Category: special effects

Thunder Mesa Studio > Thunder Mesa Blog > model railroading > special effects

A Haunted Hoedown | Sound and Special Effects for Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 22

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It's special effects time! In this installment of the Gruesome Gulch build, I install a pair of Pricom Dream Players with custom soundtracks from Fantasonics Engineering. Then it's time to add, lights, motion, and a UV illuminated set to the final scene in Cadaver Caverns. I use the old reliable "Pepper's Ghost" effect to bring an otherworldly western town to back to life with a cast of ghostly characters. It may not be a swingin' wake, but it's definitely a Haunted Hoedown!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Many thanks to Jim Wells and Fantasonics Engineering: http://www.fantasonics.com/
Pricom Designs Dream Players and amps: https://pricom.com/audio/players.shtml
Tang Band speakers: https://www.parts-express.com/Tang-Band-T1-2025SC-1-5-8-Full-Range-Speaker-Module-264-939?quantity=1

Modeling a Burned Building! | Lou Cipher’s Mercantile | GGRR 21

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Please join me for the FINAL structure build for Gruesome Gulch - and this one's a doozy! Follow along as I model "Lou Cipher's Mercantile," the burned out husk of the local general store. And thanks to a few simple special effects, the fire seems to still be smoldering inside!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

More Bridges and Scenery for Cadaver Caverns | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 20

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

In this installment of the Gruesome Gulch build, I finish up a large portion of Cadaver Caverns, with new bridges, more underground cave scenery, and LED lighting effects. One bridge is a rocky natural arch that looks ready to collapse at any moment, while another is a rickety suspension bridge that looks like it might have come from Indy's Temple of Doom! Plus, track ballasting, weathering and more.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Gruesome Gulch T-shirts: https://bit.ly/GGRRTshirt

River of Lost Souls | Gruesome Gulch 15

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It’s time at last to take a deep dive into the underworld realm of Cadaver Caverns! In this episode we move on to the “dark ride” side of the layout, as I go step by step through the rockwork, lighting, and spooky digital projection effects for the River of Lost Souls. Follow along, if you dare, as I turn a small mountain of pink foam into an otherworldly landscape from regions beyond!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Polyurethane carving foam: https://www.dickblick.com/products/sculpture-block/

Atmos FX: https://atmosfx.com/

Philips Picopix Nano: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SXV136F?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Foam Filler Putty: https://www.amainhobbies.com/beacon-adhesive-foam-filler-putty-8-oz-bcxfoamfiller/p979485

Building a Haunted Saloon | Gruesome Gulch Pt 13

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

As the sun sinks in the west, all is quiet at the Dead Eye Saloon in Gruesome Gulch. Or is it? Legend has it that ol’ Dead Eye Dan was cut down by a coward’s bullet through the upstairs window (you can still see the bullet hole in the glass). And now, on moonlit nights like this, Dan’s restless spirit is rumored to haunt the dilapidated saloon still, plotting his terrible vengeance.

It’s time for another spooky structure build for the On30 Gruesome Gulch layout! This time, it’s the notorious Dead Eye Saloon – said to be haunted by the restless spirit of ol’ Dead Eye Dan himself! The Saloon features a simple animated ghost effect that makes Dan appear to drift by the broken down butterfly doors every 3 minutes or so. Follow along as I build the structure from the ground up, including the motorized mechanism for making the ghost appear. Stay tuned for even more from Gruesome Gulch coming soon!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Race to the Finish Line: GGRR Part 11

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Time’s up on my On30 Gruesome Gulch mini-layout! Here is the mad dash to the finish line in the final week before my self-imposed deadline of October 29th (Halloween weekend). Though I didn’t get everything done that I wanted to over the past 4 months, I did managed to get the layout to a level of finish that makes it presentable to the public. In this video I add the layout fascia, build some mock-ups to stand in for yet-to-be-completed structures, and detail the front side of the layout with ground cover, ballast, weeds, shrubs and some 3-d printed details. with a few spooky lighting effects! Realistically, I could have used another 4 months to get everything done that I had planned – like the elaborate underground scenes on the backside of the layout, but all of that will have to wait for a future series of videos on the GGRR. Until then, thanks for following along.

Happy Halloween, amigos!
Dave

 

Spooky Lighting Effects for Gruesome Gulch – GGRR Part 10

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It’s time to really set the scene on the On30 Gruesome Gulch mini-layout with a few spooky lighting effects! First I build and install a 9 volt power strip for all of the structure and scenic lighting, then it’s time to improve the layout ambience with some LED RGB tape lights for the background, and a pair of warm/cool can lights for the front of the layout.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Build a Haunted Train Depot! – GGRR Part 8

Posted on by Dave Meek

Another scratchbuilt structure for my spooky-themed Gruesome Gulch mini-layout – This time it’s the GGRR train depot! I show how to build a small, dilapidated western depot with a special spooky twist: a built-in Pepper’s Ghost illusion to make a frightful figure appear in the window. Tips and tricks for board on frame construction, weathering, and a complete Pepper’s Ghost how-to.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Repairing the Erupting Geyser with a New Smoke Unit

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Return to Geyser Gulch! My original smoke-unit-from-vape-pen stopped working, so I’m replacing it with a more robust and deluxe version. Step by step as I test, install, and wire up the new unit and get it working on the layout.

Mini smoke units from Etsy Seller Wayne’s Workshop

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Putting the Rainbow BACK into Rainbow Caverns

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Sometimes things break and that means you get to fix ’em! In this behind the scenes look at repairs on the Thunder Mesa model railroad, I go spelunking inside Rainbow Caverns to bring a long lost effect from the early days of the layout back to life. Bringing back the old Pepper’s Ghost rainbow may only require changing a light bulb, but getting to it is the real challenge!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave