I finially got my camera back after I loaned it out.
Here are some pictures of my Walthers coaling tower. It’s now on the
layout and most of the surrounding landscape is down. It still needs some
weathering and, of coarse, a water tower.
I will also be adding a sand tower, when I find one I like. Enjoy, Dave
(click for a larger view)
Hudson, Allegheny and Light Mike taking on coal.
Very nice work!!! Very nice layout, too.
Keep up the great modeling.
I am very, very impressed; that looks great. Glad to see the C&O wised up and started getting coal from N&W. 
Nice work David.
Great job!! Wish I had room for one like that!
Very Impressive! Question, did you have to paint it? And, how hard would to build was it on a scale of 1 to 10?
Thanks everyone.
Virginian,
I got a really good deal on the N&W hoppers… maybe I’ll just pretend that the C&O ran out of coal[(-D]
Jonathon,
It comes molded in several colors, but I chose to paint it myself. The parts look too “plastic” otherwise.
On a scale of 1 to 10… I’d say the model itself is about a 8. The rigging(which I couldn’t get to work
exactly like it was supposed to)… well that would rate about a 12 [:)]. Good luck, Dave
Nice work, Dave! [:)] I just finished building a “miniature” coaling tower, compared to yours. (If you want to see it, just click on the link at the bottom of the post.)
As far as water towers, I have the Walthers one on my layout and like it very much. The one thing I did end up substiituting on it were chains, in place of the ropes for the counterweights. (Bought A-Line 37? link per inch, I believe.) Looks a lot better, IMHO. Someday, I may replace the plastic counterweights for some lead ones. (I’ll probably have to fabricate that from fishing tackle. American Model Builders makes a nice laser kit version that is based on a D&RGW prototype. Tom White has mentioned that he likes the inexpensive Atlas water tower.
For sanding towers, the Walthers kit comes with both a steam only AND a steam/diesel sanding tower, along with the drying house and “green” sand pit. American Model Builders make a niftly and unique all-in-one wooden version. Overland makes a 4-track model but it would probably look better for diesels than steamers.
Tom
Tom,
Thanks for the info. I’ll check into all of them.
As for chains and counter weights… I didn’t care too much for the way these were designed. The model uses a heavy black thread to represent the chains on the coal chutes. I temporaraly rigged them with the thread. I will, for sure, look at the chain that you mentioned above. I think it would give the model better detail, as will some good weathering(Aggro, man why do you have to live in Cali… I could use your help!![8D]) Dave
EDIT: Tom, I saw your coaling tower the other day… very nice work. Dave
Heres another shot with backlighting… I thought it looked cool. (click it)
Nice job Dave:
Unfortunately I do have the space on my layout for a large coal facility. How do you rate this Walthers kit for accuracy and constructability?
I enjoyed building this kit. The stairs and ladders were really fun.
All together, painting and assembling, it took me about four nights… working a couple
of hours a night. As far as accuracy… you’ll have to ask one of the older gentlemen
on the board. I’ve never seen one in person [:D] Good luck, Dave
Dave,
You’re right. The “thread” provided with the Walthers kits has too much spring to it and the plastic counterweights aren’t heavy enough to counteract them. Kinda disappointing. It’s the same with their sanding tower. The chain is a vast improvement, in my opinion. Your coaling tower fits in very nicely on your layout.
Tom
Dave–that is SWEET!! I’ve got the smaller Walther’s version on my Yuba River Sub, and now I really want to find a place for the larger one, after seeing your photos. TStage mentioned that I like the Atlas water tower–it’s a little honey, but the size might be a little small for your facilities–I use mine on the mainline near Yuba Summit. But I do like the Atlas because it comes with CHAINS! No thread, which I think detracts from the Walther’s water towers I have (I’m going to get some chain and remedy that in the future). But that coaling tower of yours has given me some ideas for my staging yard, once I start on it. Beautiful model–and a beautiful job of putting it together!! And that Allegheny looks so cool in the photos–isn’t that locomotive a beauty?
Good work, Dave.
Tom [^][^][:D]
Not a clear photo, but the water tower in the photo is the Atlas. You might also want to think about the Walther’s steel water tank–it would look right at home with your coaling facility.
Tom
Tom (White),
Thanks, I’ll take a look at the Walthers Steel Tank.
That’s a nice layout that you’ve got!! I like the rock face, man that’s huge. Nice work. Dave
Tom (Stage),
Can you provide me with a link (no pun intended) to the chain that
we have been discussing. I looked on the A-line site andeither missed
it or it is not listed.
Thanks, Dave
Dave,
Try this link: http://www.ppw-aline.com/news.htm. It’s listed about 1/2 way down the page. I used the 40 links per inch on both the sanding tower and water towers. I picked it up at one of my LHS’s
Dave, I’ll see if I can’t take a picture of the water tower for you, in the next couple of days, so you can see what it looks like. Hope that helps.
Tom
nice work dave…you can use the bottle of woodland scenics glue in the picture for the water tower until you get one built…[:D]…chuck