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

[deemery]

I've seen one or two mine heads, and the immediate area around the shaft entrance is pretty well worn down by feet, you might want to work some more fine soil into there.  But that's just a nit on a great build!


dave

[Mike Engler]

Dave, you are definitely right. I'm planning several footpaths and high foot-traffic areas, and a dirt vehicle road. I'm not one who plans exactly where these things will be (though I probably should be). I tend to add some of these details as I go depending how I think it will look best. I like Diorama Dirt (Monster Mod. Works) sifted for these roads and paths supplemented by chalks for shading etc.

[deemery]

If you want an alternative to Monster dirt (e.g. a different color), NE Brownstone has a very nice 'modeler's dirt' product that they introduced at Springfield earlier this year.


dave

[postalkarl]

HI Mike:

WOW!!!!!!!!! beautifully done. I really like that steam engine.

Karl

[tom.boyd.125]

Dustin and Mike,
Really great weathering done on both of the mine builds ! 
Tom

[Mike Engler]

Thanks Karl and Tom- appreciate it. Dave, I will try that but it won't be part of this one. This is the home stretch and I'm well into final details. Last night I finished the last of the construction when I completed the removable roof and rafter system. More wizardry from Brett's laser. I heard his O scale sawmill kit finished first and second in kit-built dioramas by two different builders at the NMRA convention in Portland last week. I'm sure the craftsmanship was great, but how much of the credit should go to the designer-producer of the kit? My opinion is a lot, and I have a lot of personal experience- this is my tenth Sierra West kit, and one of the most fun. They have won a lot of awards and the big reason they did well is the design and quality of Brett's kits.


Here are a few pics of this mine scene coming together. I almost cried framing a shed to cover all the detail on the horizontal boiler and the detail on the wall behind it. I should have figured a way to keep it in the open, but I didn't want to do a hoky roof under construction. The tanks together are cool details, and the area where the little ore cars are being refurbished is a fun addition.

[postalkarl]

Hi Mike:

The details look just great. I'm sure we will see final photos.

Karl

[fbernard65]

Mike,

Very nice job on the kit.  Keep up the good work.

Frank

[martin.ojaste]

Mike, love the mini-scenes. Great details and weathering.

[Mike Engler]

Thanks for your comments. Frank and Karl are inspirational. I am more or less done with this- you really just quit working on them rather than finish them. I'll wait till Dustin catches up and kibitz on his work now and then, and post a photo of this occasionally instead of posting "final pics". As always Brett's kits are about as much fun as you can have.


This one outside with a friend's shade structure in the background that kind of blends in. The hammock is for me.

[GPdemayo]

Very nicely done Mike.....thanks for taking the time to post the build so we could watch your journey. 

[cuse]

Awesome...every bit of it! The wood, the roofs, the castings - love it all!


John

[S&S RR]

Mike


It looks great!  The sun light photographs are the best.  I sure wish someone would come up with a way to get good lighting in the contest room at the Narrow Gauge Conventions.

[postalkarl]

Hi Mike:

All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks absolutely great.

Karl

[Vilius]

Mike,

Very well done. The funny part is that I didn't realize at first that the structure holding the hammock was 1:1 scale and was about to ask about weathering technique you used on it  .

Vilius