Category: Gruesome Gulch

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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

The Helldorado Mine | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 19

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It's time to build the Helldorado Mine - a mine so deep it goes all the way to... well, Hell-dorado! This latest addition the On30 Gruesome Gulch mini-layout features a compact "gallows style" head frame connected to a semi-collapsed mine shaft that goes right down through Cadaver Caverns. The mine is weathered and detailed to look abandoned, but there may be more here than meets the eye!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

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

A Bridge of Skulls | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 17

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

In this installment of the Gruesome Gulch build, I create a macabre “Bridge of Skulls” for the trains to cross deep inside of Cadaver Caverns. Loads of tips and techniques covered in this video, including carving Polyurethane foam, making realistic rocks from Extruded Polystyrene Foam, painting and finishing with acrylics, and even some track ballasting!

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