This thread was started in September, 2025
KKarns
September 2025 edited September 2025 in HO Scale Builds
SierraWest Scale Models HO/HOn3 Backwoods Tie Mill…
Is here! What is the first thing I do when I receive a SierraWest Scale Models kit?..you’re looking at it…and so am I…the Construction Manual (aka Kit Bible) of course! Lets go back to the beginning as I’m getting ahead of myself.
The much anticipated HO/HOn3 scale version of the Backwoods Tie Mill is a reality. The O Scale kit was released first with those wise modelers beginning to receive their coveted kits. The following is what greeted me on my back door stoop just yesterday…
What every SWSM modeler looks forward to…
The Backwoods Tie Mill is SWSMs 30th Anniversary release and can’t think of a better way to celebrate such a monumental milestone. Brett’s ability to bring the backwoods charm and flavor to his model kits is amazing and a true testament to his vast knowledge and historical research of the subject. Couple this vault of knowledge with his stunningly detailed and accurate 3D printing, scene design/workflow construction, and the legendary construction manual adds up to an unbeatable combination that has launched SWSMs to the pinnacle of craftsman kit manufacturing.
I was fortunate to have gotten in on the first batch of Tie Mill kits to be packaged in the nostalgic “green box” that SierraWest has become famous for.
Sweet! The famous “green box” to add to my collection. Please note: DO NOT attempt to throw this box away after building this kit. Your local waste management firm WILL NOT pick these up and will return them to you!
My collection of the “green box” kits. Kits that I have built are on the right, pending builds on the left. Top of the pile is the Backwoods Tie Mill!
A brief narrated unboxing of sorts where I give my thoughts on a few things is to follow here:
This is exactly how my kit was packaged after removing the overlay of secure packing material. Everything is perfectly arranged and in order. This box was shipped through the USPS and came just as well organized as you see here. I have never received a SWSM kit that had contents jumbled, broken, or missing. Brett packs the beautifully detailed 3D parts with the utmost care. Each 3D parts box comes with the beautifully illustrated stiff paper securing wrap (see below)
Nice shot of the 3D parts boxes. And yes, I save and collect/display all those illustrated paper wraps!..what?..doesn’t everyone?
Detail parts storage with SWSM memorabilia!
Those two boxes in the previous photos contain some of the most incredibly detailed 3D parts I have ever seen! The filigree of those parts has to be seen to be believed. Despite the fine detail, from experience, they are easily painted and detailed with just common sense handling care. I absolutely love these parts. I will go over them in detail in the build thread to follow this intro.
The construction manual is, and always has been, just incredible and is as well known as the “green box” it comes packed in. In my hands, these manuals become well thumbed and have witnessed many sit down sessions with a cold beverage or cup of coffee. DO NOT underestimated the value of a thorough read, study, and understanding of the manual.
Take a moment and look at the size of this kit. By SWSM standards, this is a smaller kit with respect to the footprint and amount of actual structure size. However, look at this picture of the templates, cutting guides, 3D parts guides, floor-plans, etc. Seven sheets (A-G) of heavy paper plans to guide you through the build and layout process. SierraWest has your back!
Brett gives a wonderful history and introduction to the Backwoods Tie Mill in the Construction Manual so will not repeat that information here.
What follows will be a strict build thread of the Backwoods Tie Mill. No side bars, no getting off topic, just the meat and bones of building this awesome kit! Due to its size, I will spend a good amount of time going over minute details of how I’m building this kit. This is not and official forum build and will include my interpretation of the workflow and process of a tie mill. Next post we will get into the first step of the build…wood!..more later, Ken
Comments
TomMich
September 2025
Off to a GREAT start! Will sit back and enjoy, and learn from your build.
admin
September 2025
Beautiful introduction! Looking forward to your build!
East Side Lumber Co.
September 2025
Great introduction to the kit! My O scale one should be here next week, excited to get started on it. That green box is pretty cool, and looks great in your collection.
KKarns
September 2025
Look forward to you hanging with me Tom!
Thanks Brett, and can’t wait to get graining and staining!
Nice hearing from you Aaron and thanks. Yeah, those green boxes are such an iconic recognition of SWSMs. Make sure you post your work on your Mill.
TravisS
September 2025
Looking forward to your build as always Ken and to receiving my coveted copy in the mail as well. Grabbed myself an extra print of the Mack Flatbed. Can’t get enough of Brett’s vehicles.
ALCOALCO
September 2025
The trees are turning and the temps are getting cooler. What better way to start Fall than with a KK build like this? Hooray!
KKarns
September 2025
Glad to have you keeping an eye on me Travis! That Mack Flatbed is just ridiculous and worthy of several copies to place in any modelers stash. I plan to get several.
Nice thing to say Al, appreciate ya! I hope to make it interesting.
East Side Lumber Co.
September 2025
Yea I haven’t been modeling much the past year, but getting back into it. I hope to be posting progress pics soon. I look forward to seeing your take on this mill.
minion
September 2025
Hey, Ken, have you finished it yet , we are getting impatient ?
minion
September 2025
I can’t remember if I have said this before , but I bought my first SW in 1999 and it is only recently that I have studied what you get in his kits and have realised how much work goes into producing them . It is little wonder there is such a big gap between releases.
However, we are still waiting patiently for the riverfront kits , so don’t put them off for too long , Brett !
Jerry
September 2025
Well if the build is as good as the introduction were in for another wonderful build.
Jerry
randyp
September 2025
Ken, Glad to see you starting this kit. My O scale one should be here in the next day or two. Looking forward to see how you handle the wood. Considering the gray weathered wood of the Tie Cutters Shak I would expect the Tie Mill to be a little less weathered. Randy
minion
September 2025
randyp said:
Ken, Glad to see you starting this kit. My O scale one should be here in the next day or two. Looking forward to see how you handle the wood. Considering the gray weathered wood of the Tie Cutters Shak I would expect the Tie Mill to be a little less weathered. Randy
That reminds me of the old saying “ what came first , the shack or the mill ?
KKarns
September 2025
Valid question for sure. The tie cutter’s shack was built first with the production of hand hewn cross ties at an average production rate of about 8 ties per hacker per day. As the business evolved the Tie Mill was built which increased productivity significantly. The tie cutter’s shack is now used for living accommodations and support vehicle maintenance for the Tie Mill.
KKarns
September 2025 edited September 2025
Hey Randy, awesome that you asked how I was going to handle the wood…grungy of course. Can’t bring myself to do anything else!
I’m going for wood with some character. With this kit the money with the wood is with detailing the roof(s) as all the structures, save for the cool little storage shed, is open air. However, I’m giving the framing the attention it deserves.
