March 2010 Token Build : Corn Crib

One of our most unusual builds since the Token Series began a few years ago has been the Corn Crib. I must admit, I didnt have a clue what one was until it won the vote. Mwb, vulcan, bmac, and bfishma were four of the twenty-five voters who committed to the month long build and went to surf through the internet for prototype pictures from which to model. As with all of the builds, each participant chose a different style of crib and this diversity combined with their unique building strategies resulted in another spectacular display of ingenuity and talent.

With the choices made, the modelers set to work transforming their ideas into scratchbuilt reality. The first step was to create the 'superstructure' of the model. As you can see, this depended on the style of crib chosen to model.

The next stage involved filling out the frame. The purpose of these cribs was not only to serve as storage but also provided an opportunity to dry the corn. In order to accomplish this, air had to flow through the structure. As a result, many of the walls required slats between each board to allow drying to occur. You can see this detail in some of the builds.

Once everything was squared and finally glued into place, the last stages could be finished. The addition of a roof, painting, weathering, and details rounded this project out. As you can once again easily see, each builder brought their own unique styling to bear on their individual builds.




Again, the Token Community extends the greatest of thanks to those who participated in this build. So many times we have legitimate excuses for not taking part: too busy, too expensive, not a build I need, not my skill level. Not every modeler needs the structure voted into play, nor does every participant have the same skill level. What they do have in common is a willingness to learn from others and from the experience itself. These Token Builds ask for nothing more. Vote, participate, and learn: join the next build and experience it!

September 2009 Build : Windmill

When the votes were finally tallied in August, the windmill won the honor of being the September Token Build. While many voted, three brave builders decided to tackle the challenge. David Baran, Jim M, and Vulcan all completed their builds and have agreed to share pictures of their progress here on the blog. While admiring their unique choices, and building expertise, its our hope as Token Builders that you can take some ideas and techniques home with you and use them on your own build.

As with most scratch-builds, the modelers first had to choose a prototype to model. Here in southern Texas, windmills are everywhere. Many are smaller than I had imagined they would be and served to bring water up from wells to troughs for livestock. I had always thought their was one standard windmill, but a quick image search on the internet came up with many different styles of windmills located throughout the country. Each participant chose one that best suited the style they were looking for and began their builds.

First, the modelers had to build the support structure for the windmills. All the different builds had this part in common as there didnt seem to be many styles that diveated from the norm. In most cases, a template was used to help keep things centered and squared.

Next came the most recognizable feature of all windmills: the blades. This would also be the most difficult and time consuming part of the build. Not only did the blades have to be cut out individually, but they also had to be arranged in a symmetrical pattern, evenly spaced, and at a slight angle in order to spin in the wind. Once again, each modeler chose their own technique to manufacture this part of the build. As you can see, their patience and skill paid off.

With the appropriate weathering and paint applied, the builds were ready to be photographed for their debuts on the OGRR forum's Scenery Section. Soon they found places on their owner's layouts and will forever be posted here for others to admire and learn from. As with every post here on the Token Three Railer, we thank the modelers who participated and hope to see more from them on future builds. And if you are up for a healthy dose of scratch-building fun, check out the latest Token Poll and see if one of the choices might be of interest to you. The community of modelers associated with this blog are anxious to see your work!