Assuming I scratchbuild an N scale version of the Grandt Line East Terrible stamp mill (and combine it with my Micro Engineering Poor Boy Mine), that still leaves me short two mine structures.
I've already decided that I have a Monroe Models building that will become the Aspen Sampling Works (a much smaller version than the real deal) but then on eBay I saw this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Mine-Head-Scratch-Built-/231505682004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e6d05e54Looks to be a kitbash between a pair of coal tipples and some sort of warehouse structure. I was thinking about how I could reporduce it, but for 10 bucks and stupid cheap shipping I could clean this one up and add some details. The first thing it needs is a headframe, but many Colorado mines actually had enclosed headframes (a nice contrast to the exposed headrame for the Poor Boy). I could easily scratchbuild an enclosed headframe for the rear of this structure.
First step is to ditch the green, change to oxide red or brown, and add a contrasting window color. It will need an ore chute.
One thing to note... Unlike coal mines back east at which coal is flooded into the top of an open car, the ore coming form Western hardrock mines was typically much more valuable (and prone to theft) so it was often poured in the side of an open boxcar door, spread to the ends to put the weight over the trucks, and locked. Boxcars for ore service on the narrow gauge often had a pair of 2x12s nailed in the doorways to keep the ore inside (not unlike boxcars consigned to bulk grain service). The other option was for the higher grade ore concentrates (such as those coming from a stamp mill) to be loaded in sacks into boxcars. I want to represent both methods here.
Thoughts?