First order of business was to land on the finish for the framing wood and how I was going to color and weather the wood. As with any build, the wood and how it’s treated sets the stage for everything else. Can’t stress enough the importance of wood work. Much of how I arrive at my final wood finish is calculated trial and error. What I mean by that is, I know how the various stains, chalks, paints, etc. will look on any given piece of wood, but the trick is to get the combination that gives you the look your after. It comes down to layering.
Follow the manual and your wood will turn out absolutely grand, as will your entire model. Will following the manual give you the look of the wood I’m using?..no. Therein lies the beauty of board-on-board modeling with SWSMs, your wood is your wood. Don’t be afraid to experiment on some scrap strip wood, you may be surprised at what your recipe looks like.
Following the manual I started with preparing the wood for the Main Sawmill Building. I like to work up my wood in small batches rather than all the wood at once. This results in some natural variation. After graining and detailing the wood I applied a base AI stain. This was followed by a light random layer of white craft paint with a small brush. After a few minutes when dry to the touch I ran each board through fine steel wool to remove most of the paint. This was followed by rubbing some brown colored pigments/chalk on my fingers then rubbing each piece of wood between said fingers.
the following shows the result:
Nothing fancy, just a weathered grayish brown with a hint of the white in some of the grain for added visual interest. I refer to “visual interest” often. What is prototypical does not always look good in 1:87 scale. I lean towards modeling details that provide visual interest rather than adhere to strict prototypical application. Prototypically, nail holes should never be utilized in 1:87 scale as they would never be seen, yet they add visual interest and your eye likes that!
Grungy hands at the bench. Shot of the framing posts. Disregard the top post with the dark brown end on the right…remember me talking about calculated experimenting…experiment fail! But, it does illustrate how a solid colored piece of wood is a bit…ehh…and unexciting to look at.
Once I had the wood looking close to what I envisioned, I built the three frame pieces. Note the added steel brackets for visual interest. There is a corresponding plate on the other side as well.
Much of the upper portion of these frame pieces will be hard to see once the roof is installed.
In hand for scale. A couple of the plates are slightly wonky, but without magnification…all good.
More later…Ken
minion
September 2025
Good start , Ken. A possible alternative to steel brackets/plates could be steel straps which won’t cover as much of the wood and could be made of paper. There is a long historical history of affecting repairs to wood work using straps , and could make a nice variation .
KKarns
September 2025
Nick, You mean just small rectangular pieces of steel that bridge the joint?
minion
September 2025
KKarns said:
Nick, You mean just small rectangular pieces of steel that bridge the joint?
I was thinking more of strips of steel , maybe an inch or two wide, that are fixed to the braces and bent over the top of the horizontal timber and down the back . Or even the other way , forming a sort of sling. I will be keeping in mind that these structures would have been thrown up just to keep the weather off the machinery and men and would not have had any finesse to them .which , of course, makes them more appealing.
I shall be racking my brains for ideas to make mine slightly different to everyone else’s, as is my wont. One idea , patent pending, is to replace some of the sawn posts with round poles , just one or two, to make it less uniform. I might even put a partial back wall to some of it for added protection. I quite like the idea of the saw being coupled up to the rear axle of an old tractor or truck (model T Ford or Mack ? ), rather than the stationary engine in the kit . Or even an ex-military vehicle if it is a post war set up .
KKarns
September 2025
All nifty ideas Nick. Look forward to what you come up with.
vietnamseabee
September 2025
Relative to Nick’s comment regarding steel straps which go up and over the horizontal beam…Robert G did something like that on the O Scale Sawmill…It looked realistic…you out there Robert?
terry
randyp
September 2025
Ken, everything is looking just as gurngy as you suggested. I like your idea of changing up the post to make things different. Looking forward to your next post. Randy
KKarns
September 2025
Thanks Randy. Right, the open air concept with minimal exposed wood, save for the roof(s), lends itself well to detailing to add interest and unique features.
KKarns
September 2025 edited September 2025
Making some progress on the Tie Mill framing.
The Main Sawmill Structure Framing is almost done. Some minor tweaks and should be ready to go.
Inside of the Staging Shed Framing. That structure framing is on the bench right now and almost done. Dr. Grunge surgical fingers…ick!
Jim M
September 2025
Cool, these are so tiny. I don’t know how you can do this, but you’re sure doing a great job of it.
KKarns
September 2025 173.88.64.249
Hey Jim, nice hearing from you. Right, they are small but go together quite well. Brett provides duplicate drawings on the templates for the framing of each section. This gives you a fresh drawing to layout the framing if the previous one gets damaged. I don’t like using wax paper over the templates and spot glue mine directly to the paper. Of course when removing, it picks up the spots of paper off the template. Brett astutely accounts for this with the extra drawings! I will be finishing up the framing of the Main Sawmill, Staging Shed, and Sorting Shed today. After that, the stand alone Storage Shed is next on the list.
Oldfox47
September 2025
Looking great Ken!
KKarns
September 2025
Nice to hear from a new “face” around these parts! Thanks much Of47.
September 2025
Ken you’re up to your usual bag of tricks to make the wood as realistic as possible.
And with it being ig 1:87 scale it no easy matter.
Wonderful staining and I like the angled metal plates.
Jerry
KKarns
September 2025
Thanks so much Jerry and appreciate your thoughts my friend!
Being a grouping of open air structures I wanted to highlight the framing with as much visual interest as I could get away with. The angled plates are there for that reason and are functional in the end. The final structure in the trio that make up the sawmill building complex is about done and also has some interesting features added. I’ll be posting that next.
KKarns
September 2025 edited September 2025
The Staging Shed wall framing has been assembled along with the the Sorting Shed (see images below).
Staging Shed framing completed.
The Main Sawmill and Staging Sheds were built with a fairly substantial appearance. I wanted the Sorting Shed to be a bit different and more lightly and hastily constructed. I used real pine twigs to represent the posts rather than the square strip wood provided. The remainder of the build went per the instructions.
Posts made from real pine twigs with most of the bark removed. Gives a real backwoods look to the construction.
I used NBWs for the attachment of the cross headers to the round posts. Here is a close up of the front left corner where the wood has weathered and the bolt is showing due to the missing wood. This is HO scale and tiny…oh and will never be seen once the roof is on! I know it’s there…
TomMich
September 2025
Nice start! Even your fingers have the grungy look!
admin
September 2025
Excellent, love the “twig” construction for the sorting shed.
KKarns
September 2025
Thanks so much Brett. Not exactly something that you could stock in a SWSM kit! lol. Having a blast with this kit. Can’t wait to get at the roofs of these guys.
randyp
September 2025
Ken, what did you use for the exposed bolt? I really like the detail. Randy
KKarns
September 2025
That’s a .030 rivet for the exposed bolt.
