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

[tom.boyd.125]

Dustin and Mike,
Great pair of builds as I follow along.
Excellent coloring of the wood framing and the painting and weathering of the metal castings of both builds.
Tom

[gnatshop]

I am going to get a square toenail cutter to try it out as Brett suggests.   

No toenail cuttin' pictures, PLEASE!!!   

[Mike Engler]

Thanks Tom and David. Now would you cut your toenails with a sprue cutter?


So the purlins are all in place, and it's time for that roofing material. I'm tempted to do something besides corrugated, like individual cedar shakes or tar paper, but I will give the new spray primer and chalk-dusting method a try.

For the first time I am not going to use the "Evil Etchant" and will try Brett's (and Roger Malinowski's) method of coloring them with chalks. Of course if I'm not happy with the result I can always just start over with my old ferric chloride circuit board etchant.


If you are never going to build this kit, skip this paragraph. Bill Obenauf said in his build-thread on this kit currently running on the Sierra West Scale Models forum that there is an inconsistency between earlier versions of Template 1 and p. 40 of Brett's instruction manual. The lengths of the panels should be 9 at 1⅜" for the lower roof with hip roof; 5 panels at 1 5/16" for the lower roof above the ore bin; and 10 panels for both sides of the upper tipple roof. Before you cut, check the lengths on your model. It is important to trim the corrugated stock to the longest length you will need before you begin cutting the panels. If you trim the stock strip to the shortest length first you'll waste stock and could run out of it. As Brett says "cut the panels down to size measuring off the roof itself and move on with the construction sequence."


Maybe the above will help somebody somewhere. Anyway, here are some progress pics before the roofs go on.

[oldbloodhound]

Nice work Mike.   Great coloring also.

Now as to the "Now would you cut your toenails with a sprue cutter?"   Yes!  Mine are so tough that the only thing I can get to cut them is a Xuron sprue cutter.  So don't laugh.

[Janbouli]

The colors and weathering are amazing.

[Mike Engler]

Thanks Jan. Dave, TMI. I'm not laughing- just don't let Gnatshop know- he won't like even hearing about it.

[coors2u]

I love that outdoor shot of the tipple. It looks great! I am glad you said something about the panel sizes, I would have cut right of the template.

[donatode]

Outstanding build ..... just amazing detail.

[S&S RR]

Great looking model.  Color check, shadows check, texture check. 

[UP Fan]

If I didn't know better, I'd think I was looking at the real thing.  Great color, weathering and texturing.

[postalkarl]

Hi Mike:

Looks great sofar.

Karl

[Mark Dalrymple]

Looking very nice, Mike.  Great weathered colours.

Cheers, Mark.

[coors2u]

Mike sure does some nice work.


I have been workin a little slower as of late. It's a busy time in the beer biz.


All the rafters are in and it's on to the purlins. It's starting to look like a roof.

[coors2u]

I have almost all of the purlins on. Once I do I'll get some outdoor pics. I have a punch list of things as well.

[Mark Dalrymple]

Beautiful work, Dustin!

Cheers, Mark.