Grain elevator engine house cladding

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello, I am working to construct an HO scale Campbell Sclae Models grain elevator. I am using the Home Grain Co. elevator at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village outside Edmonton as my inspiration. The engine house of the Home Grain elevator is clad in tin panels - I assume for fireproofing. Can any of you suggest how I may replicate that cladding on my model?

Thx in advance for your suggestions.

D

Side note to the moderators. I accept that Kalmbach will monitor and restrict my activity until I have proven myself worthy. I previously posted under the username da1 but for some reason that username stopped working and I was forced to create a new username. Whatever, do what you need to do.[%-)]

2

Welcome back to the forums.

I would expect that quick, cheap and fireproof all played a roll in the choice of materials. I made some roofing panels out of aluminium foil rubbed over an old flat compter cable. I have also used N scale corrigated roofing for HO, I liked the looks better than when I tried HO scale.

Have fun,

Richard

3

Is this the one?

4

If you mean corrugated sheets, you make your own with aluminum foil and a piece of Evergreen ribbed plastic sheet.

Or there are several producers of HO corregated sheet. This is one.

5

Yes Bman - that display is my inspiration.

I tried looking for a better picture, but could not find one.

IIRC the tin cladding is applied in ~18-24" square sheets. I have seen the same cladding on the inside of elevator engine houses. I may need to travel out there to get a good picture - it’s just down the Yellowhead from here.

Answering other suggestions, the cladding is not corugated, it is square flat or embossed panels.

Thx all for your replies. We will continue.

D

6

Okay, so I’m sharing with Mrs. 29 my lament of the tin cladding. She reminded me that I’ve been collecting books on Alberta grain elevators for a decade. So I consulted the books and found this very good picture.

Calgary Heritage Village

This photo is from Heritage Park in Calgary. I seek to replicate that tin siding.

D

7

I used Campbells corrugated aluminum sheets for a number of small buildings…

…but if you want plain metal sheathing, one option might be insulator’s tape, which is thin sheet aluminum with a very strong adhesive backing.

I’ve used it to create inverse corrugated ends for boxcars (using regular corrugated ends as patterns).

I’ve also used that aluminum tape to build a scratchbuilt a boxcar, using it as the “metal” sheathing on the car’s sides…

…then added rivet detail using 3D decals…

I’m not sure if you’d need to add the rivet detail, though.

The tape (with removable paper backing) can be cut with scissors or a good sharp knife, along with a suitable straight-edge.

Wayne

8

Lots of feedback on corrogated panel, but you are looking for something to simulate the flat tin sheets. This is easy using craft paper and a pounce wheel, with some paint and weathering effects - the method is described in a number of the Fine Scale Miniature kits, to simulate tin roofing.

Here’s a picture of the material (basically construction paper) and an excerpt of the instructions:

The effect is pretty convincing IMHO:

Key is a heavy wash of rust at the end, followed by more alcohol ink wash - the effect is subtle to mostly wash off the rust color while leaving the right amount of residue

9

Pennsy and Doc.

Those are both excellent suggestions. Thank you. Let me noodle on this.

D

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For corrugated metal roofing and siding, I am a huge fan of the machined paper product from Wild West Models.

It paints easily and does not get those ugly dents when you touch it. Nothing I have tried works better.

-Kevin