Artitec HO silo for N

[Kentuckian]

I recently came across a review of this product and an HOer was complaining that it was small for HO, more like N. I couldn’t find any measurements but I decided to order one and see if it would work for N scale since I am a big Artitec fan and several industries use silos.

The height in N is approximately 39’ and the silo diameter is about 11’. Photo shows it next to an Athearn concrete mixer truck. If I were to use this silo at a concrete plant, the legs would have to be raised on footings so the truck could clear the supports.

[thomasjmdavis]

Interesting.  It's not unusual for HO scale industrial stuff to look better in N (since the HO models are often compressed beyond reason- the "warehouse" that is smaller than a boxcar and that sort of thing- but I wonder what the Artitec folks expected HO modelers to use this for.  From the look in your photo, I wonder if you could get an HO pickup truck under that thing.  Even if the cab cleared vertically, the wheelbase would be too wide.  I suppose you could put it on a factory roof with pipes coming in and out....

Looks like your N scale use is more appropriate.

[nkalanaga]

For a small silo, rather than a truck-loading one, it would work for HO.  Just put a discharge pipe under it, going into the building.

For N scale, some kind of footers would be needed anyway, as the legs wouldn't be sitting on the ground.

[Chris333]

Artitec. So it was $50 bucks 

[John]

My Nscale truckers would refuse to drive under that for fear that the spindly legs would collapse and dump whatever is in the thing on them ..

this could have been the inspiration

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wangaratta/farming-equipment/grain-silo/1290510862

[wazzou]

My Nscale truckers would refuse to drive under that for fear that the spindly legs would collapse and dump whatever is in the thing on them ..

Yeah, it does look woefully unsupported unless it’s filled with goose down.   

[peteski]

Yeah, it does look woefully unsupported unless it’s filled with goose down.   

Which is surprising considering that Artitec is a company making high quality models.  Seems that they didn't get this one quite rigth.

[cfritschle]

The Artitec model appears to be intended for low density dry bulk products such as grain or fertilizer pellets.  But even with a low density commodity, some additional bracing would be recommended.   

There is a hopper bin similar to the Artitec model at the Ralston, WA grain elevator.


This hopper bin was probably added to the elevator complex after the Milwaukee Road tracks (and siding) were removed.  Here is an aerial view that would indicate the hopper bin is used for loading grain trailers.  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ralston,+WA+99169/@46.9863037,-118.3460627,326m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x549f26907d1f339b:0xe20e9b5e3a0c02f7!8m2!3d46.9837611!4d-118.3427484 

Note: The bin at Ralston measures 16-ft in diameter, so it is even larger than the N scale size of the HO model.   

And here is some more info on prototype 6-ft diameter feed bins, which is likely what the Artitec model was intended to represent.  https://farmandranchdepot.com/hopper-bin-4-4-ton-includes-ladder-kit-click-for-details?attribute_values%5B523%5D=10011&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl92XBhC7ARIsAHLl9anbEUQYaXZigFh6QIHu7EMJSHffTWiPoQ1iQ76Wdv0tiH0bKrTxL0MaAsilEALw_wcB

Also, there is a better view of the hopper bin if you click on the Google Map photos.