Notes about E. L. Moore, mid-20th century model railroading, and other model making related interests.
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Thursday, May 16, 2019
The Molasses Mine hidden in the Feed Mill Warehouse
Awhile back I mentioned that the only kitbashes of E. L. Moore based kits I was still going to note were those based on his Molasses Mine. I found this one, the Brose Feed Company by John Swanson, in the Oct '88 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. It's a subtle kitbash and I almost overlooked it. Most of the Molasses Mine's signature features aren't present, but the big, bulky main building gives it away. So, I guess even the weirdest kits can be put to good use by a creative imagination.
For that matter, it also looks like Sim's Snuffery or Rube's Rhubarb Plant. I think he kinda got into a small rut for a while. Well, it did help sell similar articles to different magazines. Kinda like revamping his Figet's Cheese into a fireworks factory years later.
I think he got away with it because I have a letter somewhere that notes just having his name on the cover of RMC in the early '70s caused a spike in sales. Maybe they didn't care too much about uniqueness in that case. Also, I think RMC ran a reader survey in maybe '74 or'75 asking readers who their favourite writer was and the results were something like: Bill Schopp (who had died a couple of years earlier), Hayden and Frary were next (or tied depending on how one read things given they wrote many articles together at that time), and I think ELM was next - I need to go and look up that survey. Anyway, he seemed quite popular, in RMC anyway, so maybe he could write his own ticket more or less.
Interesting. He actually made a new front for it that resembled another ELM building, Butz Milling and Feeds. It just needs some silos and pipes.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! I didn't see that.
DeleteFor that matter, it also looks like Sim's Snuffery or Rube's Rhubarb Plant. I think he kinda got into a small rut for a while. Well, it did help sell similar articles to different magazines. Kinda like revamping his Figet's Cheese into a fireworks factory years later.
DeleteI think he got away with it because I have a letter somewhere that notes just having his name on the cover of RMC in the early '70s caused a spike in sales. Maybe they didn't care too much about uniqueness in that case. Also, I think RMC ran a reader survey in maybe '74 or'75 asking readers who their favourite writer was and the results were something like: Bill Schopp (who had died a couple of years earlier), Hayden and Frary were next (or tied depending on how one read things given they wrote many articles together at that time), and I think ELM was next - I need to go and look up that survey. Anyway, he seemed quite popular, in RMC anyway, so maybe he could write his own ticket more or less.
Delete