Modelling the Davis Tannery

Having delved into the Davis Tannery Fonds at the Queen's University Archives (City of Kingston Archives view, 1977 - top photo), I decided to incorporate the tannery on my Hanley Spur HO scale layout. As with most of my other signature structures, I knew two things before I started: that I would have to find the most logical place to place it, and that I would be able to include only a fraction of the prototype structures. 

This decision would mean the end of my Montreal Street scene. It was a prominent part of the layout near the CN Outer Station, but it did not generate any rail traffic! The only structures were Gus' Railway Restaurant, the Provincial Tire garage and a space-filler Texaco gas station. CN Express was located across the CN track. (I decided to incorporate CN Express along with the tannery, though, also adding an extension to the CP Quattrocchi's spur to the Cohen scrap yard I'm relocating.) In fact, the relatively-modern Provincial Tire garage was the only 'modern' structure on the whole layout precluding back-dating operations to the steam era, so I was not sorry to see it go. The old scene:

I removed the street and intervening scenery. I was able to relocate the CN Hanley Spur lead back a little, to leave room for tannery and CN Express structures in the foreground. Preliminary track location before I added the tannery spur at left (below). The back line at bottom marks the former alignment of Montreal Street.

Even though I had thoughts of pushing the tannery location around the curve to the Queens interchange, the problem with that approach is that the tannery spur would not meet the buildings at the correct angle. So, I decided to place the tannery at the former 'left side' and the CN Express at the 'right side' of the newly-available space. IF I had unlimited space, I would consider modelling all of the tannery buildings. However, this flipped insurance map view shows the relative size of my two layout-sized buildings (yellow outlines) to the prototype buildings, and the edge of my layout (red line). The map is flipped to show the prototype spur matching the alignment of mine in HO scale.

My tannery spur branches off the Hanley Spur at the reverse angle of the prototype, acceptable because it matches the trailing-point orientation of several other spurs just up the line. I installed the spurs at the two new locations. I then traced the available space onto a piece of 11x17-inch paper, so I knew the size of the footprint available for the tannery structures. The prototype spur branches north off the east side of the Hanley Spur. It passes between the tannery buildings and ends there. I did not have the room nor the need to have the spur dead-end; I wanted to see the end of it from the aisle.

Proceeding to construct the structures, I looked at what I had on hand. A Woodland Scenics Cutting's Scissor building (above) I'd purchased for $10 at a train show (tag still attached) would be the main building. I'd long ago vowed not to have structures found on other layouts on my own. So, I needed to customize it to stay true! 

The second half of the tannery buildings, between the tannery spur and the CN lead, would come from a Life-Like Belvedere Hotel kit (at left, above) Both structures were painted white, with existing painted window frames highlighted in white. I also added roofs, and a small addition to the larger building.

Once painted, I realized that to do an 'Art Curren' kitbash, adding lots of details really added to the look of the building. I'm not a tannery designer, and no-one who viewed my layout would be, either.  I also toned down that whitewashed/concrete exterior with some grimy weathering. Even though I have a Walthers smokestack, I don't know if I will add it. This location requires reaching across and I can see myself  inadvertently 'demolishing' the smokestack quite often while switching!

Since the loading doors are prominent, I added some more detail:

Now, all that is needed is scenicking and more details!

An overhead view shows the new Cohen spur in middle of photo. More scrap to follow!

After I began scenery around the tannery buildings, I realized I needed something to visually 'fill in' between the two of them. So, I built an addition to the 'Belvedere' building. Due to the converging tracks, it's angled to make the most of the visual block while minimizing the footprint.

From the wall side, the narrowness of the addition is obvious!

The scene, with scenery including a vehicle shed like the one at the prototype tannery. More trees to follow, because the tannery location as very much like a rural area!

I've found prototype documents to support the loads in and out of the tannery, so now it's time to begin operations here!