Category: Special Projects

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Boot Hill Graveyard – GGRR Part 9

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Boot Hill Graveyard is a scenic centerpiece for my spooky-themed Gruesome Gulch mini-layout. This step-by-step build covers scenery techniques using foam, Sculptamold, and Polyblend sanded grout – plus painting and finishing with acrylic paints and colored chalks. I make a spooky tree from some sagebrush branches, and “populate” the graveyard with a passel of laser cut headstones. Loads of details, including dead grasses, tumbleweeds, ravens, vultures, and a dilapidated old picket fence!

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

Making Skull Butte – GGRR Part 7

Posted on by Dave Meek

Scenery work continues on the Gruesome Gulch mini-layout with the addition of Skull Butte! Carved from XPF foam and painted with acrylics like the rest of the GGRR rockwork, Skull Butte rises high above the landscape as a spooky landmark for the entire layout. A good recap of my foam rock carving techniques with insights into planning and executing themed scenery to look natural while telling a specific story.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Customize a Bachmann Rail Truck with TWO Different Car Bodies

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Here’s a build video that gives you two for the price of one! Follow along as I customize an On30 Bachmann RGS Rail Truck with not one, but two freight car bodies – One for use on the Thunder Mesa Layout, and the other for my spooky themed Gruesome Gulch project. I use two totally different techniques to create these two very different car bodies. Both are scratchbuilt, but one uses printed CG textures for high quality graphics, while the other relies on laser-cut precision to replicate Victorian era details. The Galumphing Goat lives!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Foam Rock Scenery for Gruesome Gulch – GGRR Part 5

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It’s alive! Spooky rock formations sculpted from extruded polystyrene foam (XPF) help to set the scene on my On30 Gruesome Gulch mini-layout. In part 5 of this series, I demonstrate techniques for carving and finishing lightweight XPF foam to create realistic looking rock formations.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Foam Benchwork and Laying Track on Gruesome Gulch – GGRR Part 4

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It’s time to finish the benchwork and get some trains running on my On30 Gruesome Gulch mini-layout! In this installment, I build both benchwork and roadbed from layers of lightweight extruded polystyrene foam (XPF), then lay down some On30 flextrack on the upper and lower loops. Some tips on soldering track connections with a butane torch too, and a little track cleaning to keep everything running smoothly. More to come!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Recreating the Big Thunder “Blasting Ahead” Sign

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Join me as I recreate a trackside sign from Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland in 1:1 scale! Disney fans will recognize this one from near the dynamite chomping goat as you crest the second lift hill. I use some basic hand tools and faux-finish painting techniques to recreate this prop from the park for the walls of Thunder Mesa Studio.

Thanks for watching!
Dave

On30 Excursion Cars for Gruesome Gulch – GGRR Part 3

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

My Gruesome Gulch mini-layout will need a train of excursion cars for victims - er - guests to ride those haunted rails. In this episode, I build the first car for my ghost train: a 19' excursion coach that utilizes laser cut parts and bits and pieces from a classic HO Roundhouse kit. More to come!

Thanks for watching, amigos! Dave