Does anyone here have a steel mill on their layout? I'm having trouble planning the trackwork and figuring out how much space I'll need... I could use some input from those who've done it. Any good books or websites out there? I've found Bernard Kempinski's Alkem Steel site, and the Columbia River Steel Co model as well. Both are full of info, but a little light in the picture department. I've ordered a few back-issues of MR, but they won't be here for 3 weeks. Funny, I lived in Hamilton for 3 years and was surrounded by the mills and never thought about them... they were just there. Now that I live in Ottawa, I can't get my hands on any information. What I wouldn't give to be back in Hamilton with a camera and some binoculars!! I'd appreciate any info. D6
Is this anything like you are looking for D6? This steel mill is on my N gauge MAT. It is made from various plastic containers, dowel rod and cardboard. Like anything I do, if I did it again I would do it different. It is 39 inches from end to end and is 5 inches deep and 11.5 inches high.I only have room for two tracks to service this. The two track main line also passes in front of it. Lighting is those flaming Christmas lights and a few grain of wheat bulbs. A fun project [ 02 February 2001: Message edited by: Robin Matthysen ]
Check this out deepsix. The photos are from http://www.midwestnpioneer.org/dispatch.html Check out their website. To say they have an awesome layout would be an understatement. [ 02 February 2001: Message edited by: moose ]
Robin, very nice job. I've checked out your website and mill before. If I remember correctly, you scratchbuilt it. What did you build it out of? Moose: Wow, that's quite the layout!! My main problem is figuring out the trackwork. Obviously, I can't model the entire mill as that alone would fill my basement. I want to have blast furnaces and at least part of the rolling mill and coil yard. I would like to incorporate coke ovens into the complex as well. The space I have to work with is approximately 5'x3' maximum. One end of my layout will be scenery dominated and the other, industrial. The industrial area will be dominated by the mill and an intermodal facility, giving me a reason to run double-stacks! Any suggestions for trackwork are welcome as this is what's got me stumped. Are there any links to REAL steel mills on the net? The steel industry is generally very secretive about it's operations, making this even more difficult. The other major problem is: where the heck do you get N scale blast furnaces? Walthers kit is A) too big, and B) too expensive! Any plans around? Thanks again for the pics. D6 [ 02 February 2001: Message edited by: Deep Sixx ]
Hey DeepSix My club is currently building a whole steel mill for the double deck on our layout. I'm not really working on that and have no clue on steel mills, but buy Walthers book about steel mills, its got more then you want to know plus great pictures. My club is using the Walthers rolling mill (cut down to scale size and modified for N), the blast furnace (although tall, it still can be used) and I think something else but cant remember what (not the coke ovens, too HO). There are also a couple websites on guys building steel mills in other scales, so just do a search for "modeling steel mills" or "steel mill models" and that should bring something up. One I know of is http://users.aol.com/peachcreek/ a hobby shop building a steel mill. They also make all types of bottle and slag cars, I think a first in N. Check out thier ad in the new N scale mag, I think. Good luck with your project, its a big one! Mike
