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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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 Posted - 04/12/2012 : 12:13:31 AM
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Hey Y'all,
This is my first craftsman kit and I'm a little nervous about posting on here. Y'all's work is so good.
Anyhow, I love to model Heinz pickle tank cars, and their billboard boxcar refrigerators. Since I have the cars, I need the pickle plants. I have one right now, Sassen's, but I'm not ready to tackle that one. So I decided to pick up an American Model Builders Dill's Pickle, and make it into a Heinz Salting Station. While I'm waiting on the kit, I've been working on the sign.
Since I have an engineer (military) background and I build doll houses, I have carpentry skills. I found an old picture of a salting station and knew I had to do it. I was able to size out the sign based on the wood used, average spacing and the circa 1900 lettering that was used. Overall I pretty much was able to pin down the sign dimensions in HO Scale.
I sure was blessed to find that back in the 1940's and 50's that Heinz made a pickle brooch and turns out that it was dang close to an HO Scale size pickle needed for the sign. Now that I had that, I had to turn to someone who could do the lettering. Dave at VectorCut was able to help me and I got the lettering done. We worked together to get the proper size of the letters. His customer service was awesome. So are his letters!
Once the lettering was done, I got some Midwest Lumber and build the sign. First time using such small wood and a NWSL Chopper. What a tool! Everyone should have one. I built the sign as close to the real one as possible.
Big thanks to Richard Bendever at DEBEN LLC who helped me with the colors. I was very pleased at how his weathering stains brought this sign project to conclusion. Using his instructions for aging wooden barrels, I applied his Natural Basswood, waited a few minutes; then applied some Realistic Oak; again waiting a few minutes; and then I aged the wood with Instant Age Weathering Solution.
Next came the pickle. How to do it? Thanks to the guys over on the Casting Group at Yahoo Groups, I found a company called Alumilite. They produce easy home based resin casting kits. My local Hobby Lobby had the starter kit in stock and using a 40% off coupon, I only had to invest $20.00 to get started.
After reading the packaging, I was a little perplexed because every instruction called for making a silicone mold. I only needed the front half of the pickle, so this would be difficult. The kit comes with a silicone clay, so I decided to try using it as a mold. As you can see it worked flawlessly! The pickle came out great!
I trimmed all the excess flash, which wasn't much and painted the pickle green. After drying I applied the white HEINZ letters and attached the pickle.
This is where I stand until I receive the Dill's plant. Then I can work on changing it to a Heinz Salting Station.
More to come. Please help me with this project. Your advice is very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Manny
Here are some pics:
Heinz Salting Station Sign Slide Show
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
Edited by - SAFN SAAP on 04/12/2012 12:31:19 AM
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| Posts: 136 |
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Dutchman
Administrator
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 06:58:03 AM
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Manny, you are off to a great start. The overall sign looks great. Dave indeed did a nice job on the letters, and your casting came out terrific.
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Bruce
Modeling the railroads of the Jersey Highlands in HO and the logging railroads of Pennsylvania in HOn3 |
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| Posts: 23234 |
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 09:57:16 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dutchman
Manny, you are off to a great start. The overall sign looks great. Dave indeed did a nice job on the letters, and your casting came out terrific.
Thank you Bruce. I'm excited about doing this project. I've done a ton of research. I learned a lot just in making that one sign. If all goes right, because I have the heart to do things right, hopefully the results will get better as I go along.
I have to make another sign and I have smaller signs to make that Heinz had on their buildings. I hope to have a lot of fun with this.
Thanks again for taking a look see and the positive comment.
Manny
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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George D
Moderator
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 10:37:47 AM
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Nice looking sign, Manny. This is the first time I've seen someone make a sign then build a building under it.
George
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 10:52:40 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by George D
Nice looking sign, Manny. This is the first time I've seen someone make a sign then build a building under it.
George
Haha. No one can accuse me of being bass-ackwards! 
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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hon3_rr
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 11:34:10 AM
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Great start Manny. Looking forward to seeing this come together.
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--KP
Life is to short to make all of the models I want to. |
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luvchikn
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 12:46:38 PM
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Manny, that is super nice. Great start.
Would you mind explaining about your casting? Why, how, etc?
You will find that the gents here love to help. Never be shy about sharing your work. You will get lots of positive feedback and answers to your questions.
Bobby
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| Posts: 123 |
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 1:17:14 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by luvchikn
Would you mind explaining about your casting? Why, how, etc?
Bobby
Hey Bobby,
Sure I will. First, thank you for the compliments. Working in this small size with wood is fun. Learning how to weather it is even better. So yes, I will be looking to gain knowledge from everyone who is willing to share.
In the 1905 photograph I have of a Heinz Salting Station, this very sign exists. Because of my skills, I was able to scale it down exactly. The woodwork was the easy part. Dave at VectorCut did the lettering. The pickle was the problem.