Jerry
September 2025
Were talking really realistic here!!! Wonderful job!!
Jerry
KKarns
September 2025
Hello Jerry and thanks for the note here, appreciate ya!
Working on the smallest of details as I go through these frame pieces. Each post will be highly visible and detailing can tell a story, even on just a plain post…plain! nothing plain about any part of this kit that’s for sure. Lots of T&A… 
…time and attention of course.
KKarns
September 2025
With the Main Sawmill building, Staging Shed, and Sorting Shed completed, save for the much anticipated roof work, it’s on to the last structure of the build…the Storage Shed.
When building a structure like this, I like to complete one wall from start to finish before moving on to the other walls. This method allows me to visualize each step in the weathering and detailing process and make any corrections as necessary without having to work the entire structure. Once happy with the results I simply replicate the process on the remaining structure.
For the Storage Shed I wanted a well weathered, grungy, but usable structure. I started with a light brown base stain. This was followed by a wet brushing of dark green
(Model Color 70.894 Russian Green) to each board prior to gluing to the the wall framing. A light run through the fine steel wool to remove most of the paint. This gave a nice grungy, damp, weathered appearance. A tiny piece of wood was glued to the sill plate where several board ends would be attached to give a few boards the warped ends as is often seen.
Note the varying warped board ends and subtile corner rot exposing the framing wood.
The interior was lightened slightly and a dust and dirt layer added with light colored pigments.
Interior wall with dust and grime effects with light colored pigments.
The remainder of the structure will be treated is a similar fashion. Once done, I’ll be working on the roof(s) and starting the 3D parts detailing!
TravisS
September 2025
Great start, Ken. With a structure as open as this, every detail will show and count. Really like all the little changes and extras you’ve added which will peek out at you once the scene is complete. The Russian Green gave the perfect color for these boards!
KKarns
September 2025
Appreciate your take on things here Travis. I love your comment “every detail will show and count” so true!
MuddyCreekRR
September 2025
You’ve got a big head start on me…and I’m overjoyed I work in O scale…that HO stuff…way too small for my fat fingers and small eyes…I might bypass the unboxing since both you and Aaron have done that…and just jump into the build…already have the details primed…
TomMich
September 2025
Very nice! That wall certainly has the “grungy” backwoods feel. Even has your signature rotted corner. Really like how you lead us through the build.
East Side Lumber Co.
September 2025
This is phenomenal work! Watching closely as I hope to start mine soon.
KKarns
September 2025
Hey thanks so much! Working on the other walls today and should have an update tomorrow.
minion
September 2025
KKarns said:
Hey thanks so much! Working on the other walls today and should have an update tomorrow.
One’s breath is baited/bated !
Mike Engler
September 2025
A name out of the past checking in and will be following along as I am doing this one as well. Hi to all of you folks and I see that a lot of old timers are still here!
KKarns
October 2025
Sipping a cup of coffee as I write this ready to hit the bench Nick. Should make some progress.
Hi Mike, nice hearing from you. Planning to be in Minneapolis and was thinking of bringing this diorama along. Glad to see you’ll be working on the same build.
KKarns
October 2025
Finished up the walls of the Storage Shed this morning. I’ll be assembling the shed walls today then moving onto the Main Sawmill Roof.
All four walls for the Storage Shed ready to go.
All the components thus far completed
MuddyCreekRR
October 2025
Diggin the grunge on the walls…
KKarns
October 2025
Grunge is what I was going for, so appreciate the nod Art.
Jerry
October 2025
Your weathering is just so well done and realistic!
Jerry
TomMich
October 2025
The backwoods has taken its tole on those walls. Nice work!
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks so much Jerry! Ready to put some things together.
Hey Tom, they are run down a bit that’s for sure…my m o of course! Appreciate it.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
Finished up the little Storage Shed and the Sorting Shed roof, so it’s pretty much done as well. Now I’ll be moving on to the Main Sawmill Roof and the Staging Shed roof.
Storage Shed front view. I realized I hadn’t put on the hinges yet, will get that later. Decided to place the shed on a brick foundation just for a little visual interest. Not sure I’m crazy about the brown color of the bricks.
Working around to the side of the shed. By the time I scenic the shed those bricks won’t show much anyway so not going to lose sleep over the color!
Continuing around the back. First view of the tar paper roof with the classic corner rot.
Key here is using in-scale material for the “tar paper” I use painted tissue paper, not toilet paper, but the kind gifts sometimes come wrapped in. Much more durable than toilet tissue.
Full rear view. Mistake here is where I have the board missing but not on a fire stop stud. I just messed up the end of the board more after the picture was taken to make it look like it just broke or rotted away.
And finally, the final side comes into view.
Added close up of the shed door.
Next up is the Sorting Shed. I wanted this to be quite rough built so utilized real pine twigs for the support posts. Roof is wood and run down green tar paper.
Left side construction shot.
Right side same.
On four legs!
Roof details…more later…Ken
East Side Lumber Co.
October 2025
Amazing work as always! I was having thoughts of putting the storage shed on some kind of foundation, was debating stone or concrete, nice to see it done. and that other piece looks great as well. Back home, our barn’s main structural uprights are just pealed logs like this, so brings back some memories.
KKarns
October 2025
Hey thanks Aaron! I’m with you, I like a small structure like the Storage Shed on some type of foundation rather than just stuck onto the ground work. Nice to have a personal example of the prototypical use of rough logs for support timbers.
East Side Lumber Co.
October 2025
I’ll have to dig and see if I have any pics of the barn interior. My grandpa’s barn before it was torn down also had log structural timbers in it.
KKarns
October 2025
Nice!
TomMich
October 2025
The twigs really add a lot to the sorting shed. The roof with the uneven board ends rally adds to the feel of the shed being put up in haste. Great work as always!
ALCOALCO
October 2025
Your grunginess (nothing personal) and substituting the twigs really makes this like a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Makes me forget this is a SWSM kit while I’m reading; this is a KenKit.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Tom, I’m actually researching an addition to the Sorting Shed that if it pans out will be really cool.
Hey Al, nice to hear from you! Appreciate your take here and glad there is some support for the natural wood timber posts. I really like the combination of weathered lumber and real wood log posts.
Oldfox47
October 2025
Outstanding work Ken. I love the way this is coming together! Hopefully my OScale version of this kit will arrive soon.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much and look forward to seeing some of those O Scale builds showing up! Did some roof work today and can’t wait to get at those 3D detail parts.
admin
October 2025
Love the small shed, up to your usual standards!
KKarns
October 2025
Appreciate ya Boss! Can’t wait to detail it with all those stellar 3D parts…sick!..see I’m hip…oops saying “hip” means you’re not.
KKarns
October 2025
Been busy detailing the Staging Shed with an example of planning ahead in your modeling.
