Tilting At Windmills; With or without the smock...

[THE DC]

OPTIONAL!

Off Instructions work:


The windows were provided by cutting the thin plastic packaging from a Harbor freight magnetic tool dish.


It's a small detail but I like the clear windows, which reflect the light, even if the dark interior doesn't permit seeing through.

The trick is keeping the frame pieces cut properly so that they lay over the glass. When gluing, avoid too much glue to keep from clouding the windows. Brace the plastic to hold it into frame, from inside.



The combination of braced doors and windows dress up the body and cellar and the door in the cellar has such small windows it really presses the look.

[THE DC]

OPTIONAL!

Off Instructions work:


I tried adding further enhanced texture by cutting out slate of the siding and gluing them over the outside of the body, but I abandoned the effort. The look wasn't convincing, largely due to the siding being hand drawn. I even tried siding over it, disregarding the siding that was sketched, but I just didn't like the amount of time required, given the result of the look. I have chosen to not invest in the effort, though it could be considered with standard white paper.

I even experimented with blistering the cellar sides to accomplish stone texture, but this was not attractive, even though very time consuming. In the end, I had chosen to accept the exterior as it was drawn, though I would expect a re-color of it would provide a stronger look.

[THE DC]

The directional or guide sail portion...


Directional sails were important parts of smock mill operation. These smaller wind-catching guide sail directed the heads of the windmills so that they spun about upon a base, locating the large sail veins to turn into the most effective wind-catching direction. Windmills operated similarly to sailing vessels, in this aspect, to maximize their efficiency.

The parts of the guide-sail are separated from the pages, along with the structure supporting the directional sail.

[THE DC]

The guide sail can be detailed by cutting slits and piecing them into an angular shape.



Meanwhile, the supporting struts can be detailed by careful cutting out of the white space of the framework.

[THE DC]

A mirrored piece of the frame can then be added to reinforce the arm and cut carefully to maximize detail.


Once the extra piece is added to the frame; it looks better and is stronger.

[THE DC]

The four sails, or veins, are joined together by a wheel brace.







A pulley is available to add detail to the kit...

[THE DC]

Several copies of the wheel base were made.


The square center was replicated to add a laminated layer to add texture to the center.



A mirrored piece was also similarly arranged to ado the back part so that the part can be seen from both sides.



The wheel pulleys were also duplicated and laminated so that two layers were added to the front and three to the back to add depth to the piece. This added to the depth of texture and increases spacing between the wheel and the roof.

[MichaelS]

This is really an interesting thread. Thanx for posting.

[THE DC]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

This is really an interesting thread. Thanx for posting.

Glad its appreciated.

I have a heavy work schedule, so making this thread (and building a model for that matter these days!), so knowing that the effort is valued is appreciated.

Slainte!

[THE DC]

The next part to build is the windmill head. On a smock mill, this was a rather advanced part, making there most of wind displacement. The head of a smock mill was positioned atop a series of tracks and gears that allowed the head to turn. The small positioning sail would be struck by the wind, and with these smaller wind catchers placed at an angle to the head, they helped turn the head into a position to maximize wind impact upon the larger sail blades (or veins).

The head was generally not manned, unlike the rest of the structure. It was possible to access the head to repair or lubricate the gearing, but it was not even used for storage. The tracks took up the floor area and the gearing for the sail attachments to the main shaft that fell to the grinding wheel, several stories below the head.

This windmill was fairly moderate in size for a smock mill; about four stories, plus the head. There was a stone base as well, often much of the foundation structures were underground, especially on Long Island. This model isn't typical of Long Island mills, and is a bit thinner and taller.

The parts of the head should be cut from the sheets and assembled. The section simply folds into a curved roof, over the spade shaped sides.