This section consists of a set of drawings that show how I modified the Walthers
bell chute to include the hardware that supports the lower (large) and upper (small) bells.
Except for the diameters of the Plastruct tubing, I did not include any actual measurements
(this is a freelance project, remember!). But I did insert a 1-inch rectangle to show the
objects' approximate size in HO scale.
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1:
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Obtain the original bell chute
from the Walthers Blast Furnace kit.
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2:
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Extend the front of the chute with
sheet styrene. This will accommodate the steeper slope of the skip hoist.
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3:
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Construct a
bell support frame
using strip styrene pieces (shaded in grey); use channel strip
for the top guide section. Cement to each side of the extended chute.
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4:
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Add a
top arch extension to the
frame, to provide a lever pivot point for the large (lower) bell tube.
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5:
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Acquire
3 diameters of Plastruct tubing:
1/8-inch for the large bell support tube,
3/16-inch for the small bell support tube, and
1/4-inch for the lower guide ring. The bell tubes should
be cut approximately 4 inches in length; accuracy isn't critical here, since
the bottom ends will be hidden inside the chute.
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6:
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Telescope the tubing sections
as shown in the illustration. DO NOT CEMENT!
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7:
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Construct
counter-weighted levers and
attach them to the tops of each bell tube. Be sure to offset them so they
may [theoretically] move freely past each other, as shown in the top views.
Also cut and attach the guide ring mounting brackets which position
the guide ring over the center of the chute's bottom opening.
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8:
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Attach the tubing sections to the frame
as shown in the diagram. Then cut a Plastruct 45-degree-angle cone to a bottom
diameter of approximately 2 inches (see image below).
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9:
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Attach the chute to the top of the cone and you now have a
complete top bell assembly.
I realize the model in the photo is not identical to the drawings,
I assembled this long before I knew I'd be writing about it. But it does,
at least, give a general impression of the finished product.
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