Scratchbuilding, anyone?

During the 1930s and 1940s, the CNR replaced most antiquated coaling plants on the Northern Ontario District mainline with reinforced concrete structures of a standard design. With capacities ranging from 100 to 200 tons, the new coaling plants appeared at Washago, South River, Bayswater, Foleyet (shown above), Fire River and Hornepayne. At least three of these are still standing, including one 15 minutes from my home.

I have copies of plans for these structures, and plan to scratchbuild one for my HO scale 1:1 diorama depicting Washago. Is anyone else interested in scratchbuilding one of these monuments to the CNR steam era? If so, and with a sufficient number of committed modelers, my thought is that we could do this as a "virtual modeling" exercise.

You've got a few weeks to make up your mind, but if you'd like to create one of these structures for your layout, please click on the "Comments" button below and indicate your interest. If four other modelers commit to the project, I will guide us through the exercise by the hand, online. In advance of a start, I will advise as to necessary materials.

Regarding the Northern Ontario District book (through which pages you will see many photographs of these coaling plants), I am wrapping up the Hornepayne chapter this week. Next week I will finish the half-completed Caramat Subdivision chapter. The last two weeks of April will be devoted to writing the Kowkash Subdivision chapter, the last in the book. Then it will be two solid months of producing drawings, choosing and laying out photos, writing 9,000 words of captions, typesetting and book design. The intention will be to finish this work by the end of June, at which time the book would be turned over to the printer. Given the normal summer shutdowns of printer and bindery, we're looking at a Labour Day release.