Lite and Narrow Column - 7
I knew the shape of the building, searched online for one of
similar shape, and found Buck’s Dynamite Building by BTS, kit
#27455. The building is 28’ x 16’ and is the shape of the real
building. The kit is cast metal with a laser-cut paper roof. It
assembles quickly with most of the time needed for painting
in the details. I used Floquil Rust and Aged Concrete on the
structure. The roof was painted aged silver and then rusted
with Bragdon powders. The earthen bunkers were cut from
Styrofoam and covered with plaster cloth.
Fan house
Not included in the
Timber Transfer
article on the support
structures at the Jollar tipple was the fan house. The primary
reason for that was a lack of space on the diorama. Another
reason may have been the lack of photos of the building.
9
9. The powder house from a BTS kit. The roof has been
modified to represent a corrugated roof rather than the rib-
seam roof supplied with the kit. This building is very heavy,
as it is cast metal.
A fan house is an essential building at any tipple scene. Most
of them are located close to the tipple, as their purpose is
to get fresh air down into the mine. This is to clear methane
gas that accumulates in some mines, sometimes with deadly
consequences. The fan was mounted to draw air through the
open mine entrance and then up a shaft and out of the mine.
Inside the mine were doors that were opened and closed to
regulate the air flow. This particular fan was 5’ in diameter, and
was operated by a gas engine that was started every morning
by the carpenter who walked from the shop to the fan house
before the shift began. There was only one shift at the Jollar
mine, and it varied in length, from eight to 12 hours, depending
10
10. The ruins of the fan house showing the interior detail
and fan as they existed in 1991. Vagel Keller photograph
used with permission.
MRH-Oct 2014
