Sierra West HO Scale Logging Camp

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 09:36:24 AM

Hi All,

Decided to build the Sierra West HO Scale Logging Camp Diorama about a year ago. I have the vast majority of Brett's kits and thought this would be a good way to start clearing some of them out.
You can see a detailed layout of the diorama on the SW site here: https://www.sierrawestscalemodels.com/lc_diorama.html

My plan it to make it a bit bigger than the 2' x 4' size just to give me some room to add a bit more detail here and there. Building on foam so will have the ability to adjust this if needed.

So far I have all of the building from Main Street done as well as all the bunkhouses and two sheds from Logging Camp Essentials done. Currently working on the station. Plan is to start building the base and planting the buildings over Christmas/New Years. Photos of completed structures to follow.

Always open to any criticism and feedback. If you see any glaring issues, speak now! Before i start planting them.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 09:44:25 AM

Here are some WIP pics of the Hotel and Dry Goods Store from the Main Street Kit. Pic of box and all of the primed castings. Brett always gives you a ton.
Followed directions from the kit for the most part.

Hotel is board on board. Boards stained first with alcohol and chalk and then "painted' with the terry towel method once dry. It was wbright white Valejo paint that darkened up a bit when it picked up the chalk on the stained wood. Anything that shows as bare wood was stained the same way and then a final oil wash in dark brown.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 09:45:53 AM

Dry Goods walls were stained with the alchohol and chalk and then a darker brown oil.

Photos of the completed pair of Hotel and Dry Goods Store as well.

Jerry · December 19, 2025, 09:57:19 AM

Welcome to the forum. You could use your first name it would be nice to know you better.

Very well done. Looking forward to your updates.

Jerry

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 10:17:25 AM

Quote from: Jerry on December 19, 2025, 09:57:19 AMWelcome to the forum. You could use your first name it would be nice to know you better.

Very well done. Looking forward to your updates.

Jerry

Hey Jerry. Realized I haven't posted on here ever and just rediscovered. Have been a lurker since before the change over.

Thanks for the feedback. My name is Travis and have been modeling in upstate NY for a few years. Started during COVID as so many others. Unfortunately still have a full time job so apologies if my updates are few and far between once I post all the progress until now.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 10:23:06 AM

This is the Equipment Warehouse in various stages of completion. The main structure is board on board with a sagging roof (as designed) and the brick portion is three excellent resin castings.

I have since worked on the tarpaper roof for both the main structure and the dock/porch area as I wasn't super happy with it.

For the red barn structure, the wood was first stained with alcohol and chalk and then cheap craft paint (Tuscan Red and Burnt Umber 80/20 mix or so) was damp brushed on. Then I attacked it with 0000 steel wool to remove the paint in some areas with more removed towards the bottom. If anyone is familiar with Ken Karns' work,I am indebted to his detailed process descriptions here and elsewhere.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 10:25:34 AM

Here are some better pics of the Equipment Warehouse. A really well designed little structure.
As mentioned, have re-worked the tarpaper roof.

Jerry · December 19, 2025, 10:26:53 AM

Nice update Travis just keep them coming whenever you can.

Jerry

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 10:33:42 AM

This is the tarpaper Storage Yard. The roof is painted sandpaper. I am still not sure how I feel about the "stuff" on the roof. Going to see what it looks like once planted and add/subtract so it blends into the scene.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 10:36:43 AM

This is the final building from the Main Street kit, the First Aide Station. Laser cut shingles were included in the kit but I chose to use stained 1 x 6s cut down and glued one at a time. This is a technique I first saw Steve Custer do and love the way it looks. It is a bit of a pain to do however. You'll see that all the bunkhouses in the next kit used the shingles and that really slowed me down a bit as I got a little bored. Good activity to do on a football sunday in front of the TV. Pics of painted castings from this kit also included. Tons of great, crisp castings!

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 11:32:45 AM

Next I moved on to the Logging Camp Essentials Kit. This was released in 2009 when I was a sophomore in college so needless to say, even if I knew about it, I didn't have the money at the time... Was able to source this one all the way from Australia! It's a tough kit to find complete. Below are pics of Bunk #1. Board over board with the handcut shingle roof. Wood was grained and stained with alcohol and chalk and then an oil wash was put on top. I am modeling near home in the Adirondacks of NY so trying for a more "wet" look than a "dusty" look.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 11:34:21 AM

Bunk # 2, similar to Bunk # 1

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 11:35:49 AM

Bunk # 3, similar to Bunks #1 and #2

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 11:37:14 AM

The Cookhouse. A tarpaper roof (!) instead of the shingles. Also a "family photo" of all the bunks.

TravisSumm · December 19, 2025, 11:41:15 AM

This is the Fuel Depot. It's your standard scribed siding which was stained with alcohol and chalk and then damp brushed with white and a thin line of a faded green at the bottom. The roof is meant to look like slate shingles and came with the kit. Did have a little trouble here, especially with the seams but think it will look OK once planted and castings added. There are a lot of castings that go around this building and on the docks. The windows for this building and both kits are laser cut and have to be assembled. They are a lot of fun to work with and stage.