I have finally begun. I have started construction of my HO bandsaw mill kit. This is the old Keystone Locomotive Works kit #HO-112, which has been sitting in a drawer since its initial release.
I recall that I really couldn’t afford this kit. The price on the box says $59.95, and the instructions show a 1978 copyright. We had a new baby in the house who had plenty of medical issues, and money was tight. I knew, however, that this was a limited-run kit unlikely to be around for very long so I went ahead and ordered one. I knew that this was the era and type of structure that I wanted. I have assembled a number of the Keystone Locomotive Works’ other kits: Planing Mill, the powerhouse/boilerhouse, kindling wood factory, and the 3 company houses. For all of these years, though, the space for the bandsaw mill has been shown on my layout by a piece of paper cut to the dimensions of the completed building. That piece of paper is rather yellowed after 30+ years.
I thought that this winter, the winter after my 60th birthday, would be a good time to tackle this kit. I saw one of these unassembled kits for sale at the Timonium train show last February, and I think that the asking price was $260. I’ve thrown several extra detail parts into the box over the years, which I hope to incorporate.
The photo shows the completed framing for one of the side walls, with the framing for the other side being laid up on the plan. The kit provides metal castings for the 45 degree bracing, which are to be painted to match the stained frame beams. I find it hard to paint metal to look like wood, so I cut 45 degree braces from scale 8" x 8" stripwood. I had used this same method in construction of the Planing Mill and it worked well. For the bandsaw mill, the plan says that there are 92 of these braces… Several other modifications or (hopeful) upg
