Category: Gruesome Gulch

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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

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

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