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Building an On18 Locomotive | Calico Mountain 14

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

This week's project takes us back to Calico Mountain for the build of an On18 Saddle Tank Climax locomotive! This freelanced design was inspired by a similar On30 model by David Wingrove (not by Al Judy as stated in the video) and is named in honor of the designer and builder of Knott's Calico Mine Ride, Bud Hurlbut. Join me as I build this little critter from the ground up, starting with a smooth running Kato 11-109 N gauge mechanism. I add a working LED headlight, Porter details from Railway Recollections, a custom cab, graphics, and all the bells and whistles.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Kato 11-103: https://a.co/d/6fIzKrV
Railway Recollections: https://www.ebay.com/str/railwayrecollections?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=XSJRN_XgSg-&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=fWepkjmJT9O&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Workbench Wednesday | Plussing the Show

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

This week’s Workbench Wednesday gives me a chance to “plus up” a few scenes on the layout during a short break between bigger projects. “Plussing the Show” is a term from Walt Disney Imagineering that means adding a little bit extra to make something that’s already good even better. But, whatever you call it, the point is to always be able to look at your work with a critical eye and find ways to improve it.

Thanks for watching!
Dave

Cool stuff from Miniprints: https://www.miniprints.com/

Endless Mine Tunnel | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 25

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

New magic for Cadaver Caverns on my spooky themed On30 Gruesome Gulch Railroad! This time it’s an endless mine tunnel illusion using one way glass (plus a couple of LEDs, some wood, paint and hunks of foam). This is a fun one!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Two-way mirror plexiglass: https://a.co/d/689k1eE

Workbench Wednesday | 12 Years of the Thunder Mesa Mining Company

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Welcome to Workbench Wednesday at Thunder Mesa Studio! This week we’re celebrating 12 years of the On30 Thunder Mesa Mining Company layout! Join me as I take a fond look back at the early days of the layout and how it’s grown and changed over the years. Then it’s a look ahead at what’s in store for the future. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has followed and supported this model railroad project over the years!

Thanks for watching!
Dave

A Coffin Car | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 24

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Another project for the On30 Gruesome Gulch Railroad! Last week's creepy combine is now joined by a downright ghastly coffin car. Once again starting with an old HO kit, I build this "Cadaver Relocation Dept." gondola using wood, styrene, and photo-real printed paper textures. Then the real fun begins, adding coffins, skeletons, and other spooky details.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Workbench Wednesday | The Story of Nature’s Wonderland

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Welcome to Workbench Wednesday at Thunder Mesa Studio! This week I go deep into the backstory of the On30 Thunder Mesa layout to explain the origins of “Nature’s Wonderland” – from the Disneyland Mine Train to Teddy Roosevelt and the tall tale they inspired.

Thanks for watching!
Dave

A Creepy Combine! | Gruesome Gulch | GGRR 23

Posted on by Dave Meek

Time to get in the mood for Spooky Season with a new project for the On30 Gruesome Gulch Railroad! This time out I'm building a creepy combine (combination baggage and passenger car) - starting from an MDC Roundhouse HO scale Overton Coach kit. I used a couple of these same kits last year as a basis for my GGRR excursion cars and was very pleased with the results, so it's back to the workbench once to see how they might work for an On30 combine!

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

The Sundance Mining Company | Bandit Canyon Railway

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It’s time to fill that big hole in the scenery below Six Gun Butte! The Sundance Mine is a Western themed mined building along the lines of the 10 stamp mills that once dotted the rugged mountainsides of old mining towns across the American West. Follow along with this step-by-step build as take the structure from rough mock-up to finished model. This is BCRy Part X.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Corrugated siding from Full Circle Models: https://fcmkits.wordpress.com/

Workbench Wednesday | Verne Niner’s On30 Legacy

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Welcome to Workbench Wednesday at Thunder Mesa Studio! This week it’s a stroll down memory lane with the model railroading magic of my friend Verne Niner. Sadly, we lost Verne in 2015, but many people remember his model railroading articles and blog posts with great fondness. I am the proud caretaker of some of Verne’s On30 equipment, along with his award winning San Lorenzo diorama. Join me for a look back at Verne’s On30 legacy.