Reference pics: Mines, mills, weathering and much more

[Ray Dunakin]

I finally finished posting a report on my latest adventure, exploring old mines and ghost towns in Nevada and the Mojave desert:

http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Nevada_Trip_2014_Part_One.html

Lots of good modeling reference here, especially mines, mills, etc. Railroad-related items of interest include a cabin made from a narrow gauge box car at Buckhorn Mine, and a wooden Las Vegas & Salt Lake RR caboose at Rhyolite. I also got detailed photos of a Skagit B-20 Logging and Loading Donkey, which was being used to operate a steep aerial tram at the Gray Eagle Mine.

I've also added a lot of new photos to my Modeler's Resource pages:

http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/Modelers_Resource.html

These are images of weathered wood, metal, steel drums, and much more -- all great reference for modeling and weathering.

[the Bach-man]

Wow, Ray!
These are great!
Thanks so much for sharing!
the Bach-man

[Ray Dunakin]

Thanks!

BTW, one of the more amusing things I saw on this trip was an open-air toilet made from a small steel drum (looked like about 20-30 gallons), with a toilet seat bolted to it, and handles made from horseshoes:





I can't help wondering why it needed handles -- perhaps to keep the user from "blasting off"??

I may try modeling one of these for a mine on my railroad. An O-scale 55-gallon drum would probably be just about the right size in 1/24th.

[jbrock27]

My guess, proabably to be able to carry it somewhere to dump the contents.
Ever see the movie "Platoon"?

[Ray Dunakin]

After thinking about it a bit, my guess is that the handles are so it can easily be moved when the shallow hole fills up. (The bottom of the can is cut out.)

[jbrock27]

Ahh.  I did not know the drum was "bottomless"...

[Doneldon]

Ahh.  I did not know the drum was "bottomless"...

Jim and Ray-

I guess it only has a bottom when someone is sitting on it,

                                                                              -- D

[Ray Dunakin]

LOL!