The main piece of equipment that is located in the Staging Shed is the Eagle Model F Tractor Engine. This piece powers the saw and is a focal point of the operation. Brett designed an opening in the roof to allow the exhaust to be vented passively through the roof. I decided to take things a bit further and came up with a small exhaust hood that would be positioned over the exhaust stack of the engine to funnel the exhaust gases through the roof via a stove pipe This is similar to how a blacksmith forge would be vented. This is obviously overkill for a small operation but accomplishes two objectives for me; firstly, it adds an interesting detail for the inside of the open air Staging Shed. Having no walls and just four posts and a roof, any added details really trick up the structure! lol. Secondly it adds a stove pipe stack up through the roof giving an added level of visual interest to the roof, which is always a good thing. Remember, the roof(s) is the first thing a viewer will focus on. The stack will draw attention to take a look inside to find out what the stack is there for.
The planning ahead part is constructing the roof to allow an opening for the stack and building in legit bracing on the roof construction for the stove pipe. Everything had to be lined up so the Eagle engine exhaust stack was directly under the exhaust hood, and the exhaust hood stove pipe roof access and support farming was in line…lots of fiddling around to get this right.
Before I could position the Eagle engine I wanted to construct the timber support system for the engine. This would determine where the exhaust would be lined up. The kit manual has the engine support system as a fixed structure. I wanted to have a movable support in the form of a “sled” design that could be hooked to a truck or tractor and be drug to a new location and positioned.
Inspiration can come from the smallest of sources. In looking through the extensive supply of support 3D detail parts Brett supplies with the kit, I just loved the `beautifully detailed chain shackles (see photo below).
This awesome detail got me thinking how cool it would be to have a sled design for the Eagle engine with this detail as part of the towing mechanism…that started the whole thing!
I started working on the “sled” by following the manual for the location of the support timbers and simply having them fastened to runners rather than sit individually on the ground. The front of the skid runners were tapered, difficult to see in the pictures, to keep the runners from digging into the ground. This was followed by designing the hitch mechanism utilizing the chain shackle. I attached “heavy gauge sheet steel” to the end of a scale 2x6 to support the hole for the bolt that attaches the chain shackle. I then added “steel” corner braces for the upright timbers attached with NBWs. Weathered everything and done.
Completed Eagle engine “sled”, note the awesome SWSMs chain shackle that was the basis for the project.
Beautifully designed and printed Eagle Manufacturing Model F Tractor engine positioned temporarily on the “sled”
Simply can’t get enough of this beauty!!
This post is getting too long so I’ll post the remainder of the images with comments later…Ken
KKarns
October 2025
Better close-up of the “sled”
TomMich
October 2025
WOW! That’s an awesome detail. Very creative.
KKarns
October 2025
Appreciate that Tom. Not a huge difference from the manual mounting set-up save for the few little extras and the skids.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
Welcome back to Dr. Grunge’s Modeling Clinic - Fine Scale Modeling by: Ken Karns…sounds like a good title for a web-site, facebook page, and or YouTube channel…hmm…
So picking up where I left off working on the Staging Shed, I spotted the Eagle engine where it would be located in the shed so I could position the exhaust hood directly over the engine stack.
(SWSM 3D printed boiler top positioned over the Engine exhaust)
Once the position was confirmed I used a SierraWest Scale Models 3D print of a steam boiler and cut the top off. I painted and weathered the hood first with a base coat of Tamiya AS-22 Dark Earth spray paint. This was followed by several applications of pigments in rust, brown, black, etc. layered and then spritzed with dull coat as a fixative. The support brackets were cut from paper sprayed with the Tamiya spray paint and added the NBWs.
(The back edge of the hood was glued to the horizontal rafter, allowed to dry, then I added the support braces)
(Note the various colors achieved by the all important layering of the pigments. I’ll darken the tip of the stack that is above the roof after it is installed on the model)
Once I had the hood stationed in the proper location I had to align the cut out in the roof to align with the stack. Once this location was confirmed, I built the framing. The cut out was lined with “sheet steel” with the spray painted paper and weathered with pigments.
(The roof panel staged to check alignment with the cut out and exhaust stack. This should give the roof an added piece of visual interest)
Once this work was completed I could finish the roof panels of both the Main Sawmill and Staging Shed. Note the following roof panel images are without the battens and other detailing which will be done with the roof panels fixed to the structures.
(Roof panels for the Main Sawmill. Note the subtile variation in color tone between boards. I used several different tones of pigments, fixed with alcohol, over the boards prior to installation)
(Ditto for the Staging Shed panels)
The structure work is now done. The next installment will be the detailing of all the 3D printed parts!..Dr. Grunge out.
East Side Lumber Co.
October 2025
Excellent work Dr, I think I have found the prescription I was looking for! Love the engine skid idea, I was also debating going this route but on a metal sled, but rethinking that a bit. Hadn’t thought about an exhaust hood, but liking the idea, it looks great!
KKarns
October 2025
Be careful not to overdose!..it’s easy to do with SierraWest kits! Appreciate the
feed-back and look forward to what you come up with.
admin
October 2025
Outstanding, what a great addition!
KKarns
October 2025
Appreciate that Brett! Your kits are the ultimate in modeling inspiration. I start building and my mind just gets flooded with ideas. Your kits bring out the best in the modeler which I have said many times before. Right now I’m sitting in front of my computer with the Eagle Engine, in brown primer, researching the various colors and weathering for this exquisite model, and I don’t mean model as in Model F, I mean treating it as a model in itself! What a beauty…
TomMich
October 2025
That’s GREAT work! Love the variation in the wood.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Tom, appreciate ya.
KKarns
October 2025
Finished up the Eagle Model F Tractor Engine save for the belts. This project I used artist oils almost exclusively. I did use acrylics on the gas tank, top of the engine and drive wheel and Basically anything green. Other than that, all oils and pigments.
KKarns
October 2025
Forgot to get the lettering on the front…how cool is this detail!
Jim M
October 2025
You turned that into a masterpiece. How cool.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
A lot went into the research and design on the back end so figured I’d give it the same attention on the front end! Thanks Jim!
Kevin L
October 2025
Just love your modelling skills. Looks fantastic can’t wait to get my kit believe it is about to be sent on its way.
KKarns
October 2025
Nice hearing from you Kevin! Appreciate your take on the Eagle. It is such an incredible print. Look forward to seeing what you do with your kit.
TravisS
October 2025
Just fantastic all around Ken. Love the look you can get with oils. Greasy and grungy—your specialty!
Jerry
October 2025
Absolutely fantastic work!! Your coloring is just excellent on wood or resin!!
Jerry
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Travis. The oils work well in certain situations like this.
