The Atlas O Ice House will be here shortly and I am starting to think about how I am going to paint ours..... I think I need to do something more to it than the way it's shown in the catalog...... Anybody else thinking about this and have a suggestion?

Hi....I'm also have an Atlas ice house on the way. My plan is to paint the roof a flat black and weather the entire building with a light brown latex stain to create the look of an old building in need of new siding.

Before the ice house arrives, I plan to begin building the Atlas 2 stall engine house. I've recently seen two highly detailed weathering jobs on this kit.

Under the platform and all around the foundation lots of really GREEN grass and very tall! Lot's of moisture around these kinds of structures! Russ

I'm going to my PFE reefer book,and look for pics of the real thing and try to copy it.BF

My ice house kits were posted a couple of days ago.

Has anyone given any thought as to how they are going to build the kit? I thought that I would make it as a drop-in module. By the very nature of the kit the base would need to be rigid. If the base was able to twist all the work would be undone. Any comment would be welcome as this will be my first venture into building a kit for many years.

My other enquiry is directed at Russ's remark about the GREEN grass. Most of the photographs I've looked at show lots of puddles and standing water in the immediate area of the staging. I'd have thought that good drainage would have been preferred, simply to avoid rot. Also, would the contamination of the soil with salt have stiffled the chances of much greenery growing in and around the tracks and under the staging?

I'd be interested to hear how you intend to handle this project.

Thanks,

Ed Dyball,
London,
England

Ed, I don't have the ice house but had the same problem when building an electric sub station.
I couldn't have any bow or twist so used rails under the plywood to keep it stiff.
I haven't permanently installed it on the layout yet but plan on sinking it in.

Hello Ray,

That's the general idea. Having just been scouting around in the garage for materials, I began to think about the weight of this module, especially as it will be 40" long, and will be a minimum of 16" wide. That's only allowing for one track, and no access road.

I have a lot of really good grade timber, and it might take a few holes cut into it in non-strategic locations to lighten the load. I'd say that the rigidity will be almost more important than the load-bearing quality with this project. I suppose geometry and good wood-working skills will be the key. I feel a trip to the DIY superstore is rapidly approaching, to size up what combinations of timber will best suit the job.

And while I'm there I had better think about making a second module for a propane gas terminal.

I really like your projects; I've downloaded lots of the pictures since I first saw your tenement house. Keep them coming.

Say Hello to Harold for me!!!

Ed

I have a 9 stall Korber roundhouse 3/4s built. They recommend 3/4" plywood for a base. I used 1/2" plywood instead. This has cost me a lot of grief. I would recommend 3/4" plywood for the Ice House and loading structure. When I do an Ice house, it will be on 3/4" plywood.

Hi Guys,
Just finished building the ice house. It is a very easy kit. It comes with a base that in my opinion is ok. I have not built the platform/loading dock yet. It also comes with a base but time will tell if it is enough to eliminate any torque. The ice house comes with a choice of 3 signs. I used the "Union Ice Co" one and attached it with white glue after cutting it to size. Just left the backing on the decal. I thought the size of the decal would be tricky to get flat! Also the plastic is the type that needs an ABS solvent to glue. Plastic glue will not do it. "Plastruct" works very well and come with a neat brush applicator. Am starting the platform tomorrow and will let you know how it comes out. If you do not like the new plastic building look, these structures cry out for painting/weathering.
Frank Arbaugh

Frank,

Thanks for posting your observations. I took some of the pieces out of the carton, and then put them back again as this is likely to be a project for later in the year.

One thing I did notice was that there is a slight bow in the base-plate to my kit. Did your kit not have this, or did any unevenness pull out by the time sides were built up?

I hadn't seen a picture of the "street" side of the ice house, and I was surprised when I saw the large area devoted to the sign. I would have preferred had it been a separate hoarding to attach, leaving the size and placement up to the builder. But then if I had both the time and the talent I dare say I'd be scratch-building!!

Let us know how the staging turns out.

Cheers,

Ed Dyball

Hi Siestaman,
The base was a little bowed but if you put little weight on the side walls until the glue has dried, this bow will disappear. Just used a piece of stiff wood with a paper weight to hold the sides firmly against the base. The corners can be done at the same time. There is a nice grove to join the corners. "Plastruct" glue sets up very quickly.
Frank Arbaugh

Hi Guys,
Just completed the Icing Platform. This is a very nice kit. The pieces have been molded very precisely and with good design. It is not an easy kit to assemble and requires some thought about the order in which you attach the three levels. I also decided to put my scenery material around the cement support bases before erecting all the timbers that support the platform & roof. I thought it would be easier than trying to poke it in between the supports, glue and all! Some painting can be done before assembly if desired. Al in all a very enjoyable kit to build.
Frank Arbaugh

quote:

If you do not like the new plastic building look, these structures cry out for painting/weathering.

Frank - did you decide on a color scheme?..... I am thinking a dark gray for the platform but don't know about the ice house....

Hi Miffin's,
We have a very large layout and I made the decision 3 years ago to not go for the natural/weathered look. At my age I was not sure I would live long enough to take that route, nor the talent. So, I just painted the roofs a weathered black, along with the chain hoist for the ice. I feel that if you start weathering it needs to be consistant across the layout to look right. The grey plastic is not too bad a look, if the other building are not weathered. Since we are about done with the basic layout construction, and still feel I have some good years left, I might start weathering. Wish there was a good "weatherer" in my area to give me moral support. This is an skill that I struggle with. The mountains and ground cover came out okay, but weathering buildings, track, rolling stock, scares me. There does not seem to be a way to go back if you do not like it.
I found some worker figures that could pass for icemen, and placed them on the icing platform. Put an ice pole in one of their hands, used pop sickle sticks for the boards that went from the platform to the top of the cars, for sliding the ice into the hatches, etc. It looks very good and adds a lot of detail to the yard. I was unable to put the Ice house behind the platform but found room about 20 inches away. I built a road between the two and a track crossing for the vehicles that went fron the ice house to the platform at the base of the ice hoist chain. I quess the ice wheel barrow also moved ice around. It was fun to build and plan for. Hope you enjoy yours.
Frank Arbaugh

Any pictures of the completed Ice House and Icing Platforms to post. I would like to see the coloring chosen by other Forum members for this project.

Will go for Grimy black on ice house roof since it's already painted black. Thinking a light yellow for the Ice House, but white and gray as it stands now with dullcoat to kill the plastic
sheen.

What colors are being used for the supporting platforms and the ice deck itself? Matt, didn't you say Angels Gate was going to have 5 Icing platforms to make a large facility?

Couldn't find any comments on painting the Icing Platform of AtlasO.

Colors I used, wood support structure, Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer.
Color of icing deck, Floquil Rust Rail, thinned with Laq thinner.
Color of roof, Floquil Grimy Black Spray.







Please note. You will have to raise your icing station up almost 3/4" if you plan on using Gargraves Track and cork road bed. Other wise the Reefers roofs will be above the icing deck level.