visit sierrawestscalemodels.com

Lineside Storage Shed - My Second Sierra West Kit Build

edited May 2015 in HO Scale Builds
I've started my second journey into the world of true fine scale modeling with the Sierra West Scale Model Kit 3007 Lineside Storage Shed - released November 2011. I may have been one of the last purchasers of this offering before it was sold out. I'll not bore the forum regulars with extensive pictures of the kit contents, but in case a newbie like me has joined the group, here are a couple of snapshots.

The box picture is a little scarred from shipping – if you want good pictures, here is the link.
http://www.sierrawestscalemodels.com/ckits/3007/3007.shtml

image

The lumber sorted - siding, battens, fence boards, other fence lumber. Compare this to some of Brett's other kits that contain enough lumber to build a 1:1 building! Guess this is one reason I wanted to start with a small kit.

image

Cardboard templates and paper for the tar paper roof sprayed black with inexpensive spray paint from Walmart.

image

Details – Not so many in this kit, but outstanding quality as one has learned to expect from Brett Gallant.

image

image

image

image

image

Will start construction next.

David U
«1

Comments

  • edited May 2015
    David you're a funny guy! There are plenty of $250+ kits out there from other manufacturers that don't have half as many details as my $75 lineside kit...

    Enjoy the build!!
  • Hi Brett,

    Sorry, that didn't come off like I wanted it to. I really was thinking of the copious details that your lager kits have, not that the numbers are lacking in this one.

    BTW, images are not showing up at my end on this post. I've closed and reopened three times. Images I added to the Blackening post earlier today are OK.

    David
  • Looks good to me, no missing images...

    Just giving you crap.. all good here bro!!
  • edited May 2015
    Pictures look good to me also David, a slight forum quirk, but all is good.
    I'm looking forward to following along with this one after seeing your toolshed,
    Had a blast with it myself in both scales, keep the pics and
    the progress coming.

    Karl.A
  • Thanks Brett and Karl. Hope to post more in a day or so. Work gets in the way Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Then about 10 days vacation with only some OOT family to siphon me away from the bench!

    David U
  • David, the pics are fine. You will find that this kit can fit anywhere in your layout.
  • And, I know I'm mainly preaching to the choir, but maybe this will help someone. The wood siding and battens are weathered and stained. For graining, I used the Eurotool steel scratch brush from Micro-Mark. I think this is a great tool for the small HO size wood. The wire brush can be extended more for less effect – for me, about 1/16” seemed about right to get the grain I wanted. Don't forget to gently rub with fine steel wool to remove the fuzzes.

    image

    image

    After graining:

    image

    After steel wool wiping:

    image

    Then I used Brett's suggested method to stain the wood. Rembrandt pastel chalk Burnt Sienna #411.3 scraped onto the wood and washed/rubbed in with pra (again for newbies – Brett's term for plain rubbing alcohol). I used 99% isopropyl alcohol that I get at the local Safeway grocery. I like it because it evaporates almost instantly and causes less warping. Guess we could call it IPA rather that PRA, but then someone would think we were using beer.

    This kit calls for gluing the stained wood to a cardboard template backing and then adding details. I thought it would be easier for me to add knot holes before gluing to the backing. Learning from mistakes made with the Tool Shed build, I made small holes, added a little glue to toothpick ends and pushed them in from the backside. Here they are drying with some of the stained siding and battens to the right. After drying, the toothpicks were then cut as close to flush with the front and back of the siding as possible.

    image

    I then used sanding sticks I make by gluing sandpaper with various grit sizes to coffee stirrers to sand the back of the siding so it would lie flat when gluing to the cardboard.

    image

    Here are siding boards ready to cut and glue to the template.

    image

    Next will be walls, windows and doors.

    David U
  • nice progress I like the knot holes :)

    DJ
  • Excellent job on the knotholes. They can look oversized at any scale but especially HO. You can also try using a #11 blade to add some of the "eye" graining around the knot to add to the effect.
  • Thanks DJ. Did you ever find the tubing you wanted for the lights?

    Bryan, I appreciate your comments. I agree, most knots and nails are way out of scale to me, especially in HO. I did a little eye graining as you suggested earlier on the Tool Shed build after this picture was taken. I also decided to do more knot holes on the fence just to practice. Those knots are larger – poorer quality lumber used in the fence. I'll post those later .
    David U
  • I'm not happy with how my siding and battens came out. I should have planned ahead better and spaced the boards with more foresight. Since you are going to be adding battens, you can space the boards perfectly because you will be able to cover spaces. I also wish I had looked ahead to see how the battens would look above and below the windows and above the doors. It turned out alright, but not as well as I wish. Also, I thought I had removed the batten fuzzes well enough with steel wool – not so. I have had to go back and try to remove them and, of course, that removes some of the chalk stain.

