The Restoration of and Industrial Plant Diorama

[dptydawg]

After William was kind enough to create this section just for dioramas, Its about time that we made use of it.
This project is not the usual diorama style that I normally do. It might even be a stretch to call it a diorama but I thought it would fit here best. William please feel free to move it to where ever it fits best.

Anyway a local museum rescued this construction piping model that was on its way to the dump when the Bruce Heavy Water Plant was decommissioned and dismantled. The original model was built to determine piping interferences and construction sequences in the days before 3-D cad systems were invented.
This model was probably built in the late 1960's. over the years it has been badly neglected and abused. The museum has had it stored in an old barn for several years.
One day in a weak moment I volunteered to do some repair work on one of their other models and they suggested that I take this one home and restore it for them instead.
So this is my winter project.







IT is built in 1/32nd scale and is about 30"X72"X24". It is made out of mostly plastruct parts. It has years of grunge on it to be cleaned off. someone removed all the pumps and motors so I will need to make new ones. several beams are broken and or missing.

This picture should show that I've made some progress. Most of the I-beams for the pump alley frame work has been restored. the plant layout is symmetrical left to right and almost symmetrical front to back so I've split the job into the 4 quadrants. I've started on the right front first.


Stay tuned for future updates as the winter progresses

Thanks
Carl

[camaro73]

Wow! That is really cool looking. Looks like a fun project.

[Muleskinner]

Carl,

I have no doubt what so ever that you will bring this up to good as new if not better condition that it ever was in. As far as moving it, Its in the right place as a diorama. Good luck on your endeavor and will be following it closely.

[gator]

Well Carl,
They must know your work and trust you.Which says a lot right there!
I know I would not be up to the task. and it would leave worse than when it go to me.
How ever I know you are the man for the job. You sure have your work cut out for you!


Be Well
Gator

[ap40rocktruck]

What a phenomenal save from the dump bound!!!!

Plastruct still offers those pumps & motors, scroll down to the last page # 38 here= www.plastruct.com/picat/TUBING_FITTINGS_9.pdf

Look forward to the restoration process!

Ap40

[Badluck 13]

Cool project and sure is nice to know some vintage plastic was saved.

[Robert Myers]

That looks like a great project!!!!

[swamp rat]

remineds me of working in the refineryies...great job..

[dptydawg]

I now have about 30 hours of actual hands on work in this restoration, plus a bunch of extra time in research and planning. From talking to other old timers who worked at the plant I have discovered that this is a model of the steam re-boiler system. High pressure steam from Douglas Point Nuke station was used to generate medium pressure steam that was used in the heavy water extraction process. The entire plant consists of heat exchangers (HX’s) drains tanks and condensate return pumps. There are also pressure and level control devises and instrumentation and control piping. The whole thing is like building a partial done jigsaw puzzle without the picture or all the pieces. It is both interesting and enjoyable.
Here is the current batch of pictures|:

After a lot of scrubbing, things are starting to improve. To reach into places to clean I used paint brushes, long Q-tips and I also made an extension handle for a foam brush. It works well for scrubbing flat surfaces.
With the help of a woodworking buddy, we removed the Plexiglas from the particle board base, lost the stained paper and installed a couple ash stiffeners. The particle board had started to bow after all these years. The base was given a coat of gray paint, then a sheet of frosted Mylar was placed on the board and the plexi screwed back down. To help with orientation of both the viewers and the restorer I made a compass rose to indicate construction north for the model.

This is a shot of the restored Lummus name plate


The Pete is a 1/32nd scale New Ray model the operator is also 1/32nd scale. This should give a bit of a sizing reference of the model.

This is a shot of some of the instrument lines coming off the headers

The West pumphouse waiting for me to make up some new pump and motor sets.

The upper level is almost finished. There is one RV stack still to go one once a new elbow is created . At some time in the past a large object was dropped on the top of the model and forced a lot of pieces downward. Some broke, some bent, and some disappeared.
Thanks for looking
Carl

[ap40rocktruck]

Man that is cool, huge but still cool

Ap40

[gator]

Carl,
Looks good so far! Nice project for the winter.

Be Well
Gator

[slurrydog]

Really nice work Carl. You are doing some amazing things here.
Dave

[Muleskinner]

Really a great job so far. Looking forward to more pics as you go along with this project.

[tufftin]

I just can't imagine the amount of work that you have into this restoration project. It appears to be one of those things that one would say.........ah, nothing to it. I'll punch that out in a week or so and be done with it and you find yourself, months later still involved.
You are doing a fine job and are an inspiration to others.
Mike

[dptydawg]

So now I have about 60 hours in this project. There are some signs of progress in the West pumphouse. Nothing has happened at the East end yet. |These arepics that were taken today. I hope you enjoy them.



The green strip is an underground cable trench


The two southern pumps have been installed and any missing piping replaced. the two northern pads are still empty


This is what I think the pumps might have looked like. Since we cannot find any pictures no one can prove me wrong The valve handles still need to have chains installed.

and finally from above

Thanks for looking
Carl