Well appreciate ya Jerry! Such a nice 3D print spent some time on this piece that’s for sure.
Pennman
October 2025
Ken,
It’s about time I chime in here with the rest of the folks. Your work
on anything you do is fabulous. I’ve a lot of respect for those modelers who show it all.
I like the fact that you put your ideas into reality. And it shows. Thanks for sharing.
Rich
KKarns
October 2025
Hey Rich, really nice hearing from you. I thank you for your kind words here, made my day for sure! You bring up a good point regarding build posts. Rather than just post images of finished projects, I like to post not only how I did something but also the why.
Thanks again for your thoughts Rich, appreciate it!
Mountaingoat
October 2025
Doing a major catching up. When Brett changed his main page, I thought the Forum had been taken down, (didn’t see the menu).
Ken, your posts (tutorials) are both illuminating and inspiring. My mind is overloaded with all the information you include in your posts. I truly appreciate the time you spend with photos and posts. That is a huge amount of extra time you take for the benefit of all of us.
I can only echo everyone’s comments above of the level you model to showing your level of experience, dedication and keen eye that brings these models to an even higher level.
Rick
KKarns
October 2025
Rick!..long time my friend, nice hearing from you. I surely appreciate the support and your camaraderie over the years. Satisfying to know that my posts are being well received, are helpful and at least entertaining. Thank you so much for your kind thoughts here, it means a great deal. Keep in touch.
kebmo
October 2025
your posts are well received, helpful, and very entertaining. trust me…
KKarns
October 2025
Nice to hear Kevin, thanks!
admin
October 2025
the Staging Shed and Eagle Engine are superb! Love that stack…
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Brett, things are coming together nicely. Off to build a bridge to get the Mac AB Flat bed and Cletrac Crawler across the creek!
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
As promised, I scratch built a temporary bridge to span the creek in my diorama for vehicle traffic to access the Tie Mill. I used real pine twigs with most of the bark stripped off as the joists to span the creek. Then strip wood was grained, stained, colored, and detailed. I laid the first two cross planks on my bench upside down and spaced as they would be. I then glued the twigs to the two end planks spaced appropriately. This was done so the uneven diameter of the twigs would not cause an uneven plank surface and all the boards would be in contact with all the twigs.
The finished bridge. I designed this from a reference photo and thought it looked cool. The oil stains were done with AK Interactive “Engine Oil glossy finish” This is an enamel product. I wanted an enamel so the drips would spread out along the grain of the wood naturally. Just pigments would not create that creep effect. After the AK Engine Oil was down I wanted to knock back the glossy finish to make the stains look old so I then dabbed dry pigments over the “oil” to tone down the glossiness.
The reference photo had these elevated side pieces on either side of the wood tracks. This would alert the driver if the tire was going too far one way or the other. This also shows the pine twig support beams.
Different angle
Mac AB Flatbed included in the kit, unfinished of course, tooling across the bridge. That’s going to make a great scene!
TomMich
October 2025
That’s a neat little bridge. weathering and finish is superb!
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Tom, it’s going to be a great little scene to detail.
Mountaingoat
October 2025
Your attention to even the smallest detail stands out. Yes, it’s a cute small bridge, but the wood and stains are perfect and the bridge is prototypically correct.
Rick
KKarns
October 2025
Appreciate that Rick! Like I mentioned to Tom, it will be a blast detailing the scene with bridge, creek, and vehicle.
KKarns
October 2025
Have finished up the main Sawmill equipment detailing short of the final detailing once the scene is constructed. The three pieces are; the In-Feed Table, Saw Table, and Dead Rolls.
The In-Feed Table with basic detailing of oil base coat (gray) then dry pigments (gray) then a general oil wash of burnt umber. Highlights of brighter metal on wheels and gear teeth with Model Color 70.863 Gunmetal. The wheels on the table probably wouldn’t be this shiny as they run on wood runners, but gives a splash of color. Maybe I’ll have them running on metal…
Closer view…
Sawmill Table. This was done the same way with oil base and dry pigments. More detailing on the saw blade is planned. I think it’s way too dark. Looks good without the high magnification.
Saw Table decking. I outlined the cut out with paper to look like metal to dress up the cut out a bit. This will be mostly if not completely covered by a tie being cut!
Back end of the Saw Table. Cable spool will be detailed just prior to planting on the diorama.
Detailed Sawmill pieces ready to go!
ALCOALCO
October 2025
A ton of realism in those little parts!
KKarns
October 2025
Nice to hear from you Al. Going to make a great scene once its all put together. These 3D detail parts are amazing.
TomMich
October 2025
They look like real metal! Wonderful finishes.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Tom! On to the next thing…
TravisS
October 2025
Perfect prints and perfect execution! The crisp “Oliver” on the in-feed table. Wow!
KKarns
October 2025
Isn’t that a crazy good print! Thanks much Travis, nice hearing from you. Here’s a close up of the “Oliver”:
KKarns
October 2025
The finished details are piling up! About time to extend the diorama base and get things laid out.
Mountaingoat
October 2025
If you didn’t have your fingers in the shot for scale, I would swear it was the real thing, not a model. Fantastic work Ken.
Rick
KKarns
October 2025
Appreciate ya Rick, thanks my friend!
glandesjr
October 2025
Hi Ken:
This is looking great. Love the bridge you built. And the weathering on the equipment makes it look truly real. This is one cool diorama. I love the creek you also built. Really creative. Looking forward to learning more as you build this.
KKarns
October 2025
Always nice hearing from you George! Appreciate your thoughts here my friend. The creek isn’t finished of course the water stops just after the slope. I’m adding an extension to the diorama base to accommodate the Tie Mill scene just south of where all the components are sitting. Not quite enough room for what I want to do!
Jerry
October 2025
Ahh! Perfection once again!!
Jerry
ALCOALCO
October 2025
One of the neatest things is to stage the pieces and see how things might look!
KKarns
October 2025
Hey thanks much Jerry!
For sure Al. I love this stage and being able to assemble and detail the individual components, detail parts and start lying things out!
Kevin L
October 2025
Wow looks great, can’t wait for my “O” scale kit to arrive I know it’s in transit to me here in Australia.
KKarns
October 2025
Hey Kevin, thanks much. yup a really awesome kit, you’ll love it.
KKarns
October 2025
Slight change in plans that I’m really excited about. I had mentioned that I was going to expand the footprint of the diorama base of the Wood Cutter’s Shack (aka the Tie Cutter’s Shack by me) to accommodate the Backwoods Tie Mill kit. I went back and forth and have now decided that firstly, the expanded size was going to make the diorama unwieldy. Secondly, the engineering to attach the expansion created some issues. Something just wasn’t adding up. Too much real estate with structures too spread out to give the right effect. So, I have decided to work with the current diorama and the initial layout is illustrated below:
Here is the staged layout that I’m thinking right now will work the best. This accomplishes so much more than just throwing more acreage around; the cabin appears nicely associated with the mill, the creek and bridge become an integral scene detail in close proximity, the Tie Mill is now close to the backdrop of forested hillside which looks I think looks cool, the Main Sawmill is close to the edge of the diorama so viewing the critical main details of the sawmill are close at hand, the output of the end product is close to the rail transport, and finally…I don’t have to mess around creating more land mass from scratch and can get on with detailing and creating the beautifully designed Backwoods Tie Mill scene!
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
Busy today priming 3D detail parts. I use several different colors of spray paint depending on the final color and what I want the primer color to be. I use Tamiya exclusively. The Tamiya spray paint is great, sprays evenly, lays down super nice, and the small cans give good control and atomization is very fine.
Supply stock of Tamiya spray paint.
Example of a collection of 3D printed details from the Backwoods Tie Mill kit primed in three different finishes.
Taking my time on this exquisite 3D Print kit from the Backwoods Tie Mill kit, the AB Flatbed. Glued on the gas tank, front control arm and axle assembly, Side steps (these were sanded down to thin the actual step plate), and the flatbed bolsters. Once dry I’ll fit the rear axle and check the alignment with the wheels and then it’s off to the paint shop! The wheels and steering wheel have already been dry fitted and adjusted prior to assembly and painting. NOTE: All the little nubs and stubs you see are not support remnants, but fine details such as spring shackle clamps, etc… crazy awesome detail! Haven’t decided on a definite final color for this one yet…
TomMich
October 2025
Ken,
Not wanting to be difficult, have you tried to position the structure complex on a slight diagonal to the front, kind of paralleling the creek? Just a thought.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
great that you’re scrutinizing the layout Tom, exactly why I posted to get some feed-back. Can’t get all three structure in-line with that configuration. I was going to put the extension on the diorama base to get some more room but just isn’t feasible at this point. The vehicles coming off the bridge need room to maneuver as well. I also want the final rough ties to be exiting near the tracks. I certainly appreciate the ole rules in modeling of not having things perpendicular and parallel to other axis but sometimes unavoidable. I was hoping the angled meandering creek would help break this up. I think it will be OK in the end.
Only way you’d be difficult is if I never heard from you! You’ve been a good friend here.
TomMich
October 2025
Thank you for the nice compliment. The placement just looks so “parallel to the edge”. Perhaps even a slight angle would avoid the “parallel to the edge” look. Also repositioning the bridge might allow more room. Looking at the pictures on the SW website the shed is closer to the sawmill. Would moving this help with layout and allowing it to be on more of an angle? Just thinking out loud.
KKarns
October 2025
I’ll look at that Tom, as a slight angle would certainly work. Let me fiddle with it a bit and I’ll post a couple possibilities. Thanks much.
TomMich
October 2025
Sounds good.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
As I work through the final arrangement of the structures for the Backwoods Tie Mill, the work flow now dictates shifting gears a bit to some scenic work that needs done before proceeding with the mill complex.
I felt that the entrance I had established for the Mill created a bottleneck in that the vehicle traffic would have to turn around and head back out the way they came in. I decided to provide additional road access on the other side of the mill. This creates opportunities for some nifty detail work as well as improving the overall work flow of the mill.
The flat area where the pine tree sits is the area for the mill. The “new road” will come in from the bottom of the picture, across the drainage ditch by the tracks at an angle and head in the direction of the pine tree. Faint marks on the ground is about the location of the road. There will be a drainage pipe under the road where it crosses with water in the ditch etc. This liberates the vehicle traffic to come in and out from either direction.
View looking up the track to the road cut. Note the faint lines estimating the road layout.
This area is where I’ll be doing a lot of scenic work before proceeding with the mill complex. The ditch will have a small amount of water with standard tree, brushes, grass, litter, etc. scaled in.
The detailing will start here on the right side of the cut. The upper portion is done with more detailing needed on the cut slope and of course the trackside.
The ground work was done with Sculptamold over foam base. Rock outcrop carved into the plaster after it set up a bit. Cut was detailed with real rocks and dirt. Trees are wire armature with sawdust trunks and static grass needles. These are about 2-3 foot trees…step back 2-3 feet and they look pretty good! lol. Still perfecting the process that’s for sure. I always like to try something different and challenging with every build. This one was the building of a large number of pine trees and to create a legit appearing pine forest. More later…Ken
KKarns
October 2025
A word about track work. It is of my opinion that track work, on a scale diorama, can have a huge impact on the overall impression it leaves with the viewer. I spend an inordinate amount of time on track detailing which of course slows down the process, but in the end it is worth the extra time and effort. I model virtually all my SWSM dioramas in HOn3 with light code 55 rail. I use pre-weathered rail and make my own ties from strip wood. With the issue of ballast, some backwoods lines did not use ballast at all and some, more mainline tracks, did apply it. For the Backwoods Tie Mill diorama, my tack is more a main line and thus is ballasted. In addition, tie plates were seldom used and I never do and is of my opinion they detract from the backwoods “feel” of the light rail. I make my own spike heads, albeit tedious work, from disks of smushed oval solder wire. These disks are then darkened in Jax Peweter Blackening solution. They are then applied individually with fine forceps. Various pigments are used to highlight the rail, ties, etc.
Final results of my track laying and detailing for this project. Once the scenic work is underway additional detailing with vegetation, grass, debris etc. will be filled in.
KKarns
October 2025
KKarns
October 2025
Better close up.
TomMich
October 2025
Your track work is always stellar. Looking forward to seeing the final arrangement.
ALCOALCO
October 2025
Gangsta!
admin
October 2025
wow, looks amazing. Adds so much to the diorama.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Tom. I’ll have the layout finalized once the road is roughed in.
Appreciate that Al!
Hey Brett, thanks so much and time well spent that’s for sure.
KKarns
October 2025
As scenic works continues I take a break now and again to work up some additional 3D printed details. The diorama is going to feature SWSMs Cletrac Tractor. This is such an awesome detail. I have the main body of the vehicle done with the tracks, side engine panels, gear select cluster, and final weathering to finish up.
Here is the Cletrac as it stands right now. Of course the tracks just make the model so we’ll have to wait to see them installed. Well used but not overly weathered is my plan…
kebmo
October 2025
damn i sure wish you a layout for all your models. i can only imagine how cool it would be.
KKarns
October 2025
I hear ya Kevin! I need to do something about the storage and display of all my dioramas. Getting to be an issue for sure.
TomMich
October 2025
Going to be a nice addition to the diorama
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Tom, think so as well. Just put the tracks on and began weathering…looks the part. Back to scenery work. I decided to put an old fence along the upper portion of the railroad cut, felt it needed something. Update forthcoming.
TravisS
October 2025
She’s a beaut Ken! Looks like a lot of fun to weather up.
MuddyCreekRR
October 2025
The raw wood really looks great…adds lots of character and tells a story…Liking the brick foundation…I’m thinking of adding a floor and maybe have stone peirs on the corners…Thanks for the inspiration…I’m also all about building slightly out of square too…
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Art, appreciate it. That sounds really good, looking forward to your take on things.
KKarns
October 2025 edited October 2025
Here is the Cletrac with the tracks on and weathered.
Primed the track pieces with brown Tamiya spray paint from a rattler can. Detail painted with acrylics then weathered with pigments and oils. This piece is going to really dress up the scene! NOTE: Shift cluster is missing as I destroyed it when a lost track of it on my paint stick and set my arm right on top of it! Replacement on its way thanks to SWSMs “we got your back” top notch service!
East Side Lumber Co.
October 2025
That weathering is phenomenal! I keep telling myself I won’t tackle the Cletrac till I finish the mill, I may not make it lol
KKarns
October 2025
Hey Aaron, appreciate that my friend! The tracks installed really make the thing come to life. I plan on a scene where this guy is being serviced (ie side engine hood up). Now that its about done, back to scenic work…a fence and the road over the drainage ditch and tracks.
Jim M
October 2025
Beautiful job on the Cletrac.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Jim, it’s a great little model and builds up super easy and the detail is amazing.
glandesjr
October 2025
Looks superb, Ken, from the machinery, to the Cletrac, to the development of the diorama. The detail work on the weathering is really amazing. Great work. Learn a lot from your work, Ken.
KKarns
October 2025
Nice hearing from you as always George! Appreciate the support and kind words for sure. Thoughts from you and this group of amazing modelers means a great deal.
TomMich
October 2025
Great job on the tracks and weathering. I really like the build up of mud on the tracks and the collection of debris in the corners and back. Looks well used, but not abused.
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks much Tom, that was the look I was going for. It will make a nifty maintenance scene.
MuddyCreekRR
October 2025
My standard statement…“it looks realer…that real…”
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Art! Things are coming along. Made some progress on the scenic work, fence posts are in, working on the road today and some additional land forms by the creek.
Jerry
October 2025
It looks wondeful Ken. It will be nice to see how this all plays out!
Jerry
KKarns
October 2025
Thanks Jerry! Working on putting the ideas I have into reality, coming along.
MuddyCreekRR
October 2025
I was going to just build my Tie Mill on the suggested base…now…with your inspiration…I am making the base larger…and including another structure (or 2) that will be named later…and the track that will service it…which may just be On 1 1/2
KKarns
October 2025
Sorry to hear my influence is causing you more work Art! lol. Got to have more room for all those delectable 3D details and vehicles.
TomMich
October 2025
You can’t have too many SW details, so by all means make MORE room!
MuddyCreekRR
October 2025
All of the SW…and for that matter…all structures/scenes I build are going onto 1" thick insulation foam…the green stuff…that will be plugged in like puzzle pieces on my layout that is a long time in progress. This method allows me to build…and display…and enter in contests if I so desire…
glandesjr
October 2025
I do the same, Muddy, but my 1" foam is pink and I get it at Home Depot. Just like you suggest, as I build my layout the individual buildings will get “puzzled” together. I’m glad I’m doing it “right”. Thanks.
MuddyCreekRR
November 2025
I used to have issues with the pink…tended to change size…the green seems to be denser too…Lowes has the green…
glandesjr
November 2025
Thanks I’ll check it out.
KKarns
November 2025 edited November 2025
Much needed update on the Tie Mill project. Prior to the planting of the Mill complex of structures, I needed to get some scenic work done. Phase II was the west edge of the diorama along the track. This area was redesigned to include road access from the west over a small drainage along the track. The following are a few pictures of where I started:
The roughed in drainage ditch with the faint scribed lines where the road will traverse the ditch and track. Despite this rather small thin amount of real estate, there was a good amount of scenic work required.
I decided to add a barbed wire fence along this side for both visual interest and to establish a visual boundary.
Here are the fence posts in place. These were made from natural pine branches with most of the bark removed. The “wire” was made from ship rigging rope and rusted with pigments and attached with small bits of super glue.
The following pictures are of the nearly completed scenic work west of the tracks:
Final detailing will include removal of scattered pieces of static grass, noticeable in close ups only. Additional grass among the ties, etc.
Close up of the drainage ditch. Key here is the use of a variety of scenic materials both natural and commercial. I like to introduce new techniques with every build I do. Here is my go at scratch built HO scale cattails (lower left foreground and up stream).
Next up is more scenic work to the east…Ken
ALCOALCO
November 2025
Last pic really brings it all together! The Man has crazy skills!
East Side Lumber Co.
November 2025
The detail on the trackwork is next level!
TravisS
November 2025
Give me land, lots of land under starry skies above…don’t fence me in
Great update, Ken. Your scenic work just gets better and better.
KKarns
November 2025
Hey Al, appreciate ya my friend! Thanks so much.
Thanks for that Aaron! It’s tedious work in HO scale, but well worth the extra effort.
Hey Travis, what’s up man! Appreciate the note here and thanks much.
Kevin L
November 2025
Looks great, very nice.
TomMich
November 2025
Outstanding work as usual. Everything blends together so well and looks so natural.
Jim M
November 2025
Very well done. The two track road looks fantastic.
Jerry
November 2025
You sure your not taking pictures out in the real world. it just doesn’t get any better than this.
Your every detail fits perfectly with the next one!
Jerry
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks much Kevin.
Appreciate that Tom, lot more to go but I’m getting there!
Hey Jim, thanks so much! The road just made sense after mulling it over for good while.
Jerry, nice hearing from you and appreciate your thoughts here. As I mentioned, I have a good bit more to lay in but the scenic work is getting there.
Joel
November 2025
Finally have a chance to catch up on this build and I’ve missed so much. Just fantastic work all around. I love the detailing and the scenery is top notch. Can’t wait to see it all come together. I may just have to start building mine.
KKarns
November 2025 edited November 2025
Nice hearing from you Joel! Appreciate your take on things as I highly value your opinion. Trust all is well up north and look forward to seeing you work your magic on the Tie Mill.
MuddyCreekRR
November 2025
Really digging the landscaping…the track work is superb…always amazed at the detail you get with HO scale…
kebmo
November 2025
i might have to save up some beans and buy me one of these kits too…
KKarns
November 2025
Well yeah!
Kevin L
November 2025
Fantastic scenery your work is very realistic, well done.
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks much Kevin and appreciate ya my friend!
