[wombat457]

While I don't model any particular era, I do have a soft spot for the 50's - 70's era, the Transition Era. Most of my buildings seem to be from that period not the least my little 1950's era Laser Cut Fire Station. The only issue with that structure is it didn't have a typical "Hose Drying Tower" with it ... so I decided to build my own out of basswood.

A Pictorial Build:

With the Hose Hanging Rods in place:

As it stand at the Moment:

 

[wombat457]

@sjm9911

Thanks and the towers came as apart of a structure or separate - there really was no standard for them other than they had to be high enough to hang hoses from and have a means of getting the hoses verticle.

As for the Driver's - I'll have to talk to them BUT the cost of putting the fence back up will come out of their pay packets - oh wait, poo - they're all volunteers

I meant to include the dimensions of the thing above but it is 3 1/2" high 3/4" square at the base and 5/8" square at the top. The hose hangers are .020 Brass Rod and I have Tichy windows that I am considering putting in, if I can at this late stage. This was only suppose to be a mock up for when I built the proper one

 

[wombat457]

That is one heck of a tower! It is definitely a shame that it has been turned into a beer garden restaurant All too many things, not just fire houses and railway things, from the past are being converted or knocked down or just left to decay and vandalism - it really is a shame.

The town up the road from where I live (in the bush) was a fairly major freight hub early last century, complete with repair shops and round house. Now, Alstom took everything over and there isn't much of the original left.

 

[wombat457]

Impressive building and I love the Tower.

 

[wombat457]

How do they get the hoses up that tower you built

Generally they used a pulley and rope system. A rope was slung over a beam or pulley and the hoses were attached to it then pulled up. The weight of the hose would allow it to be lowered once dried.

Later on they may have gone to using winches, but that is just a possibility and not a certainty.

 

[wombat457]

Ahh never seen the system used so I was like no ladder or no way to get to the top to hang them lol. I'm sure n scale would be rough to put in the pulley system and probably would not be visible anyways so why waste the effort...

Quite a few did have ladders and stairs in them as well, and most likely for the reason you mentioned. Many also had a look out/observation house on top of them or Bells that they would sound before the invent of sirens I guess.

About the only things I might add is an observation house/bell housing and hoses hanging from the "beams". I am also looking at adding some windows and a door to it just for the hell of it and to see if I can

 

[wombat457]

Our hose towers are built into the fire station building…..and are heated with a roof over it….hoses won’t dry in the winter when it’s well below freezing….

Most here, and in Australia, are covered as well; although, I don't think too many are still in use for drying hoses, I maybe wrong of course. I just haven't gotten around to putting a roof on mine yet

 

[wombat457]

@sjm9911

Thank you for the information - you learn something new every day

 

[wombat457]

These are the Doors and Windows I am going to try to fit into the tower, I will have either two or three stories for the windows:

 

[wombat457]

Okay, so here is Step One for the Door at least:

 

[wombat457]

So here are Steps Two and Three:

As you can see, I messed up the opening size a tad - live and learn and luckily I planned for this and put the door in the Rear of the Tower where it can't be seen

 

[wombat457]

A door would definitely help, so the firefighters can get in to hang the hoses…. 😆

Good point -

 

[wombat457]

I am not a modeler, but if you wanted take some stiring sticks, frame out the door smaller and then put the door in. Will just look like cool moulding.

That would have been a perfect solution - half an hour ago

Have already put the door in and used Deluxe Putty to fill the gaps then put a frame around it. I'll post a pic as soon as the framing is dry.

 

[wombat457]

Well, this is how it turned out:

Don't think I'll be trying to put in windows after this though

 

[wombat457]

Thank you @sjm9911 - I wouldn't say it was perfect BUT it did turn out better than I thought it was going to

 

[wombat457]

@Old_Hobo

Thank you - appreciate it 🍺

Now I am trying to sort a roof for it ... not sure how this will turn out ????

 

[wombat457]

This is the fame work for the proposed roof/observation/Bell area:

 

[wombat457]

So the question now is this -

What to use to simulate fire hoses?

I have seen where people have used solder and stranded wire but that doesn't seem real enough and am hoping for something that more closely resembles a canvass fire hose. Any thoughts on what could be used?

 

[wombat457]

A typical flat shoelace would make about a 12-18" hose in N scale! Or more!

Correct - 4" in N Scale equates to about .040" in real measurements. .020" = approximately 2.5".

In other words - I need something really really thin. Perhaps some "heavy EZ-Line"???

 

[wombat457]

That is true and the end of a show lace could be the brass nozzle ... ??