Loading Machine Finished

As usual I have some small 1/87 projects alongside my main modelling activity in 1/19 scale. Fortunately they are small and with an hour of work they can actually progress pretty far. A year ago some tiny 3D printed models of mining equipment arrived from German Micro_Miners and I have now added a finished overhead loading machine to the collection.

Another tiny model for my collection of mining machinery in 1/87 scale. An overhead loading machine type LWS 160 (it's the yellow thing on the photo).

Overhead loading machines were used underground in mines to load the loose rock or ore at the head of narrow mine galleries with only one track. The machine was powered by compressed air and threw the load over itself and into a mine tub behind it. The 'Wurfschaufellader LWS 160' from Micro_Miners is currently priced at 11,5 € at their website and is a 3D printed kit consisting of 2 parts. Length 3 cm, width 1 cm and with a height of 2 cm it's a tiny model. I added one rolled up compressed air hose from solder wire. My main accomplishment finishing the model was actually not breaking parts off the tiny machine. It's incredibly detailed, but fortunately the material is quite resilient and takes a lot of bending before it breaks.

How the model looked straight out of the box. A maze of support columns from the printing proces.

With surprisingly little effort the model was ready for painting. Here is how the first stage of painting looked. Yellow airbrush on and the first details painted with brush. Photographed with the 1/19 scale Fowler in the background.

With the yellow paint airbrushed on I painted the few details of a differing colour. Then I began applying weathering which consisted primarily of different washes with rust, dark brown and black paint. 

You have to zoom in quite a lot to capture the little machine when it is placed on the Nystrup Gravel layout. I will have to acquire a track panel or a lorry to enable me to photograph my H0-models on the large layout.

A view af the machine's other side. A lot less cluttered than the left side with the operating gear and footplate.

I have more small projects planned next to the finishing of the Fowler: a Soviet locomotive and a rail going drilling vehicle for drilling holes for explosive charges for mine gallery blasting - that's a blasting rarity!