    Remember to stain the wood surrounding the door opening. Since we will recess the doors a bit, this is necessary. Also, take a small brush and do the same around the window openings and any cut trim pieces if you forgot to do so earlier.

    The windows and doors are made from a resin impregnated paper. I tried to roughen it up a bit before staining. Not sure I accomplished much. My staining looks OK when in situ. The door handle plates and knobs were painted with Tarnished Brass and then weathered with raw umber #408.5. I was careful to remove the tag left from the laser cut sheet with fine sand paper – 400 grit. I then removed most of the adhesive backing and used a minute drop of Formula 560 Canopy Glue to stick it onto the door. I tried the same thing for the knobs – fiddly! Glad Brett supplied extra plates and especially knobs.

    Since I was going to recess the doors, I glued a wood scrap to the back of the cardboard backing and glued the doors to that. I like the amount of recession this gives and the doors are firmly attached. Remember to stain or paint the scraps in case there is enough space that one could see the wood.

    I'm waiting on the last window until I finish the roof and lights. I'm sure I would damage it if it was partially open from the bottom.

    Here are snapshots:

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    Question: do I need to change the corner battens to a larger size? The corner is not covered completely.

    Fence next.

    David U
  • I think the siding looks great. The color/knots/detailing is right on. Going to look wonderful with the roofing and details in place...
  • Thanks Brett. I really appreciate your approval of the siding and knots. Just finished the roof and have started on the details. I'll post what I'm doing with the fence later tonight or tomorrow. Been practicing with the knot holes.

    David U
  • As Brett says, the siding colour has come out great, and the knots are just right, the right amount to show knotty boards, and the colouration doesn't stand out any more than it should. Good contrast.

    Karl.A
  • Thanks Karl. Actually, I don't think the color is quite accurate on the photos posted. I took some today outside that are better, but need to fix something before I post them.

    Here are photos of the fence I'm working on. Fairly happy with the front - the backside knots are too large and some are too dark for my tastes. Haven't put nails yet as I'm not sure this is the final.

    Started installing the security lamps also. Photos of that to come.

    image

    image

    David U
  • I can't believe it's been 6 months since I've updated this build. I didn't really quit, but progress was so slow and intermittent that I didn't get around to posting.

    So, here are a few things I did on the build that may be a little different from the usual. As some of you know, I put lights on the Tool Shed and did the same here. Best to have some security lights in the backwoods of Mississippi. You can see the magnet wires coming out of the building.

    image

    I then continued with the roof, etc.

    image

    image

    Two of Brett's outstanding castings were two hollow 55 gal drums of the sort that the more industrious sorts re-purpose to burn trash. That got me to thinking that I could make a burn barrel with a flickering light. I first weathered the two barrels and used the better of the two as my incinerator subject I drilled a small hole in the bottom just large enough to put a surface mount LED in the casting. I also filed the sides until there were thin areas that “the fire” would show through.

    image

    I then filled it with clear Gallery Glass. Photos were taken before completely dry as it is milky until cured. Some of you may have used it to make small window panes.

    image

    image

    image

    Then came the fun part - finding a way to control the LED. Since I dabble in electronics, I decided to use a microprocessor. A friend had a Adafruit Trinket that can be programmed using the Arduino system. It is quite small and I mounted it in the foam under the diorama. The coding was fairly easy and I was able to achieve a slow flicker that does look like a smoldering fire. One of these days I may learn how to make a video to upload to You Tube so you can see the action. Here is a photo of the Trinket installed.

    image

    Tomorrow, I'll try to post the final pictures of the diorama. I've started the Wood Cutter's Shack.

    David

  • Must have forgotten to insert the first images. This should show the magnet wires coming out of the shed.

    image

    A couple pics with roof and lights.

    image

    image

    The bottom of the burn barrel.

    image

    Sorry.

    David
  • David, you need really good with this kit. I love the knots and the drum/processor implementation.
  • Thanks for posting. Can you post a video of the burn barrel when it's complete? Phil
  • Wonderful work David. Looking forward to seeing this diorama finished. I have a small burn barrel scene in the upcoming O'Neills kit as a nod to Karl's burn barrel in his backyard!
  • Thanks Marty and Phil. Sorry I've been so remiss with the updates. Phil, I think we need to get Marty to teach us about You Tube. Been seeing some of his stuff there.

    Brett, thanks and for you here are the finished photos.

