Thanks for all that responded. My connection just took a dump, and the blurb that I had so carefully constructed just went the way of the TP. :erm:

Continuing...the above picture tells the story of the computer, but when it comes to the reality of it. This was the result of the 228C molten ABS that

printed out. There are 288 3.5mm squares, .7mm high, on a .4mm backstrip. The squares positioned .2mm apart.



Not what the computer displayed in the 3rd shot. But with some light sanding with 320 grit sandpaper and a coat of gray primer, they start to look good.



After a little hand painting the mystery should be solved. (Karl actually solved it yesterday via PM. (Can't keep an old sleuth down. )



More later.

Jim

Bingo! We have a second winner! Now Bernd see's why I was a little upset when he thought those might be 18" blocks. I would have wasted 2 weeks of drawing. :erm: . You might have caught this on his original post at http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/t...TOPIC_ID=52072. A really interesting set of photos.

The 48 blocks creating the circumference and the thickness of the backside and the blockfaces came up with a diameter of the center base piece to be 2.275 inches. I drew up that piece, and it would have been an 8+ hour print job for one silo. So I looked at a hunk of 2" PVC pipe and thought I'd sand it down to 2.275 inches. Good luck with that! After about 1/3 hour of elbow time, I knocked off .010 inch. I needed to pull at least .050 off uniformly on two pieces of pipe. Boo Hiss! So I chucked a piece of PVC into my metal lathe and first there was a flash from the control box, a small nasty cloud of smoke, and the scream (not really) of one toasted mouse. [xx(] :yuck:

After killing the 220 3 phase to the lathe, I vacuumed out the fragments. OK, ready to roll! After about 4 revs of the chuck, the 50+ year old drive belt gave it up. Yet another delay, ordered the variable $peed drivebelt and $100 later I had a new belt. A 'captive' belt. About 5 hours and a lot of bad words later, a non smoking happy lathe.



.050 inch later I had the center sections ready to be wrapped.




One silo ready for the delivery doors, and one ready to be wrapped. Looks like I've got some painting to do. The roof and doghouse are going to be the next challenge to design.

Jim

That's super, Jim!

Thanks Bill!

Nice job! I can remember driving by it many times, years ago, when the roof was still on.

Happy to see it getting a modelers attention.

Maybe others might want you to print parts for them as well. Gives you a chance to get paid back for all that hard work.

Thanks Dave! I'm drawing the silo tops on the other computer.

Jim

Ok, let's see. Since I provided such great detail shots I get the first copy of the coal dealer?

Just kidding. Nice job. I be popping in the shop to watch this take shape.

Bernd

Beautiful work, Jim.

Jim, whenever I'm going to write up a dissertation for RRL I do it in WORD then do a copy/paste. That way when it goes ker-plop I don't lose all my good intentions.

Thanks Mike, a ways to go. That double conical roof is kicking ny butt.

Jim

Frank,

I should know better, but just ignore that I'll lose it. Thanks for reminding me.

Jim

Bernd, Thanks - PM sent.

Jim

Nice work, Jim. This reminds me of when I scratchbuilt a Yorke Rubbles Station. I had used a piece of 1 1/2" diameter PVC and no sanding was involved. I look forward to your success. Why don't you try to build the roof just by using stripwood rather than trying to design it on the computer? I would.

Rich

Can't begin to tell you how many "good intentions" I've lost on the floor over the years. Lost another one just this morning.