Back then, all Heinz facilities carried the infamous pickle. The question was how to make this. When I was on eBay, I found the brooches that Heinz made promotional back in the 1940's and 50's. I inquired about the size and upon scaling it, found that it was not too far off from HO Scale. So I looked for the best one in terms of condition and bought it.
I knew I had to cast the pickle but had no idea how. Richard at DEBEN LLC talked to me about casting and recommended the Yahoo Group on casting. From their members I learned about a company called Alumilite. They have a web-site. They specialize in resin casting kits for small projects for the hobbyist. Nothing on a mass production scale. So I checked Hobby Lobby and sure enough they had the starter kit, and with the 40% off coupon, I was good under $20.00 for the kit.
The kit includes two bottles that make up the resin, three measuring cups, the silicone rubber mixture and its catalyst, and a block of molding clay. Although the instructions were decent, I looked at the brooch and realized that making a silicone mold of this thing wasn't going to work. I only needed the facial and not the whole thing. I had already been looking at MicroMark and read that their clay could be used to make small one piece molds. Light bulb!
I looked at the clay in the kit, took the brooch and pushed it in. When I pulled the brooch out I kinda messed the sides up but found that the clay took the pattern perfectly. I knew I was in business. I just kneaded the clay again, did another impression and boom, I had my pickle.
I had to clean the pickle pretty good. The clay did adhere a little. MicroMark does sell a talc that you should use over the clay to insure that your resin doesn't pick up any clay. From the pour to the final product took 10 minutes. I watched as the resin cured. That was cool.
The keys I learned from this first experience:
1. Don't be afraid to try something you've never done.
2. Resin opens a new door to the hobbyist.
3. Don't be afraid to experiment.
4. Use talc made for casting when you use clay.
5. Clean your resin casting with a non-lanolin dish soap before painting (I already knew this)
6. Paint with acrylics or lacquer paints.
If I can do it. Anyone can do it!
Click the link at the bottom of the first post to watch a slide show and the pictures show the process.
I hope this helps. Not trying to be long winded. I just wanted to be thorough in explanation.
Thanks,
Manny
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 1:29:15 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by George D
Nice looking sign, Manny. This is the first time I've seen someone make a sign then build a building under it.
George
Yeah, that's a new twist! Which came first, the pickle or the pickle factory? (Okay, salting station)
But then it seems that you wanted to make sure that a "key" element could be done properly before moving on ... and you've certainly done that. Great job on that ... looking forward to more!
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northern6400
Fireman
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 3:40:58 PM
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Everything turned out great. Thank you for detailed information and techniques.
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Chuck Faist
Burlington, Ontario
Enjoy yourself it is later than you think! |
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kruisyk
Crew Chief
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 4:39:18 PM
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Great timing, Manny. I've got the AMB kit on order, also. Did you see the article in December's RMC about the pickle industry?
Dave K.
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luvchikn
Engine Wiper
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 7:35:41 PM
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LOL. That is as thorough an explanation as I could have hoped. At the moment, I have enough projects, but will lurk here in the reeds and watch your project come together.
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 10:20:08 PM
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I did see the article, but haven't read it. I need to pick up a copy of it for sure.
As for the explanation, I do tend to tell a lot. I want to make it as clear as possible and easy for someone like myself who is a little timid about doing all this. Giving encouragement comes natural to me.
Presently I am building the second sign for the other side of the building and am incorporating some adjustment in construction so it is easier and identical to the first.
Stand by for more pics and details.
Thanks,
Manny
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/12/2012 : 11:50:39 PM
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Constructed the second sign tonight. Amazing how things go so much quicker and easier the second time around. Same thing with casting another pickle. Cleaned it up and painted it.
Should be able to finish the sign tomorrow as the letters are drying right now.
Thanks for looking.
Manny
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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dallas_m
Fireman
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/13/2012 : 12:12:17 AM
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Congratulations! You may have posted the first how-to on scale pickle making on this forum ... then again, maybe not ... there is a whole lot of interesting stuff here. Neat job, and you've already made this a fun thread!
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Country: USA
| Posts: 3013 |
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SAFN SAAP
Engine Wiper
Premium Member
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Posted - 04/13/2012 : 12:23:49 AM
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LOL...You ain't seen nothin' yet. I found a 1905 picture of the Heinz Pickle Factory in Pittsburgh. The wheels are turning in my head and Dave at VectorCut may be very busy. I just got done shooting the copper paint onto the letters. Now I can put on a coat of white to the HEINZ. I should be able to wrap this sign up by tomorrow night. Then build a final third sign.
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"Reflecting the Frisco influence in the railroads of the Texas Hill Country" |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 136 |
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