For the past few months I've been working on a Walthers Cornerstone valley cement plant kit. Since this kit will constitute over half my layout when finished anyway, I've been working on ways to expand the plant and diversify operations. I've been looking at the Glacier Gravel Company kit as a lime stone crusher building for a while now, however, I'm working off an extremely tight budget, and the price tag is hard for me to swing. I discovered that my local hobby shop stocks a similar-looking Cornerstone kit, the coal flood loader, for less than half the price of the Gravel co. kit, and I was thinking of maybe purchasing it instead and kit bashing it into a crusher building using polystyrene sheet and rod I already have. However, I was concerned about the fact that in the photos the coal flood loader looks to be about 1/3 the size of the rock crusher, and I'm hesitant to go for it... Does anybody have any advice or experience with these kits? As I said, I'm on a tight budget and need to make every dollar count, so any advice anybody has on these kits or the feasibility of the kit bashing project would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Bison, I have many years in the construction and demolition business, I understand your frustration finding the right fit or kit to suit your needs. What era are you trying to model, and how are you wanting to portray the scene. Is the material coming from a nearby quarry or hillside ect? I read your post and I am thinking you are wanting to represent the cement manufacturing process, Is that correct? Need some more info and would be glad to help you brainstorm this out. Brooks
If you want, I could get a few photos of the rock crushing operation back home when I go there next month. It isn't that big, but it services a large area on the coast, plus I know the owners. You going with a steam system, gas, or electric?
Texastailboard, thanks. Your right in thinking I want to represent the cement manufacturing process. It will definitely be modern era, in theme with my layout. My layout is set in the Virginia Piedmont, so the limestone will be coming from a nearby pit quarry in that area. As to the scene I'm trying to portray, I imagine a cement plant with a rock crusher, bagging building, powerhouse, etc. with a small town a bit off to the side of it. Maybe some odd warehouses ringing the plant it's self, with some light commerce near the plant (I know this may not be prototypical, but I grew up outside a mill town, and the idea of industry and commerce mixing is very appealing to me). I do not plan to model the quarry it's self, I planned to maybe paint it out a little on the backdrop to imply it's presence, then run a conveyor into the backdrop to imply the cement plant and the quarry are connected. I would like to model the quarry, but as I said, $$$. I could upload a sketch of the plant layout, if you want, hope this helps.
The flood loader, is a modern coal loader off setting a coal mine. The Glacier Gravel Co. kit is one I bought to use as a small coal mine breaker, primarily because the larger coal breaker was at that time unavailable. Using the Valley Cement plant and the Glacier Gravel Co plant would work out perfectly for a stone crusher. Keep in mind that the offering price varies depending on the vendor. Look at some of the discounters located near Baltimore, or the one located in Brooklyn. You may find a better price. Check out the Franklin Industrial Minerals. Quarry at Crab orchard, TN - visible from I 40 - a limestone quarry operation, with it"s own railroad connecting with the NS, and using recycled GE power, for a great example of a limestone mine, and crushers. Also, take a look at Conrail operations around Bath and Bangor, PA - the Cement Secondary, for cement and stone crushers.
