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Trackside Structures

Fuel Bins

The Blackhawk and Central City's fuel bins began their modelling life as a similar design to the coal bins used by the South Park line for holding coal. I wasn't entirely happy with the resulting model, and while looking at the (still unbuilt) laser cut kits I had picked up for loading docks and freight platforms, I started designing all the B&CC's trackside structures from the ground up. By the time I had finished, I had a common footing standard, which is adaptable to all platform type trackside structures.

For the fuel bin, this common footing standard translates into this scale drawing. The nice thing about this design is that I can have this fuel bin initially store split lumber for the wood burning engines of the B&CC, and after the later merger into the Colorado Central, the platform could then be used for holding coal for coal-burning engines (but that is still in the future!).

From a modeler's perspective, this was the first in a series of experiments to see how simple a model could be and still achieve a NMRA merit award. I can happily say that from that point of view, this experiment was a success.

The build makes reference to Dr Ben's Natural Pine stain, which has become my preferred stain for modeling Ponderosa pine lumber which would have been prevalent in and around Clear Creek Canyon.

For weathering, I've switched to the use of Pan Pastels (applied with Ultra-fine Microbrushes) because of the available pallet - this build used Red Iron Oxide for rusting of the wrought iron bolt heads and nuts and Yellow Ochre Tint for the effects of rainfall/water evaporation.

This second selection is based on the following Clear Creek Canyon photograph, which shows the staining that occurs due to mine/tailing outflows along the Clear Creek today. (As always, click on an image thumbnail to see the full size.)

The yellow in the above photograph is from Sulphur compounds – the gold ore in the Clear Creek area had a high Sulphur content and milling and smelting (the Boston and Colorado Smelter operated in Blackhawk during the period being modeled) produces Hydrogen Sulfide (yellow) and Sulfur Dioxide (white), both of which would precipitate out via rainfall. On the other hand, the red is from various Iron oxides, none of which would be produced by milling or smelting of gold, and so would not be carried by rainfall.

Use post layout from plans as guide for drilling 1.75mm post mounting holes in plywood base Construct posts from scale 6"x6" lumber cut to scale length + 0.5" for inset into the plywood base. Use a dowel jig to form the mounting dowels and stain with Dr Ben's Natural Pine Remove drilling guide
Build cross braces from scale 2"x6" lumber cut to size and stained with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine Cut two scale 4" square bolt heads/nuts from 1/64" aircraft plywood for each joint. Drill out 0.5 mm mounting holes in posts and bolt heads and mount on 0.5 mm brass wire cut to size and inserted through the posts and cross braces. After mounting, paint the bolt/nut heads and wire Grimy Black and weather with Pan Pastel's Red Iron Oxide
Construct remaining cross braces from scale 2"x6" cut to size and stained with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine Use two scale 4" square bolt heads/nuts from 1/64" aircraft plywood for each joint, glued in place. After mounting, paint the bolt/nut heads Grimy Black and weather with Pan Pastel's Red Iron Oxide. Add ground spatter weathering with Pan Pastel's Burnt Sienna Shade.
Joist, beams, and sills are made from scale 2"x12" lumber by cutting to size and staining with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine. After assembly, check top surface with a bullet level and adjust as necessary.
Floor boards are constructed from scale 3"x12" lumber cut to scale 8' and 16' lengths and stained with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine. After assembly, check top surface with a bullet level and adjust as necessary
Walls of the upper box are constructed from scale 2"x12", again cut to length and stained with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine. Edge glue pieces together to form side and end panels and then size and glue in place.
Support posts are constructed from scale 3"x3", cut to length and stained with Dr. Ben's Natural Pine. After gluing in place, use Grimy black and Pan Pastel's Red Iron Oxide to model weather bolt heads/nuts at each joint between the support posts and the lower fascia/box panels. Add a light coat of mineral/sulfur (hard water) stains via Pan Pastel's Yellow Ochre Tint.