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    And the night time photos. The burn barrel is glowing in the lower right corner of the third image. Just in case you miss it , there is an arrow!

    image

    image

    image

    That's about it for the "Lineside Shed". I didn't put track on the diorama. I actually tried using some commercial code 70. Looked horrible!

    I took this and the Tool Shed to a local NMRA show and tell. Two Pacific Coast Regional judges were there and remarked that the two dioramas would have fared well in competition. I plugged Sierra West often. Not too many in the group are into craftsman building, however.

    Thanks all for your help and support.

    I'll post a few pics of my build of the Woodcutter's Shack. I haven't done anything worth posting yet. Sure does make one thank Brett for moving on to laser cut framing!!!

    David
  • Wonderful work David. I love how it turned out.

    Keen to see your wodd cutters shack progress.
  • The dio really turned out nice in every aspect.
  • David, I only have one comment about you're posting which you have already addressed. Why did it take so long to post these image? The build is great, the best I've seen of it this year. Now that you are now in the big leagues - whats next.

    (PS: the YouTube thingy - there are 100's of videos on how to do it. The worst parts are learning a movie editor and all the disk space it takes. Otherwise, it is mundane process.)
  • David, it's a very nice diorama. Well done. Phil
  • David-
    congrats on a very nice looking scene! The shed is nicely colored with tight construction and plenty of texture. It's good n' rugged looking--typical of what would be found along a spur or banchline somewhere. Always love the addition of lighting and yours add a lot, once again. Groundcover--dirt, weeds, and grasses all fit nicely and enhance the diorama. Your castings are well done. I especially like the coloring and arrangement you've got going on the far end:

    image

    image

    Your work, combined with the natural light make for a very convincing scene!

    I hope you don't mind, but here are few things to think about with your next build (this one is done. Change nothing at this point.)

    I like to add heavier weathering to wooden structures that sit on the ground. In the real world, they would absorb moisture, discolor, and even rot. Simply touching the board ends with a brush loaded with some A/I and allowing it to "wick" up will add a little water damage:

    image

    Don't forget to make your stove pipes, chimneys and smoke stacks have openings to give the illusion that it's an actual pipe that extends down into the structure:

    image

    Keep an eye on tarpaper so that the gaps don't get too big:

    image

    Also, when putting up fencing around a storage or equipment-type building, the builders most likely built them with left over materials and little precision. To match the rugged look, vary the height, spacing and size of wood planks used. Otherwise, it looks a little too perfect:

    image

    This is more believable:

    image

    Again, these are just suggestions intended to help advance the realism of your work.
    Nice job and I'll be looking for your next project!

    Bill
  • Thanks again Marty and Phil. I really appreciate your following my posts.

    Bill - all super suggestions and why didn't I think of the stove pipe thing. I did a little wicking of A/I on the fence and thought it was too much. Look at the left side of the fence in picture 5. I'll downgrade my lumber grade on the next fence board order from the mill. I tried to show that the fence was recently repaired with the less weathered boards. Again, thanks for your suggestions. I'm having a fair amount of trouble deciding just how rundown my structures should be. I may have time and energy enough to post some of the Woodcutter's Shack build. Just put the roof on the shed yesterday - quite a fiddly job, that shed!

    Thanks for looking in. I still have the "Mine" setting the shelf. Trying to catch up so I can start it. Your build was so great and informative with an outstanding outcome - I;ll have it open on monitor two.

    David
  • There are also specialty circuits available for flickering fires from Ngineering for those who might want a drop-in solution. They come in 2 flicker rates, N8046 and N8047, http://www.ngineering.com/lghting effects for the railroad.htm
  • Very nice looking build David. You really gave it a great look and your own personal touch, should be proud of this one. I love the lights as well and will have to give them a go sometime, admire you for doing it. Bill is spot on with his suggestions and has a wonderful critical eye. He has helped me on many issues. I'll add just one, I love the shot of the south end of Line Side with the stacked old barrels. Your weathering on them looks great...keep in mind when you stack them that the oil spills, leaks, and grime accumulation are gravity dependent. Look forward to Wood Cutters Shack...Ken
  • Thanks Wes and Bryan.

    Yes Mike. A lot of what I do is available ready made, but I like to do it from the ground up. I get most of my lighting supplies from Ngineering, I have incorporated many of their suggestions in developing my techniques.

    Appreciate those kind words Ken. You have added another thing that I need to think about - the laws of physics - gravity works in HO scale too. Agree with you about Bill's critical eye. I've probably looked closely at all of his builds including the entire Twin Mills thread. He is amazing.

    So far I'm not very pleased with the Shack. It will probably come together better when I finish the carpentry and can start on the really fun stuff.

    David
Sign In or Register to comment.