Project Progress:

The Stark Mill was the first mill complex built for the layout, helping to bring visual representation to what the completed layout would eventually look like. Located At CP Tomah the Stark Mill complex contains 3 buildings, Mill #1, Mill #2 and Stores Building #3, all made from Hydrocal kits from Downtown Decos models.

History
The complex is typical of New England textile mills in that its brickwork is rather plain, and lacks ornate details. The original Stark Mill was located at 500 North Commercial Street in Manchester, NH and built in 1838 by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, consisting of 8000 spindles in the first building. The mill was so large that after a major fire in 1850 that burned the top floor of one buildings, the company purchased their own fire engine and started it's own fire brigade. Most of the Stark Mill complex was abandoned in the mid 1970's. Today one of the remaining buildings houses Millies Tavern, formerly Stark Milling Brewery. On the layout the complex retains its history as the Stark Textile Mill in it's new locale, but is now being used by Vitronics Soltec Corp., a manufacturer of wave and reflow soldering and curing equipment.

Building
The complex is made out of three kitbashed Downtown Deco "Blue Comet Mfg" (now Shipping Warehouse Flat) kits that made from Hydrocal. The original kits were designed so that they made a 8"x21" warehouse building. I decided for Stores Building #3, which would face the viewer the most, that I wanted it to be as large as possible. I unfolded the kit (the new Shipping Warehouse Flat is already designed to do this now...) giving the building a recessed dock section for truck loading. Completed size for Stores Building #3 is 38" long, just about 493' scale feet. Mill #1 and Mill #2 were built using the same kits, although they are even more simple in their kitbash. Both buildings are basic squares, with a wooden and steel "covered bridge" that connects the two buildings which are separated by the White Mountain Branch.

The buildings were sealed with white primer spray paint and allowed to dry. Several washes of DecoArt's Americana Heritage Brick were added to the buildings, giving it a nice dark red color typical of New England brick. Details such as piping, fire escapes and wall bolts still need to be added, and then a wash of burnt umber and spots of rust should finish off the walls.

The original kit had a roof that was set below the side walls by about 2'. This roof style was not common on New England mills. Using a sheet of plexiglas I cut it so that it sat on top of the walls, and overhung about 6". The roof was primed, and then airbrushed ModelFlex Weathered Black to give it a tar paper look. A Sharpie was used to create the tar lines sealing the tar paper. The roof was then weathered.

Since this section of the layout does not have river or canal access, a Walthers steel water tank was added to the complex to provide water for manufacturing and fire suppression to the buildings. The tower however has since been abandoned, and no longer provides water to the complex. Trees and weeds have started to grow under the legs, while the water tank begins to rust away. The kit was built adhering to the Walthers instructions, and was airbrushed ModelFlex Engine Black. Washes of India Ink and rust were applied to weather the tower. The base was airbrushed Poly Scale Weathered Concrete, and Silfor static grass was added, along with Scenic Express trees to give it an unkept look.