CONGO STATION PROJECT: The Rubber Office (WIP)

[mortimer]

First I work in a warehouse posted in other topic

HERE

And this is the second, one of the biggest buildings in my Belgian Station project, a Rubber Office. It takes me a lot for the planification... At this moment just build the whole structure and the removable roof in foam core board (1cm for the base and the columns, 5mm for the structure and 3mm for the top of the roof)... I've began with the wooden floor in one of the porchs, made with a green bamboo mat 









And still a lot of work... I'll update this topic with next stages...

Hope you like it!

[Svennn]

Yeah, I like it a lot. I would never have thought to do a building such as this. I look forward to seeing it progress.

[commissarmoody]

Varu nice, I cant wait to see were you go with this

[carlos marighela]

Bamboo mat floorboards?  Genius! Think I'll steal that idea myself

[gamer Mac]

Looking good so far.

[argsilverson]

It looks awfully good! I like it very much.
For some time now I am toying with the idea of some colonial building to be used as tropical hospital, with some verandas etc
Yours is magnificent!

here is a link on a "banana plantation in east africa" that might help you with some more inspiration!
and a link for Ainsty (now Crow's) trade goods that might help you titilate the building.

Now, where are those caoutschouk/rubber bales, I have seen somewhere?

BTW it is also a timeless piece. I think that it can be used in colonial and pulp settings! Nice

[traveller]

WOW!   

makes me think Congo late 19th C, Haiti early 19th...

[mortimer]

It looks awfully good! I like it very much.
For some time now I am toying with the idea of some colonial building to be used as tropical hospital, with some verandas etc
Yours is magnificent!

here is a link on a "banana plantation in east africa" that might help you with some more inspiration!
and a link for Ainsty (now Crow's) trade goods that might help you titilate the building.

Now, where are those caoutschouk/rubber bales, I have seen somewhere?

BTW it is also a timeless piece. I think that it can be used in colonial and pulp settings! Nice

Yes, it can be used in very settings, it's the idea... I can't find your links, you forget to add this? and finally YES, I need more info and inspiration... I'm looking for rubber bales, rubber manufacturing in the stations and how it works in leopold's 18__ congo, transport? boxes? I can't find info about this question...

thanks for all your comments!!

[mortimer]

And all the info about belgian stations and rubber in congo is welcome!!   

[argsilverson]

Shame on me! I forgot to add links that's awful, sorry

Here they are (or try to repost them:
http://www.diorama-dreamland.at/
on the navigation choose gallery index and then you see the links for some dioramas including the plantation one:

As for Ainsty i.e. Old Crow Models here they are:
http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/aitrader.htm

[argsilverson]

Sorry for the mesh, in previous messages.

Usually natural rubber comes in bales of about 33,3 kg each.
Natural rubber is a natural liquid resin produced by trees known as caoutscouk or rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). The tree originated from South America but now has been planted in tropical and subtropical regions like Congo, Malaysia, Vietnam, India to name a few. In Europe it can be found in the South but is not productive, is just used as ornamental. A known plant of the same family is ficus.
When latex is collected is pressed (by hand at early times) to form sheets. Left to dry, then goes to the smoke house to get smoked.
This is essential since smoking acts as preservative against bacteria and fungi (Oh they love eating latex, a delicatessen for them) Then again pressed to form bales.
Some links:
http://www.kitchenandbathwarehouse.com/rubberwood.html
http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Wonder-Book-Of-Knowledge/What-Is-A-Rubber-Camp-Like.html
http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Wonder-Book-Of-Knowledge/How-Is-Rubber-Prepared-For-Use.html
http://www.2goglobal.com/2GoChronicals/2%20Go%20Photos/Asia/Indonesia/life_in_bukit_lewang.htm
http://www.jungleway.com/images/content/photos/treks/slideshow/JW1.jpg
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2006/09/01/rubber-dub-dub/
http://www.rain-tree.com/Plant-Images/rubber-tree-pic.htm
http://www.greensleep.com/Europe/Great-Brittain/EN/gzg-organic-hevea.asp
Sorry most links are from South America and Asia, but they give some idea.

As for modelling:
sheets are easily made from putty/green stuff. Some Ainsty trade goods bales can be used. They look suspiously as cotton bales but can pass as rubber bales, too.

Transportation: any means: Rail, canoe, bearers etc.

But finishing the model you have to built a large balance scale to weight the rubber.

The last at least for today: Try to find out how King Leopold treated rubber collectors. A good popint to start is what Mark Twain reported about that matter .

Ah while collecting your rubber, do not forget to add some askaris! They might be useful

[argsilverson]

In the meantime I found an interesting site with some photos about the process of the natural rubber in Brazil.

http://www.bouncing-balls.com/serendipity/picturegallery_amazonia.htm

and some photos with pressing sheets and drying sheets  from thailand:
http://blog.tourismthailand.org/EugeneTang/?p=3493

[mortimer]

Thanks!!!   Really useful info!! And great ideas...

I've think in a balance in the dock... yes, a fluvial transport via Congo River... One of the other things you comment is a smoke house... more info about? Perhaps a small smoked cabin... it's a good idea!!

ANY PHOTOS OR OLD DRAWINGS FOR THIS?

I've look the site for Trade Goods... I think something similar like this bales -in the front- http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/ainsty/a2625.jpg or the big ones on these http://www.oldcrowmodels.co.uk/ainsty/a2643.jpg Again a great ideas!! Thanks... Useful and inspirate info...

Finally, about the genocide in the King Leopold's Congo I got a lot of info, thanks, I'm fond of Africa story and I've read terrible reports about the Force Publique systems... about the explotation and the kidnappins, slaves and cut-hands market...   I can recommend you this book by Peter Forbath, a fantastic compendium, one of my favorites about african colonial and exploration history http://www.amazon.com/River-Congo-Discovery-Exploration-Exploitation/dp/0061224901 and of course the classic Joseph Conrad "Heart of Darkness", about Mark Twain's text I known it for references, but I'll get the complete text... thanks for recommendation again -and sorry for my English-

[mortimer]

The graphic info in the first of your last links is a TREASURE!!!

Some "pelles"  and a smoke room... great search again!!!

[argsilverson]

The graphic info in the first of your last links is a TREASURE!!!

Some "pelles"  and a smoke room... great search again!!!

that is why I send you.
I can't wait to see your modelling use of the above!

(BTW which part of Spain you are from?)