The Curmudgeon (Mike) and the Punk (Dustin) Build the SWSM Deer Creek Mine

[coors2u]

The NBW are some kind of fun! They sure add to the build though.

[coors2u]

I am on to the rafters now. This is one of those builds you can't help but stare at as you go. Thats were I am at the moment. It has been nice to lose myself in building a little here lately. I am like Mike though I use my phone camera as a tool as much as any that is on my bench.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Nice progress.  Looking really good!

Cheers, Mark.

[ollevon]

Your doing a great job Dustin,  looks awesome
  Sam

[Mike Engler]

Progress post. Again, I get more out of these big pics than you do. Some of the most glaring "need to be fixed punch-list" items are a few rafters that are too high, paint touch-up on NBW's, and a NBW that misses alignment with its truss rod. Most of the rafters have been added, both stairways, NBW's, wing wall, trim pieces. Looking like a mine building. Like the tipple support frame, it will be tough covering up the rafters. I thought about one of those hokey "roof under construction" scenes, but nah.

[Zephyrus52246]

Wowzers, Mike, that looks great!  You guys are doing a bang up job on this kit so far.

Jeff

[donatode]

Yes indeed great work displayed here on this forum.  I am hard pressed to decide who is the better craftsman/artist of the bunch.  Guess it's because you all learn and teach from and to each other.  That's why I hang out here so you all can rub off on me.

[S&S RR]

Great looking builds!  Mike I agree that the camera is one of the best modeling tools.  I always take a picture, blow it up, and mark it up for my changes.
I'm sure glad I bought one of these kits from Brent at the EXPO.

[EricQuebec]

Very Nice work Mike and Dustin. Thank you to take time to share with us your effort on this wondeful kit.
Can't wait to see more. I don't comment often, but I consult this thread two or three times a day to check if any new upgrade are comming.

Eric QUébec city

[bparrish]

Mike...

GREAT structure.  The framing is terrific. After you do a few of these you discover that fully framing a structure doesn't take that much longer.  I frame everything as I find it hard to hide the cardboard edges on roofing along with the years later card board warp.

Besides.......... I know what's in there.

Thanx
Bob

[bparrish]

Mike...

One more thing on the roof joists.................  I cut and clean up the length on the over hang tails after I put on the roof sheathing.  Then I cut them off with a Xuron cutter.  It crushes the ends a bit but I swell them back up with a touch of alcohol.  It goes really quick.

see ya
Bob

[Mike Engler]

What Bob is talking about. I have several Xuron cutters, and one I keep real sharp for rafter tails. Others for plastic parts from a sprue, wire cutting, etc. I am going to get a square toenail cutter to try it out as Brett suggests. These rafters didn't need trimming since they were laser cut- I know, almost like cheating, but sure nice for the top end of the rafters that had five sides to fit them over a header.


Thanks again to Jeff, Eric, Mark, John, Donato, Sam, and Bob- glad you are along and enjoying.

[coors2u]

Mike that tipple is looking wonderful.[/size]As with any model I like to do research. I have been looking at images of roofs and studying how the rust effects the panels different. The roof believe it or not is one of the most important parts of the model. Only because it is the first thing people see. Here are a few of the images that I've been saving. Notice in the last pic that there is no visible nail heads or holes.

[coors2u]

Here are a few more.

[Mike Engler]

Very cool roofs Dustin. I have some favorites as well and keep a "weathering" photo event in my iPhoto files. I have a favorite of Dustin's and I'll get to it after I show this photo of "notched" rafter ends. It was taken by Bill Obenbauf and I am sure he won't mind my borrowing it from his great thread on Brett's forum. Even though Bob Parrish would cut them himself, I was happy that Brett laser-cut them for us, especially since they will be covered up with roof panels and the roof is not removable. You could make a jig I guess but I like these.





Now here is my favorite Dustin roof. I like the color of the rust, and the lower edges are jagged. I may have to run a few of the panels in a small "Evil Etchant" bath to try to achieve that look (I have a lot of it left- good thing since Radio Shack closed. I also still have my HAZMAT outfit.The splotchy rust might have to be dabbed on with a small piece of kitchen sponge or a piece of "new" terry cloth- lots of experimenting ahead. I really like how right above the left half of the window, the lowest layer of corrugated is only about a foot tall. Probably has been covered up with a newer piece.
Hard to tell how wide the panels are as I can't detect the vertical seams. Hmm. Maybe that tells me something.
I also like the cap at the top- a thin cap that is not built from big klunky pieces of horizontal over-lapped siding like some roofs have.