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New Member from Florida
Just getting back into model railroading and figured may as well go all the way. Ordered the Twin Mills and plan to place it on shelf layout. Total beginner, but patient and willing to learn. A bit intimidated too!
Comments
Terry
I have built a few Sierra West kits including the HO sawmill. There is nothing wrong with tackling the Twin Mills but it is a lot of wood to color and assemble for a first timer.
I suggest you purchase and assemble the O'Neills kit first. This kit will teach you much of what you need to know to build a Sierra West kit and you will have a great looking model much sooner than it will take to finish the sawmill.
Study the videos at the Craftsman University on this site and look at the previous builds of the kits you will be building. Post your pictures as you go and the other readers on the forum will encourage you and help you along. Sierra West IS the best.
Any thoughts on those two as starters?
Ed, as far as “disrespecting” my modeling skills, I really am a beginner so there is zero basis for concern there. What I’ve seen on the forum in terms of modeling skill is incredible so I’m all ears!
The mill happens to be perfect so thats why we’ve decided to take it on, but we need a service facility as well.
We’re building a shelf layout about 2 feet wide. 10 feet long on one wall and 15 on the other with the mill in the corner section. Started with Atlas code 83 flex and turnouts and now looking into “fast tracks” as I find the pre made track just fake looking.
I build in HO scale so I am unfamiliar with the instructions in the O scale kits like the wood cutters shack.
I suggest running a few miles before you run the marathon. Even if O'Neills does not fit in your layout the experience of building it, as a stand alone model, will be worth the experience you will gain. It is an investment but it will prepare you to run the marathon.
The Loco Shop is a wonderful introduction to my techniques and will prepare you for the Twin Mills. And never forget, the forum community and myself are always available if you have questions and need a gentle bump in the right direction!
Great to have you join the SierraWest community of modelers.
Plenty of great sound advice has been offered so far by some very competent modelers and Brett himself. I personally have taken Brett up on his offer to call him with questions, so don't hesitate to take him up on his offer.
One thing I have found out over the last few years is that some products recommended for use in Brett's earliest kits are no longer readily available such as Floquil paints. So being agile and learning about substitute products in his later kits is vital.
Later, Dave S. Tucson, AZ
No matter which kit you begin with, the instructions are so thorough that you will learn many helpful techniques along the way, and the techniques keep getting better with each new kit Brett introduces.
I know it's a an O Scale kit, but it has the latest techniques and is fun to build, and that's the Dueling Shacks. It's also billed as a kit to "practice new techniques and sharpen your skills". I am an HO scale modeler and I enjoyed building this kit with 2 very different structures.
Whichever kit you start with please post your work. It's always great to see what others are working on.