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Next up
Following the recent completion of Scotia Supply Company, and in keeping with my plan to build each an every SierraWest Scale Models kit in the order of release, my sights are set on the Engine House at Eureka Springs released in October 1996. I haven't started the actual thread yet as this one is just called "next up". Eureka Springs, as this project will now be referred to, was Brett's third kit. I have previously built, and featured here on the forum, Brett's first kit which was the BlueSky Company Warehouse and his second kit Scotia Supply Company which was just finished up a few days ago and posted here.
I have an idea for this build that I'd like some opinion on. Eureka Springs is a backwoods locomotive engine house and maintenance facility, not unlike it's congener the Loco and Service Shops kit which was released in October 2012. I built the Loco and Service Shops a few years ago and have to say it is and was an absolutely amazing kit. Still my all time favorite build. When contemplating my upcoming Eureka Springs build, I felt there were going to be many similarities in how I would want to detail this kit being very similar to the Loco and Service Shops kit from an operational standpoint.
Let me regress a bit, and Brett can correct me if I make any errant assumptions! Brett and SWSMs has been in innovator in fine scale modeling from day one. What sets Brett apart, aside from just about everything, from the others was his introduction of high quality, highly detailed resin castings. That quality an innovation has continued to this day including the top of the line resin castings. However, the philosophy regarding the use of resin castings has changed over the years. During the early years, the large group castings were state-of-the-art in the modeling world and modelers flocked to get their hands on these wonderful castings with that demand continuing today. Brett, having the foresight and vision regarding the modeling world and his customers, began getting away from large group castings and transitioning to more individual detail castings. The use of individual castings allowed the modeler to create scenes that were more realistic and provided the modeler the means to create their own variations and scene composition. Group castings were still an asset to the modeler and demand was there but the evolution to the individual casting details was unmistakable. Brett realized this, or better yet predicted this, before most modelers did! Evidence of this transition is obvious in looking at the lineage of SWSM kits including the use of laser cut details, individual castings in both resin and white metal, and now with the 3D printing...can't ask more form a manufacturer than this!
Eureka Springs is Brett's third kit and the third manufactured with all resin castings. My thought is to honor Brett and his innovative use of all resin castings in his kits by building Eureka Springs utilizing only the resin castings supplied with the kit. I also have the Eureka Springs Boiler House mini kit that will be incorporated with the main Eureka springs kit. The mini kit has numerous resin castings as well. This would be a basic "out of the box" build with only those components of the kit being used in the build save for the scenic work. Thoughts....
Ken
I have an idea for this build that I'd like some opinion on. Eureka Springs is a backwoods locomotive engine house and maintenance facility, not unlike it's congener the Loco and Service Shops kit which was released in October 2012. I built the Loco and Service Shops a few years ago and have to say it is and was an absolutely amazing kit. Still my all time favorite build. When contemplating my upcoming Eureka Springs build, I felt there were going to be many similarities in how I would want to detail this kit being very similar to the Loco and Service Shops kit from an operational standpoint.
Let me regress a bit, and Brett can correct me if I make any errant assumptions! Brett and SWSMs has been in innovator in fine scale modeling from day one. What sets Brett apart, aside from just about everything, from the others was his introduction of high quality, highly detailed resin castings. That quality an innovation has continued to this day including the top of the line resin castings. However, the philosophy regarding the use of resin castings has changed over the years. During the early years, the large group castings were state-of-the-art in the modeling world and modelers flocked to get their hands on these wonderful castings with that demand continuing today. Brett, having the foresight and vision regarding the modeling world and his customers, began getting away from large group castings and transitioning to more individual detail castings. The use of individual castings allowed the modeler to create scenes that were more realistic and provided the modeler the means to create their own variations and scene composition. Group castings were still an asset to the modeler and demand was there but the evolution to the individual casting details was unmistakable. Brett realized this, or better yet predicted this, before most modelers did! Evidence of this transition is obvious in looking at the lineage of SWSM kits including the use of laser cut details, individual castings in both resin and white metal, and now with the 3D printing...can't ask more form a manufacturer than this!
Eureka Springs is Brett's third kit and the third manufactured with all resin castings. My thought is to honor Brett and his innovative use of all resin castings in his kits by building Eureka Springs utilizing only the resin castings supplied with the kit. I also have the Eureka Springs Boiler House mini kit that will be incorporated with the main Eureka springs kit. The mini kit has numerous resin castings as well. This would be a basic "out of the box" build with only those components of the kit being used in the build save for the scenic work. Thoughts....
Ken
Comments
Dave S. Tucson, AZ
There are some great examples out there of upsized models that resemble this kit. Doug Ramos did an O scale and then there is the one on Sundance Central. Both inspirational builds.
As far as building strictly per Brett’s original concept....well, that will be fine but when I think back to some of your ‘inovative ideas you’ve used on various builds....the specific kit I don’t recall but when you began the water damage at the corner of the roof and carried the damage all the way to ground level...masterful.
Or, on (Scotia?) when you altered the roof to add louvers at the eave height....
I don’t always remember the kit but do remember the concept and have it referenced in my master list of “tips tricks and techniques “
Sooooo, no matter how you build this or future kits, I know it will be a learning experience for me and many others....
Let let the game begin
Terry
You bring up a very good point Rick, and one I have made in the past regarding the versatility of Brett's kits and how they inspire the modeler to make each build their own.
Al and Dave agree here as well, thanks.
Thanks Kevin.
Me too Bryan, it is a great design and I have seen variation as well. Huge compliment to Brett. Hear that Brett?...thanks for your support on this project early on.
Geesh Terry, what a nice thing to say. You, and the crew here, have me re-thinking my initial plan, which was the whole point of this post! My dilemma is...on the flip side I would want this build to be fresh and unique. However, many of the scenes would be similar to my Loco and Service Shops build as they are both basically the same conceptual operation. I would not want it to appear that I just took what I did with the Loco Shop and applied it to Eureka Springs.
Dilemma??? good grief, this is a blast!...and such a fun part of a build of a SierraWest kit...THE PLANNING. Keep it coming while I paw through the Eureka Springs kit and plan some more.
Jerry
Appreciate the note Phil and the decision is getting easier...
Thanks for your input Stephen the decision is getting much easier...
Thanks Tom. As you know I'm not a fast modeler by any stretch, so if you decide to start your Eureka Springs you'll either start before me or quickly pass by! Lol...would be cool to have a couple going anyway!
Decision made...I'm going all in and just build Eureka Springs as I would approach any of my other builds. too many cool ideas I have already to hold back on anything!
Thanks everyone for the wonderful support and comments...love it!
As for moral support....go with the flavor Brett intended.....and Grunge it accordingly....
Stay healthy and safe!
Appreciate the support Mike. By this weekend I’m going to layout the framing and start one experimental wall to test my planned exterior finish/color. Also, the kit calls for framing the studded wall with square stripwood I think 3/32 or 3/64 (manual not in front of me). So much of the interior of Eureka shows I’m going to do my experimental wall with more prototypical 2x4 or 2x6 studs and see how it goes.