I’m really quite eager to start the next railroad, but I’ve promised myself I’ll finish this one. The remaining building I need to construct serves the spur on the autumn portion of the layout. I decided that a feed mill would be the most appropriate industry, so I went hunting for a few images. It didn’t take long before I happened upon this photo.
I reworked the photo in illustrator until I had come up with a scale schematic to work from. (*Note: most people don’t use Adobe Illustrator, let alone draft structures in them -this is something best left for CAD, however I do find illustrator fast, easy to use, and produces drawings with real measurements that I can work from.)
The draft is terribly incomplete – I just wanted to outline enough of the major architectural features for me to start building. I’ll add the details as I go along. I’m not too worried about creating an overly complex or highly accurate model – just a reasonable facsimile.
0 thoughts on “Designing A Feed Mill”
Mike G says:
So does Illustrator actually allow you to draw to scale??? I have been using MS Visio on my work PC but I’d rather use my Mac. I’ve been looking over the available options but I do happen to have an older version of Illustrator kicking around somewhere. Years ago, I used to use MacDraw II, which was actually pretty decent for line diagrams like you’re doing.
-mike
Model Railroader says:
The short answer is no – it doesn’t allow me to draw to scale – exactly… But you can fake it. If you do use illustrator it’s pretty easy. I post a follow up to this later today. Thanks.
Kerry says:
Hi Michael,
I like the looks of this Feed Mill design. Would you be interested in a few free standing lights for the scene? I’ve got a couple of ideas……..
Kerry
Model Railroader says:
Kerry – I’d love to hear some ideas! Pass them along!
Michael
Kerry says:
Michael,
I have obtained the smallest diameter aluminum tubing I could get from the hobby shop. You know the the lights of the 1930s-1950s that look like upside down fish hooks? My idea was to create 4 of them, using tiny fibers for the mast and light with the small tubing as the “pole”. Rough up the poles with coarse sand paper, then paint to look like wood. Mast portion of the fiber to be painted a galvanized steel color. Leave each light with a relatively long piece of fiber. Send along a pre-drilled 5mm LED. You could then mount the lights around the scene as you felt appropriate. Below the table, cut fibers with nippers to approximate equal length, tape together the “bundle” near the termination, insert bundle into LED, a drop of CA, a drop of accelerator, wire to 12-16VDC power source (along with supplied 1kohm dropping resistor). Result. First on your block with scale dimension lights!
Model Railroader says:
Kerry – A really nice idea. If I get ambitious I may give this a try. Thanks again!
Kerry says:
Let me know. Shouldn’t require too much ambition. Drill four holes, glue in lights, attach two wires for power…..I can whip up your lights in no time! Just send me an email and an address.
Kerry