Jack’s been in touch again. He’s been busy adding his HO scale fairground scene:
“Hi Al,
I made some progress on the amusement park. I didn’t know what to do for the base of the park, so I decided to just do it all in concrete. I can add planters later with flowers and such.
I went to Home Depot to get some more flooring samples but there weren’t any. Looks like they no longer sell sheet vinyl. I found two vinyl floor tiles that look like concrete, so I bought them. I cut them to fit the space. They were a little shiny so I sprayed them with Dull Coat.
The old Dorney Park had a pond with swans and sea lions which you could feed. I decided to add a pond and don’t you know you can get ho gauge swans and sea lions. So they are on order.
I got some fencing that is fancier than the chain link fence Dorney Park had, but I wanted something decent looking since the park is across the street from the church. The fence has brick pillars and iron fencing. I put it together in about 6” sections using a jig I made. It’s too flimsy to make longer sections. I’ll glue the sections together as I go.
Between the park and the tracks, I made concrete walls with my flooring samples. I cut them into scale 6′ strips, glued them back to back and curved them to the radius of the track. I painted the top edge brown and glued them to the edge of the ‘concrete’ base.
The photos show the jig I made and the concrete base for the park. The concrete walls are in place and I am test fitting the iron fence.
I also wanted something happening at the church, so I got some wedding people.
I also needed a number of cars for my parking lots. I found 50 cars for $15 on line. I knew they wouldn’t be great, but they are OK as fillers. About half the cars are very dark blue, green and black. I’ll be painting some of them lighter colors. They’ll do until I replace them with better ones down the road.
The old Dorney Park had a sky ride with gondolas for 2 people. I couldn’t find any gondolas I liked, so I made some from small plastic Easter eggs. They look pretty much like the original.
Attached are some photos and a video of the park. The video is a little jerky, but captures the essence of the scene.
Jack in PA”
And now on to Brian:
“Hi Al, I have finished the sawmill at last and placed it on the layout. It just needs to be “bedded” into the surrounds.
This is a continuation of my previous post of building and modifying a Fine Scale Miniatures Sawmill.
Photo below, roof done except for the roof walk and fire barrels
Below, test fit on the layout to make sure all is in the correct place. The crane will be used to offload logs from the log cars as well as the incoming logs by road on trucks.
Below, the mitre box used for cutting the roof truss pieces at the correct angle and length.
The five roof trusses assembled.
Final test before carrying on with the building at the workbench.
This is where a lot of time is needed in painting all the details. After the main color, I use a wash to age it and add the used look to the parts. (I use Warhammer washes)
Same procedure used here as above.
I have used 12 volt grain of wheat bulbs in Campbell Scale lamp shades for the interior lighting and run them at 6 volts from a power source under the layout to ensure long lasting lights.
The fun part of the hobby is placing all the bits and pieces in the model.
I spray paint all the metal castings with a light sand color and when dry, I start picking out all the detail and color on them. When this is complete, I then do a black wash over all the parts and do a final dry brush using white acrylic paint from a tube.
Figures in (as close as you can get) positions are placed around the model to bring it to life. I have placed 15 figures around this model.
Two night shots of the sawmill in action.
Final photos of the sawmill on the layout ready to receive the first load of logs.
Total number of hours to build this model is 91. It is an HO Scale model used on my 3 foot narrow gauge layout named the Cascade Creek Railroad.
My next model to build is also a Fine Scale Miniatures kit of a logging repair shed which will be placed to the right of the sawmill above.
Till next time – keep having FUN.
Brian”
A huge thanks to Brian. I’ve lost count of the wonderful ‘step by steps’ he’s done for us.
And thanks to Jack too, for sharing his HO scale fairground.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
