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HO/HOn3 the Wood Cutters Shack

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Comments

  • Very nice Ken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • jeepers, what can't you do?
  • Thanks so much Kevin!

    Appreciate that Travis. The dude fit in there perfectly! The pine woods was an experiment in that type of tree/setting. I had previously only done deciduous trees and wanted to try something different. I try and work on a new and different modeling method/technique which each project. This time it was a mountain stream and the pine trees with associated ground litter. The Tie Mill will also add some cool detailing opportunities as well. Brett's Farmall Tractor kit fit the scene just right. Look forward to the similar vehicles associated with The Mill kit!

    Karl my friend, nice hearing from you! Your comments and support of my work means a great deal, so thank you! We have got to get together again some how...I'm tired of not knocking elbows with you all in person. Need to set a goal of meeting up somewhere somehow.

    Hey Stephen, Thanks much for the thumbs up and support, appreciate ya!
  • lol...thanks Kebmo! To steal a line..."the list is long but distinguished"
  • WOW! Amazing! Everything blends so well together. I like the buried tie steps. And the shot of the tractor from behind the trees is really neat. That's one fancy outhouse you've got there with a porcelain door knob.
  • Come on Ken where's the model pictures????

    As usual this is just excellent work by you. That scenery is so well done.

    Jerry
  • Hey what up Jerry! Thanks much and have lots more to do particularly when I plant the Tie Mill kit. Back to the bench to sit and think about that:)
  • Decided to post a couple of pictures from the other side of the shack that I failed to show in the previous post.

    IMG_0378

    The light colored lower part of the path is going to be darkened up a bit as its a bit too contrasting. Demonstrates the value of photographing your work as you go.

    IMG_0375

    A few of the front porch details.

    IMG_0380

    View of the creek with the fast water detail...more later. Ken
  • Wonderful scenery!!

    Jerry
  • edited August 10
    Outhouse by the creek…what could go wrong? HAHA. Great stuff. This will get several more views! Love the depth of the photos and the foggy look.
  • Thanks again Jerry, trying to keep the forum pumped up a bit as it's been awfully quiet!
  • I love these pictures. You have done so well. The photos even have an early morning fog effect. So darn awesome.
  • Karl just said everything I would have said . And all of this in HO ??? Holy sh°°
  • Looks GREAT from every angle!

  • Thanks Al. The mood lighting or mood fog was a pleasant accident. Gray wood fence in the background served the purpose!

    Appreciate that Jim. Nice hearing from you and see the picture creation above.

    Hey Robert, thanks so much! Chomping at the bit to get the Tie Mill going...

    Thanks Tom and serves to stir up the forum a bit and a space filler until I get my hands on the Tie Mill...
  • The diorama itself as well as the scenery is fantastic! Love looking at these pics.
  • This looks so amazing, Ken. The scenery is truly spectacular and I love the tractor. Even the outhouse looks awesome. What a great dio.
  • Agreed this looks amazing. The whole scene looks perfectly real.
  • Hey appreciate ya George, and thanks so much! That SWSM Tractor Kits are awesome and so highly detailed, they practically build and detail themselves!

    Thanks much Craig, and nice hearing from you as always.
  • I sure hope you get the Tie Mill sooner than later!! Starting to get antsy waiting for your start on it!!

    Jerry
  • lol...I hear ya Jerry!...me too. I have cleared the bench in anticipation...
  • So Ken, with a dio this size what do you do with it? Does it go on a layout or do you display it "alone" in a display case?
  • lol...therein is the question! I have no plans for it to be included in a layout as I don't currently have one. In addition, likely too big to put in a display case for now. My current stable of SWSM dioramas are in a covered glass display case or in plastic totes, depending on size. I have future plans to have them all displayed. I'll likely take this one, and maybe Shelby's Marine, to the 2026 NNGC.
  • With the pending shipping of SierraWest Scale Models HO/HOn3 Tie Mill, I'm taking the opportunity to outline how I plan to go about documenting the build of The Mill. As most of you know, I decided to incorporate the Tie Mill into my current diorama of the Wood Cutters Shack (aka Tie Cutters Shack). That portion is essentially done, save for further scenic work to mesh the two structures and operational workflow.

    I have decided to start a new build thread for the Tie Mill structure proper, then come back to this thread for the combination of the two kits. Essentially I'll be running two build threads cumulating in a Tie Cutter and Tie mill complex of operations. The entire workflow will be explained later as things develop.

    My ultimate goal is three fold. In future builds, I plan to show the full operation of a crosstie production operation from start to finish. My current diorama covers phase 1, which is the processing of the raw material into an untreated fresh crosstie. The diorama will then depict the loading and static transportation of the crossties via rail.

    Phase 2 will depict the transportation of the crossties via tie rafts on a river circa 1920s. Research has revealed a wealth of modeling opportunities during this phase of operations. Really excited about this mode of tie transport which just keeps getting more interesting the more research I do. I already have a reference company nailed down to model all three phases after. this will be revealed with the Tie Mill operational plan at the history review of the Tie Mill kit build.

    Phase 3 will be a crosstie processing plant where the ties are seasoned and processed through the pressure treatment application followed by final shipping to the railroad end users.

    So there you have the plan as it stands today. This may change as things progress.

    More later,

    Ken
  • Ambitious! Just make sure that your house has an opening large enough to get this dio outdoors for fotos! LOL
  • Hey Al nice hearing from you. There will be three separate dioramas depicting the three outlined phases. However, the first diorama that I'm working on now is a bit unwieldy due to combining the two kits, but certainly doable. The other two won't be very big by comparison, at least in my mind thus far!
  • This is going be good. I can't wait for the show to continue. I love what you're planning to do.
  • I had similar thoughts...but I think I will add a rail loading area next to the Tie mill...and create shipping options to a creosote treating plant. I'm working of some 3D cad work to make pressure chambers for the ties to be treated. I will be following your build...mine is slightly in progress...hope to have photos up soon...
  • Hi Jim, nice to hear from you. I have never seen any crosstie dioramas quite like what I have envisioned. In fact, I don't recall hearing about or seeing most of what I have planned modeled at all! It will all start with the Tie Mill...can't wait to see that kit and to get started.
  • Glad to hear you have started your Tie Mill build Art. Expect to see a build thread started pronto and look forward to the photos my friend.
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