HO/HOn3 Backwoods Tie Mill

KKarns · October 29

Thanks Jerry! Working on putting the ideas I have into reality, coming along.

MuddyCreekRR · October 29

I was going to just build my Tie Mill on the suggested base....now...with your inspiration...I am making the base larger...and including another structure (or 2) that will be named later...and the track that will service it.....which may just be On 1 1/2

KKarns · October 30

Sorry to hear my influence is causing you more work Art! lol. Got to have more room for all those delectable 3D details and vehicles.

TomMich · October 30

You can't have too many SW details, so by all means make MORE room!

MuddyCreekRR · October 30

All of the SW...and for that matter...all structures/scenes I build are going onto 1" thick insulation foam...the green stuff...that will be plugged in like puzzle pieces on my layout that is a long time in progress. This method allows me to build...and display...and enter in contests if I so desire.....

glandesjr · October 31

I do the same, Muddy, but my 1" foam is pink and I get it at Home Depot. Just like you suggest, as I build my layout the individual buildings will get "puzzled" together. I'm glad I'm doing it "right". Thanks.

MuddyCreekRR · November 3

I used to have issues with the pink....tended to change size....the green seems to be denser too...Lowes has the green....

glandesjr · November 3

Thanks I'll check it out.

KKarns · November 7

Much needed update on the Tie Mill project. Prior to the planting of the Mill complex of structures, I needed to get some scenic work done. Phase II was the west edge of the diorama along the track. This area was redesigned to include road access from the west over a small drainage along the track. The following are a few pictures of where I started:

The roughed in drainage ditch with the faint scribed lines where the road will traverse the ditch and track. Despite this rather small thin amount of real estate, there was a good amount of scenic work required.

I decided to add a barbed wire fence along this side for both visual interest and to establish a visual boundary.

Here are the fence posts in place. These were made from natural pine branches with most of the bark removed. The "wire" was made from ship rigging rope and rusted with pigments and attached with small bits of super glue.

The following pictures are of the nearly completed scenic work west of the tracks:

Final detailing will include removal of scattered pieces of static grass, noticeable in close ups only. Additional grass among the ties, etc.

Close up of the drainage ditch. Key here is the use of a variety of scenic materials both natural and commercial. I like to introduce new techniques with every build I do. Here is my go at scratch built HO scale cattails (lower left foreground and up stream).

Next up is more scenic work to the east...Ken

ALCO · November 7

Last pic really brings it all together! The Man has crazy skills!

East Side Lumber Co. · November 7

The detail on the trackwork is next level!

TravisS · November 7

Give me land, lots of land under starry skies above....don't fence me in

Great update, Ken. Your scenic work just gets better and better.

KKarns · November 7

Hey Al, appreciate ya my friend! Thanks so much.

Thanks for that Aaron! It's tedious work in HO scale, but well worth the extra effort.

Hey Travis, what's up man! Appreciate the note here and thanks much.

Kevin L · November 7

Looks great, very nice.

TomMich · November 8

Outstanding work as usual. Everything blends together so well and looks so natural.

Jim M · November 8

Very well done. The two track road looks fantastic.

Jerry · November 8

You sure your not taking pictures out in the real world. it just doesn't get any better than this.
Your every detail fits perfectly with the next one!

Jerry

KKarns · November 8

Thanks much Kevin.

Appreciate that Tom, lot more to go but I'm getting there!

Hey Jim, thanks so much! The road just made sense after mulling it over for good while.

Jerry, nice hearing from you and appreciate your thoughts here. As I mentioned, I have a good bit more to lay in but the scenic work is getting there.

Joel · November 9

Finally have a chance to catch up on this build and I've missed so much. Just fantastic work all around. I love the detailing and the scenery is top notch. Can't wait to see it all come together. I may just have to start building mine.

KKarns · November 10

Nice hearing from you Joel! Appreciate your take on things as I highly value your opinion. Trust all is well up north and look forward to seeing you work your magic on the Tie Mill.

MuddyCreekRR · November 10

Really digging the landscaping.....the track work is superb...always amazed at the detail you get with HO scale....

kebmo · November 11

i might have to save up some beans and buy me one of these kits too....

KKarns · November 11

Well yeah!

Kevin L · November 11

Fantastic scenery your work is very realistic, well done.

KKarns · November 12

Thanks much Kevin and appreciate ya my friend!

Mountaingoat · November 12

I always need a drool bib every time I look at your work Ken. I read and study your work but have never been able to get even close to your level....Rick

KKarns · November 12

Nonsense Rick, just spend a week and a half on a strip of real estate 3 inches by 12 inches and there ya go! lol. Appreciate that my friend, and this diorama will end up with more scenic work than any other project I've done.

kebmo · November 12

it looks like somewhere i'd like to vacation....

KKarns · November 15

I have been busy with scenic work and have made some good head way. I have the base ground work done and have the Main Tie Mill structure ground support elements laid in. For the general yard area of the Mill, I wanted a heavily traveled, chewed up ground with mild ruts and debris scattered about. This is almost universally what is seen in period photographs. To accomplish this look, the ground debris needs to be integrated into the dirt/mud and not just sitting on top. This is difficult to achieve with just scattering the debris on top of the ground work (dirt) and laying on the wet water. I put an amount of real dirt in a container and then added water a little at a time until I got a slurry consistency. I then added the debris and stirred it up. Then white glue was added and the lot stirred up with a brush handle. I then wetted the surface of the diorama and spread the mixture out in the area I wanted it and leveled it up with a small spatula. After this was to my liking I added all the ruts, tire tracks, etc. Once dry detail the scene as normal.

The base for the table saw, dead rolls, and in feed table rails installed with smoother ground work in and around the foot traffic work area. Dark area represents the dirt, debris, and glue mixture with associated ruts, tire tracks, etc.. which is not dry yet. Much attention was paid to making sure all three pieces of equipment, when placed on their corresponding support pads and rails, were level across the tops.

View near the rail crossing. This will look more subtile once the mixture dries.

Close up showing the integration of the debris into the dirt.

TravisS · November 15

Ken, these photos look like pics taken of the 1:1 world Cannot think of a higher compliment than that. Thanks for describing your process, as I always find dirt tricky o model and takes up so much space on these backwoods scenes.

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HO/HOn3 Backwoods Tie Mill

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