B&O Georgetown (Washington D.C. and suburban MD) branch for inspiration, as well as Southern’s operations in Alexandria, Va. These are just for inspiration, not any sort of exact duplication. In learning about these operations, one industry that stood out for me was the Wilkins-Rogers flour mill located in Georgetown. This is serving as inspiration for my “K-T Milling”. I’m not sure if it is permitted to post pictures from another site (I suspect not), so instead, below are links to some pictures/info on Wilkins-Rogers. The facility was in operation until 1976 I believe, when it moved to another location in Maryland (Ellicott City). I think it has subsequently moved again, somewhere to the midwest now. These are general pictures of the facility and is basically what I am using to guide me. https://www.loc.gov/resource/npcc.33024/ https://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=1486 I am not trying to duplicate the facility, but am using it as a basis for my kitbash. I am only going to use the part of the facility that is railside. You may have already guessed that I will be using a Walthers Red Wing Milling kit to start on this. The real building had a lot of windows. The Walthers kit does not have as many, but overall I think it will be a good representation. I plan to add the extension (trackside) next to the main building to extend the number of loading spots. My plan for that is to use DPM walls. The silos are something that I might try to do as well, but I will have to orient them differently – the real facility would take up too much space on the layout to place them that way. I like how the company name is on the silos – I’d like to do something similar with my model. I’ll try to keep updates coming as I progress, and share pictures. I actually have the walls of the Red Wing kit assembled and have rattle canned them white. Hopefully more to share soon!
Looks like a wonderful choice for a project. Years ago I scratchbuilt an anthracite coal breaker and found that first working up cardstock (I used cereal box material) replicas paid big dividends in getting the sizing right, along with building footprints, window placement and roof angles. I set out photos like you did so as to keep prototypical appearance in mind as I worked. With that done, I could start cutting plastic with a lot more confidence than I'd have had otherwise.
Back to this project after a little break – unfortunately had the “pleasure” of a kidney stone keeping me from doing much. A few pictures of the painted shell of the main building. This was spray painted white (plain old Krylon). And yes, that is my dryer in the picture. The laundry room gives the best light at the moment for pictures. K-T Milling Trackside by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 1:57 PM K-T Milling Rear by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM K-T Milling Left Side by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM K-T Milling Right Side by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM Overall, I am happy with how it turned out. I initially thought I would need to sand a few areas and repaint, but now I think I can go with it as is. The color turned out as I hoped – not too bright. The main issue – I tried to carve off the parts where the loading dock would attach – I want to just have the doors adjacent to the track, similar to the Wilkins mill I am using as a guide. In doing this, I wasn’t able to quite get it as smooth as I would like, and I also gouged (slightly) below, near the bottom of the building. So I’ll have to think a bit if I am going to try to improve that. And below are two pictures showing the extension. This will be very simple, just some loading doors. This was done from some DPM walls. I was originally planning to paint these a brick color, but now I am wondering if it would look better painted the same color as the main building. Brick walls did get painted at times, including white, so this could be plausible I think. I’ll have to consider this some more. K-T Milling Trackside With Addition by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM K-T Milling Rear With Addition by Many Trains posted Jul 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM
I like the idea of painting the extension white, especially if the structure will not be heavily weathered. A well-maintained building would reflect a profitable business.
I'm really leaning towards painting it the same white color as the main building. On the actual building, this section looked pretty "tied in" with the main building. The concrete sections/framing look as though they were the same color throughout. So even though on my model this is all brick, it probably would look better painted the same color.
Going to take a break from this project even though it is barely started. You may have wondered, K-T Milling, why that name? Well my beloved cat is named Katie. K-T. And she "makes biscuits" - flexes her paw like she is kneading dough. Sadly, I learned today that she has cancer - pretty advanced and there are now just days left. Will have to revisit this project later, just too much of a reminder now. This has been a bad year. Lost my father, mother-in-law passed two months after that, and now this. I might not do trains for a while.
Sorry to hear all that bad news. Sometimes they come in bunches. Take care of what's important, INCLUDING YOURSELF. The trains and us will be here when you come back.
Sorry to hear this sad news, Many Trains. When things settle down and you get back to your trains this building will be a tribute to Katie.
Our furry, four-legged friends are in every way, members our family, and sorely missed when they're gone. You've had a string of losses that would set anyone aback. Take it easy for a while, and count your blessings, including the memories of their company. We and your trains will still be around, and eager to hear from you when the time is right.
