In my new layout design I’m planning on using the Cornerstone ADM Grain elevator as a view block for my three track staging yard. I got the physical dimensions of the elevator from Walthers website. Does anyone know if they make the add on silos for this elevator like they do in Ho scale?
If they don’t would I get by with using PVC pipe to scratch build some extra silos? What are the dimensions for the actual silo’s on the kit? Thanks in advance for the help.
Walthers hasn’t release the add on silo for several years.
I started with a single kit and thought it looked to lopsided.
So,I combined 2 kits to make Landstar.
For extra silos you could use small PVC pipe and scratch build the roof and structure
The only problem I see with that approach is that PVC pipe comes in standard Outside Diameters as specified by the national plumbing code. It starts with 1/2"OD pipe and goes up from there in 1/4" increments. Not knowing what the specific OD of the Walther’s kit silos are, you could end up with a funny looking elevator if the dimensions do not match. It might be just as easy to toss the molded silos in the spare parts bin, and scratchbuild ALL the silos out of PVC pipe.
There are different schedules of PVC, if the OD is wrong for the schedule 40 (IIRC), ask for thin walled PVC in the same inside diameter and it should reduce the OD by 1/8 inch or so. Also look at electrical conduit too. Finally, you may want to check the yellow pages for plasitcs wholesale/distributer in you area for tubing.
Ricky
I’ve used thin walled PVC pipe mostly. I’m also using them to model this little fellow
And then there was this mill with different sized bins
There were a few mills that do have bins of varying heights as well. Sometimes one needs to experiment with what will work on the plot of land on your layout—I’m still working on another for a friend that is on a warped/twisted base as it is going downhill in two different levels.
Some plastics wholesalers may also have good leads for other pieces/parts as well—
I have used a PVC coupling for 1/2 inch O.D. pipe. The coupling is basically two female ends which teh pipe fits into. The O.D. for the coupling is therefore larger than 1/2 in, and is very close to the size of the walthers silos. 3 or 4 of them (I forget offhand) are just about the same height as the Walthers silos. They were 25 cents each at Home Depot. They didn’t take the craft paint I used well, but after a couple coats they look OK.