Category: Special Projects

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The Eternal Rest Hotel | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 18

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Even restless spirits need a place to stay, so this installment of the Gruesome Gulch build is all about creating a run own Victorian era hotel called the “Eternal Rest.” This latest structure for the Gulch is the fanciest yet, dripping with gingerbread and milled details in the Carpenter Gothic style. But since this is Gruesome Gulch, everything is just a little off – broken glass, missing boards, chipped and weather paint – and check out those skulls above the windows!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Gruesome Gulch Water Tank | GGRR 16

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Even haunted steamers need water, so this time out I'm building a dilapidated wooden water tank for Gruesome Gulch - complete with a spooky glow and skeletal occupant! Using an old, out of production craftsman style kit as a starting point, I demonstrate the steps, techniques, and changes made to bring this latest structure to life for my On30 project layout.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Miniprints: https://www.miniprints.com/

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 Spooky Trestle Bridge for Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 14

Posted on by Dave Meek

You can almost hear the old trestle creek and moan as the train crosses – no telling how much longer she’s gonna last!

This week I’m building a broken down old wooden trestle bridge for Gruesome Gulch that looks as if it might collapse at any moment. Wooden bridge construction, spiking rails, building trestle bents – it’s all here, plus a few tips and tricks for making it spooky! Stay tuned for more from Gruesome Gulch coming soon!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

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

Return to Gruesome Gulch! | Building a Themed Stand | GGRR Pt 12

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Gruesome Gulch returns! With a show coming up this spring, it’s time to get back to work on my spooky-themed mini-layout. To kick off phase 2 of the GGRR, I’m building a portable themed stand that will both make the layout easier to move and to work on. I need a stand that’s sturdy, attractive, and that can break down flat for travel – oh, with castors, room for storage inside, and electrical power too. Follow along as a I build a spooky stand that looks like it might have rolled straight out of Dr. Frankenstein’s lab! More Gruesome Gulch to come!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Bandit Canyon Railway | The Blackjack Mine Pt 2

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

BCRy Part IV. Here it is! The second episode of the Blackjack Mine build for my On18 Bandit Canyon Railway project. This time around, I build a steam powered hoist for the mine with all of the machinery visible in an open air shed. Plus weathering, final details, lighting, and a scenicked base for the entire complex that blends right into Bandit Canyon.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Crow River Products: https://www.crowriverproducts.com/index.php?cPath=33_36&osCsid=jtu2jnmd3ep4p2r17m9ntvu555

Blackjack Mine Part 1: https://youtu.be/i3Aw-SBnBkQ

[spreadshop]

Bandit Canyon Railway | The Blackjack Mine Pt 1

Posted on by Dave Meek

BCRy Part III. This is the first of two episodes on the Blackjack Mine, a small complex with loads of character for my On18 Bandit Canyon Railway project. In this installment, I scratchbuild the freelanced head frame and shaft house using some repurposed parts from an earlier project. Lots of info on typical mine construction out west, plus modeling tips for wood construction, using stencils, weathering, and making your own corrugated roofing. Cinefoil “Black Wrap”

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Bandit Canyon Railway | Roadbed, Track and Power

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

BCRy Part II. Work continues on my On18 Bandit Canyon Ry micro-layout! This week, I add risers to raise the plywood sub-roadbed up to the desired height, then it’s time for cork roadbed, laying some Peco flextrack, building a simple manual turnout linkage, and hooking up the DC power. Join me as I bring the BCRy to life for the first time and explain a few tips and tricks learned over the years to make all of these tasks a little smoother and easier.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

New On18 Project | The Bandit Canyon Railway Rides Again!

Posted on by Dave Meek

I’m always up for a new project when inspiration strikes! This time I’m revisiting the Bandit Canyon Ry in On18 scale. This 2×3′ portable micro-layout will combine spectacular Southwestern scenery with the legends of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and the Hole in the Wall gang. This video introduces the layout concept with plans and drawings, and we begin work on a portable stand and base.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

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