The Old Mill, Part 1

Ironically, while it was in John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid plan from the very outset, the old mill wasn't built until well after Version II of his layout was under way. One can only speculate what took so long; was it trying to figure out how to deal with the depressed scenery? Or animating the wheel? Or was it just a really old Round Tuit? It will forever remain a mystery.

It was the structure I most wanted to build, but alas, like John, I also had to wait before I could start it. The principal hold-up for me was the water wheel. Yes, I could have scratchbuilt one, but I'd have rather spent that time on other tasks, such as scenery. Ultimately a solution presented itself in an unlikely source: a Japanese laser-cut paper kit company, Sankei. Among other things, they make a little water-wheel mill. That the mill screams Japanese architecture is no matter; the wheel is the item of interest, and it will be attached to a heavily-bashed Nail Brothers Salvage kit from BAZ Models.

Of the ones I used, every part of the BAZ kit was modified in some way. One side of the building is half stone wall, made from a scrap of older Chooch random stone material. The lower half of the back isn't even finished, since it sits against the dam.

Oddly enough, I hadn't intended to animate it. This might come as a shock, considering my proclivity for animation. But I soon got over that brain fart and cobbled together a simple mechanism comprising a gearhead pager motor, a homemade right-angle worm drive, and a shaft ground square to fit the water wheel. Here's a quick video of the first powered test of the mechanism.

All of the hard work is done. Now it's just a matter of finishing.

Original Gorre & Daphetid images courtesy of Peter T. Prunka.

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