Building a Canadian wooden grain elevator.

Hi guys, I'm relitively new to this hobby but I'd like to show you my grain elevator, I started with a wood kit from Kanamodel and full size copys of blue prints I aquired from Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (35,000bu) and United Grain Growers (30,000bu). added 1.5 inches to the height of the kit and fabricated a proper 2 story Drive shed as all elevators around here have Grain cleaners. (carefull some were added later they usually have a visible seam outside) i'm modeling a local line c1928

Heres an original British America elevator, later National and finaly a seed company. hope this isn't too many pictures, I have to make the office and walkway yet and roofing and hang some doors i lighted the inside with some small incandecent bulbs as Led lights don't throw a nice natural color.

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PWRR-2207

Rogue Islander
Very nice! You going to 'weather' it too when you finish to bring out the fine detail in all those boards of the walls?
 
I'm shooting for nearly new as the line was built in 1925 and i'm modeling 1928,,,, but what can i guy do to make those paper shake shingles on a roll look a bit better, i thought about oiling them like i did the inside.
 

Glen Haasdyk

Active Member
Really nice. I like the fact that you're building it 'as new' I would figure that the maintenance on a grain elevator when it was in constant service would be pretty good considering it was the source of revenue for many farms around.
The machinery is a nice touch as well.
 

rlundy90

New Member
Hi Chad For those shingles why don't you go with real cedar like I did on my elevator. They look really good on these old structures. Heres a few pics Ron
 

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PWRR-2207

Rogue Islander
Shadows...

I'm shooting for nearly new as the line was built in 1925 and i'm modeling 1928,,,, but what can i guy do to make those paper shake shingles on a roll look a bit better, i thought about oiling them like i did the inside.

If the paper shake shingles have grooves you could try sealing the paint on a test piece and then do a wipe-on/wipe-off of a darker color. Let it dry and then seal the new darker paint. (Use to work for me on deck planks created with a single piece of balsa, blunt scribe and ruler.)
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Very nice Chad! I've always liked the classic look of these structures. I'm impressed that you're modeling the interior as well!
Ralph
 

rlundy90

New Member
Hi Chad. Just wanted to say the elevator looks great.The first time I looked at your post the prototypes were the only pics that came up. Is that elevator in Tisdale or one of the neighbouring communities.There aren't to many left here in Manitoba although in Inglis Manitoba they have restored three and made them into an attraction there.Not that far from you if you are interested.For the paper shingles if you paint them light gray and then give them a very thin wash of india ink diluted with alchohol(1 part ink to 50 parts alchohol) it will give them a nice weathered look. Ron
 

myltlpny

Member
You guys are giving me inspiration to start my grain elevator kit from Cambel Scale Models. I've had it sitting in a box for about two years. Right now I'm almost done working on the CSM produce shed. I just love craftsman kits.:mrgreen:
Looks great.:thumb:
 

SpinCycle

New Member
This is brilliant, great work! I have tried making models myself.

How did you get access to the blueprints? I would like to get a copy myself. I moved to Saskatchewan last year and was thinking of going to a Wheat Pool office and asking.

Thanks
 

cnw1961

Member
This is brilliant, great work! I have tried making models myself.

How did you get access to the blueprints? I would like to get a copy myself. I moved to Saskatchewan last year and was thinking of going to a Wheat Pool office and asking.

Thanks
I emailed the pool via there general contact address on there website, helped that my Uncle was a pool director for 30+ yrs :mrgreen:, If i had a big enough scanner or copier i would provide them. I'm just glad that im only building a pair of elevators the 40miles of line i chose to model had 19 of them!! This prototype is in Naisbery Sk.
 
Elevator with section house kit, remember they were near new in 1926 and i'm modeling 1928. just some quick pics i took tonight while fiddling around.
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