O-Scale Brommer Donkey

This is a C.H.B. Models (Charles Brommer) 2 drum American Hoist and Derrick donkey engine kit. Built straight from the box, except for some Vintage Reproductions cable added to the drums (after annealing). It was originally built to represent a working engine, but a couple of years later I decided to turn it into “posh” clutter for my shop diorama. Original weathered black finish was partially stripped and the whole thing was dipped in Hobby Black. New washes of Floquil Roof Brown and Rust were applied. Thinned washes of  Engine Black were applied to areas that would have been lubricated, such as the gear faces and cylinder crossheads. Some kind of chemical reaction (or something) caused the blotchy finish. I have never been able to make it happen since! A C.H.B. Dolbeer donkey rests in the weeds behind this one (no blotchy finish!)

Drums from Grandt Line, a tractor seat from Mackenzie (Bill Roy), and an old Simpson bunk litter the immediate area. Weeds are Macramé twine. Touch the tops with diluted white glue and “bomb” with fine yellow ground foam. Blow off excess when dry. Bushes are Supertrees with ground foam applied. Thank you Mr. Brommer!

Clutter

There’s a couple of old switch stands, salvaged from the woods, with bullet holes in the target disks. A common effect from hunters’ target practice! Easily added to the plastic with a hot needle. The plastic Grandt Line drum was dented by pressing it against a warm light bulb (careful!)

Radial Drill Press

It’s kind of a Frankenpress, part Western Scale Models and part C.H.B. models (gears, vise, hand wheel). I added the exposed bevel gears at the top of the post and modified the rear cone drive based on illustrations of 1880’s era machines. The table screw is a brass threaded rod from my scrap box. I put a real drill bit in the chuck. The crane behind it was copied from the Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek Ca., a really neat place to visit! Thanks to Bill (W.S.M.) and Charlie (C.H.B.) for the help!

Chuck Doan

July 2005