In this Model Making Quick Tip, I share my personal spin on one of the oldest tricks in the modeling book, making weeds from old paintbrushes. It’s all about variety!
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Category: scenery
Thunder Cam: Dinosaur Gap
Howdy Folks! Over the coming months, I will be documenting every scene on the layout in these short “Thunder Cam” videos. Each one features Thunder Mesa trains passing through scenes on a typical day (or night) of operations. Supplemental music and sounds have been added where appropriate, but all else is as it might appear on a visit to the layout. As new scenes are finished on the layout, these rails fan style videos will act as supplements to the builds and projects. The ultimate goal is to chronicle the entire layout over time.
This episode features wild and remote Dinosaur Gap, where the sun bleached bones of an ancient creature were discovered while grading the railroad right of way. Enjoy!
Dave
Building an Ancient Cliff Dwelling
Hidden in sheltered alcoves deep in the canyons of the American Southwest, ancestral puebloan cliff dwellings tell the story of a once thriving ancient culture. Known today as Anasazi or Sinagua, these people were likely the ancestors of modern day Pueblo Indians like the Hopi. In this build video, I recreate the ruins of an ancient cliff dwelling below the canyon walls of Thunder Mesa with tips for carving Hydrocal plaster, LED lighting, and painting and finishing high desert scenery.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Thunder Cam: Geyser Gulch
Howdy Folks! Over the coming months, I will be documenting every scene on the layout in these short “Thunder Cam” videos. Each one features Thunder Mesa trains passing through scenes on a typical day (or night) of operations. Supplemental music and sounds have been added where appropriate, but all else is as it might appear on a visit to the layout. As new scenes are finished on the layout, these rails fan style videos will act as supplements to the builds and projects. The ultimate goal is to chronicle the entire layout over time.
Enjoy!
Dave
Model Making Quick Tip: Coloring Hydrocal Plaster Castings
What’s the best way to color Hydrocal plaster castings? Good question! Ask ten different modelers and you’re likely to get ten different answers. In this Quick Tip video, I demonstrate three different techniques that have given me good results over the years.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Modeling a Slot Canyon
Return to Horse Thief Canyon! In this week’s vid, I get back to work on Thunder Mesa’s slot canyon after a long hiatus. Horse Thief Canyon was inspired by real places in the Colorado Plateau country like Antelope Canyon near Lake Powell. I model this deep, narrow canyon using sculpted layers of extruded polystyrene foam board finished with Sculptamold, spackle, and acrylic paints.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Model Making Quick Tip: Polyurethane Foam
In this quick tip video, we take a look at polyurethane carving foam and the possibilities it offers for model makers. I demonstrate how to cut, carve, and finish the foam while building a small stone structure.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Model Making Quick Tip: Realistic Pine Logs
Welcome to the first in a new series of model making “quick tips.” In these shorter videos, I can go into a lot more detail about some of my preferred tools, materials, and techniques. In this first one, I give a step-by-step tutorial on one of my favorite methods for modeling pine logs with realistic bark. This technique was essential for builds like my Big Thunder Saloon and the log cabin at Circle D Ranch. It’s also a good start for making foreground trees!
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
Thunder Mesa Limited Podcast Ep 10: Jake Johnson & the Art of Model Railroading
The Art of Model Railroading
Jake Johnson is back for a second appearance on the Thunder Mesa Limited, and this time our conversation is all about the art of model railroading! We talk about how and when to use forced perspective, color choices for scenery and structures, backdrops, how to choose a scale that’s right for you, the detail threshold, and so much more.
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Calico Mountain Expansion Part 12: Creeks & Waterfalls
The Calico Mountain expansion continues! In this episode, I model Calico Creek and its tall, dramatic waterfalls. Step by step techniques for finishing the stream bed, making waterfalls from acrylic sheet, mixing and pouring clear epoxy resin, and adding ripples, rapids and final details.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave