DURANGO'S SAND TOWER
The
Durango Sand Tower was first built
about 1924, at approximately the same time as the Coaling Tower.
It outlasted the Coaling Tower by a few years
– photos show it still intact in 1969. Originally, the tower
was constructed using two tall, round posts. The round posts were
still in place in 1946,
but they had been replaced with the more familiar rectangular timbers
by
1948. The various platforms and hardware
attached to the tower were similar for both types of posts, although
many
modifications were made over the years.
The kit uses the rectangular posts and has features that were common to
the tower over most of its later life.
The laser-cut kit features tab-and-slot construction, with the drying house's board-and-batten siding being made up of two peel-and-stick overlays for each wall. The batten arrangement, complete with missing and/or broken members, represents the many repairs and changes made to the structure throughout its life. The cuts for the large timbers that make up the sand bin are made completely through the wood, with the interior joints being visible. Twelve special castings were made for the mechanical components, and, along with the laser-cut parts, allow the spout to lower, raise, and telescope, as the the prototype's did. All the components are pre-cut, and an elaborate jig is included to simplify the construction of the tower.
Tower Assembly Jig
The instruction
manual is well detailed, containing 29-pages and 37 photos. It
includes suggestions for tools, adhesives, paint formulas, weathering
materials, and techniques.
Unfortunately, production of the kit has been limited due a difficulty in obtaining the specialized tower castings. Only 30 kits are being produced initially, with more to come if and when castings become available.
Purchase the O-scale DURANGO SAND TOWER $150.00 (postpaid in the US)
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