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The restoration of an old heavy water plant model

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  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Monday, July 7, 2014 2:02 PM

Realise this thread is kinda old and just got bumped, but......

Just gotta say, Carl, that is one heck of a restoration job. 100 hrs? Would have taken me a lifetime assuming I could figure out where to start, which is highly unlikely.

Bet the museum is grateful! Nice work!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Monday, July 7, 2014 1:16 PM

Ross, I think that I've sent you a PM. not sure how well it worked.

Carl

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by Ross Sinclair on Sunday, July 6, 2014 6:06 PM

Great job on the restoration.

I am a piping engineering involved in the power industry.  I have written a paper for next year's World Geothermal Congress illustrating the development of 3D modelling starting with plastic scale models through to the use of virtual models using GIS systems and CAD systems.  I would love to use one of your photos of the Bruce Heavy Water plant in the paper to illustrate how things used to be done.  Could you PM me to discuss if this is possible.

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Thursday, October 10, 2013 4:07 PM

Well ;

  I have done models and restorations for years .I would've loved to do that one  .That is one heck of a job . My hat is off to you .

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Thursday, August 15, 2013 2:32 PM

Thanks ever so much for all the kind words. |I had blast rebuilding this model. It not only challenged my modeling skills but also challenged my power plant operating skills too.

To answer some of your  questions,  this model was built mainly of Plastruc parts.  My source in Canada is MBS  www.modelbuilderssupply.com

They specialize in architectural model supplies and are great people to deal with.

The knuckle-boom truck is indeed a 1/32nd scale Nu-Ray truck.

It comes as a tractor with a flat  deck trailer and a load of I-beams. I used part of the traile deck to build the strait truck in the model.

Thanks again

Carl

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, August 15, 2013 12:55 PM

Wow, that's just fantastic! One heck of a restoration job.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:36 PM

Very interesting.  Did the knuckle boom crane come with the New Ray truck?

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 8:53 PM

mitsdude

Where do architects buy their supplies to build a scale model of the projects that are working or bidding on?

Architects generally do not build scale models anymore.  It is usually done in 3d software.  I see some very nice 3d models done for the plant site I work at, and they take less time to build.  If they need an actual physical model, it's easier to print out the parts on a 3d printer.  Surprise

Concerning the tanks, pipe comes in a variety of sizes.  PVC and steel pipe would be my guess, and easy to get (or wooden doweling).  Check at the local hardware store.  All you need then is a drill and a hacksaw.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Boston MA
Posted by vespa boy on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 10:19 AM

That is one super cool build Carl. Its great to have a public home for it too. Congrats.

http://public.fotki.com/nkhandekar

This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B.,
I ain't got time for that now

  • Member since
    February 2007
Posted by mitsdude on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 11:53 PM

Nice!

Any idea on where one could acquire the grey tanks. I pretty sure the piping and grey frame-skeletal support structures could be purchased from someone like Plastistruct.

 

Where do architects buy their supplies to build a scale model of the projects that are working or bidding on?

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Sunday, August 11, 2013 3:37 PM

This past week we finally got the model behind glass In the  Bruce County Heritage Farm Museum.  The model in the background is an engineering model of the heavy water extraction towers. It too is 1/32 scale. They hung the plaque to aid viewers in understanding what they are looking at. Because of ongoing construction in the area, I was unable to get better pictures. Thanks for looking and thanks to Russ for solving the missing picture mystery

Carl

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2012
  • From: USA
Posted by Striker8241 on Monday, April 29, 2013 6:44 AM

Absolutely fantastic job, Dawg! Big Smile

As for the pictures, you first have to click on the Reply button then select the "Use rich formatting" option if it isn't already visible. In the Description: block, click on the "Insert image" icon. This will open an "Insert Image" field.

In Photobucket, highlight the address in the Direct Link button (you used to be able to just click on the address to select the whole thing, but now you have to drag the cursor). You only need the portion beginning with "Http://". Paste this address into the Insert Image field in your FSM post and click on the Insert button.

Cheers,

Russ

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:30 PM

They do have  a model of a set of towers in the same scale. It to requires a restoration but not nearly as extensive.

Does any one know why the pictures don't show up????

I too am a retired nuc op.

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Guam
Posted by sub revolution on Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:24 PM

That is awesome!

As a nuclear operator by trade, I approve. Yes

Too bad you don't have the rest of the plant to go along with it! (Project???)

NEW SIG

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Ontario's West Coast
The restoration of an old heavy water plant model
Posted by dpty_dawg_ca on Saturday, April 27, 2013 9:20 PM

BHWP Reboiler Model

Last fall I was asked by a local museum if I would restore an old engineering model that they had acquired when the Bruce Heavy Water Plant was decommissioned. The model was on its way to the dump when they rescued it. This model was originally built is the late 1960’s by Lummus Corporation as a design aid in construction of the plant. This was in the days before 3D CAD systems. Scale models were used to analyse piping layout and interference problems. The model had been badly abused over the years and spent the last several years in a barn on the museums farm which it shared with lots of unknown wildlife.

The model is of the reboiler system that converted high pressure steam produced by Douglas Point Nuclear station and/or the bunker-C fired steam plant to intermediate pressure steam that was used in the production of Heavy Water for the nuclear industry.

I have only been able to find one photo of the plant in that era

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/Brucesiteaerialshot_zps5d277380.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/Brucesiteaerialshot_zps5d277380.jpg[/URL]

The end of the shadow of the smoke stack  (centre right) points at the West pumphouse of the reboiler complex.

 

This is how the model looked when it arrived in my garage.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0412.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0412.jpg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0423.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0423.jpg[/URL]

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0430.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0430.jpg[/URL]

It was dirty. It was broken. It had things missing. We were unable to find any old drawings or photos, so restoring the model was like building a jigsaw puzzle with no picture and not all the pieces. After over 100hrs of hands on restoration I rolled the finished model outside yesterday for some pictures. The model is oriented like the prototype so the shadows should be right.

The model is 1/32nd scale and measures 72”X30”X~24”.

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0631_zpsb18f6e12.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0631_zpsb18f6e12.jpg[/URL]

Ariel view looking North West.

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0619_zps14f70f84.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0619_zps14f70f84.jpg[/URL]

The Peterbilt is a modified 1/32nd scale Nu-Ray model. It is the same scale as the reboiler model.

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0625_zpsf7a62161.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0625_zpsf7a62161.jpg[/URL]

Notice the 1/32nd scale rule attached to the front of the pipe rack

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0628_zps53d4d2f9.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0628_zps53d4d2f9.jpg[/URL]

The East pumphouse

 

[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dpty_dawg_ca/media/BHWP%20project/DSCN0520_zpsfb4d0f66.jpg.html]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dpty_dawg_ca/BHWP%20project/DSCN0520_zpsfb4d0f66.jpg[/URL]

Next step is to get this model back to the museum and get it set up for public display.

Sorry for the long winded post and thanks for looking

Carl

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