Mountaingoat
November 2025
I always need a drool bib every time I look at your work Ken. I read and study your work but have never been able to get even close to your level…Rick
KKarns
November 2025
Nonsense Rick, just spend a week and a half on a strip of real estate 3 inches by 12 inches and there ya go! lol. Appreciate that my friend, and this diorama will end up with more scenic work than any other project I’ve done.
kebmo
November 2025
it looks like somewhere i’d like to vacation…
KKarns
November 2025 edited November 2025
I have been busy with scenic work and have made some good head way. I have the base ground work done and have the Main Tie Mill structure ground support elements laid in. For the general yard area of the Mill, I wanted a heavily traveled, chewed up ground with mild ruts and debris scattered about. This is almost universally what is seen in period photographs. To accomplish this look, the ground debris needs to be integrated into the dirt/mud and not just sitting on top. This is difficult to achieve with just scattering the debris on top of the ground work (dirt) and laying on the wet water. I put an amount of real dirt in a container and then added water a little at a time until I got a slurry consistency. I then added the debris and stirred it up. Then white glue was added and the lot stirred up with a brush handle. I then wetted the surface of the diorama and spread the mixture out in the area I wanted it and leveled it up with a small spatula. After this was to my liking I added all the ruts, tire tracks, etc. Once dry detail the scene as normal.
The base for the table saw, dead rolls, and in feed table rails installed with smoother ground work in and around the foot traffic work area. Dark area represents the dirt, debris, and glue mixture with associated ruts, tire tracks, etc.. which is not dry yet. Much attention was paid to making sure all three pieces of equipment, when placed on their corresponding support pads and rails, were level across the tops.
View near the rail crossing. This will look more subtile once the mixture dries.
Close up showing the integration of the debris into the dirt.
TravisS
November 2025
Ken, these photos look like pics taken of the 1:1 world Cannot think of a higher compliment than that. Thanks for describing your process, as I always find dirt tricky o model and takes up so much space on these backwoods scenes.
TomMich
November 2025
The close up really shows the the debris integrated into the dirt. Great idea to mix it all together before applying.
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks so much Travis! I find one of the more difficult scenic projects is working a relatively large area of open real estate as you describe. In order to have ruts and tire tracks, the dirt layer needs to be deep enough to accomplish this. Having a container full of the dirt with the debris mixed in it can be spread to whatever depth you want.
KKarns
November 2025
Hey Tom, I did a test piece first to get an idea of how much debris to mix in to get the right look. Mixing seemed the best way to integrate the debris effectively.
Jerry
November 2025
You never fail with your updates. Beautiful scenery work!!
Jerry
KKarns
November 2025
Nice hearing from you Jerry and thanks much! Getting there, should have all the periphery scenic work done in a couple days. I will then be able to concentrate on the structure planting and detailing.
KKarns
November 2025 edited November 2025
Scenic work is coming along well. However, in order to plan and layout a scene I’m working on, I needed to get the MACK AB Flatbed Kit put together, painted and detailed. The MACK will be the key feature for this scene along the logging road.
My version of the MACK AB Flatbed defines its use as the Tie Mill Company maintenance vehicle. It would drive around and lend support to the operation wherever needed. I decided to put some low sides on the bed to contain all the equipment. This project took a few days to complete between assembly, which was very straightforward, painting, and detailing.
MACK AB Flatbed decked out with all its maintenance equipment which are SierraWest 3D detail parts. NOTE the running boards. These were not done just to change from the single step to a long running board. In fact, I dropped the 3D print step and in the process of locating it, I stepped on it…it did not survive! I was in the zone to finished up this project so rather than call Brett and get a replacement, I simply built the running boards. Tow rope around the front bumper was just to add some interest.
I love the tool box print Brett came up with!
I drilled two small holes in the back of the front seat body support and glued in some tiny screw eyes. I then put a “cable” across to hang clevis hooks, etc. I’ll have to get a better picture of that feature.
Front view. The detail in this kit is amazing.
Piece in-hand for scale! More later…Ken
KKarns
November 2025
I got a couple shots of the cable hanger I put in to hang clevis hooks, pulleys, etc…
The “cable” is ship rigging rope weathered to look like steel cable.
Nice collection of SierraWest 3D printed detail parts…game changers!
glandesjr
November 2025
Hi Ken:
Man this looks really great. You did a super job and I like your “additions” with the cable hanger and front winch. Your great weathering brings it all together.
Jim M
November 2025
Love your modifications and additions. The load is awesome. Holy crap, that gas can is unbelievably realistic and on such a small item. Well done.
KKarns
November 2025
Appreciate that George and nice hearing from you!
Hey Jim, thanks much and goes to show the versatility of these awesome 3D print kits. Such a pleasure to work with. Easy to assemble, take paint and weathering like a dream, and are incredibly detailed.
KKarns
November 2025
I wasn’t happy with the cropping on the photos so I re-did the sizing just a bit just to see if they look a little better. As you can see , these are cropped as far as I can go. All are repeat photos so disregard if not interested!
East Side Lumber Co.
November 2025
That came out great, and I love your take on this!
admin
November 2025
Outstanding, what an amazing addition to the Tie Mill. Up to your usual excellent standards! Love the color choices. Grungy “pop” there.
KKarns
November 2025
Appreciate that Aaron!
Thanks so much Brett! The yellow color weathers so nicely. I was going to do the basic black but it just wasn’t gettin it!
TravisS
November 2025
Looks great Ken. Hope you LPs are careful of splinters! Builds like this really show how awesome it is to have the small 3d printed detail parts to individually color and place.
Jerry
November 2025
You have to stop taking pictures of the real thing and then passing them off as models!!!
Nice picture of the hand!
Just amazing work as usual!
Jerry
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks Travis! You are so right, the individual detail parts allow total customization of every scene. Splinters from what?, that’s a leather seat dude…damn the weather and carry on!
He thanks so much Jerry. Now only the readers here and the FBI have my prints on file:)
TomMich
November 2025
The truck turned out really GREAT! Can’t wait to see how you incorporate it into the diorama. It will certainly make an eye catching addition.
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks Tom! Vehicles certainly add a lot and serve to help date the operations.
Oldfox47
November 2025
TomMich said:
Sounds good.
Oldfox47
November 2025
Excellent job on the Mack AB and the running boards are perfect! I can’t wait to see this whole thing come together. The detail work is incredible!
MuddyCreekRR
November 2025
As I always say…“looks realer…than real…”
KKarns
November 2025
Thanks much Oldfox! Wasn’t sure going into it how they would look, but better than expected.
Appreciate that Art! Nice hearing from you.
Joel
November 2025
Love the Mack. Great extra detailing to an already detailed truck.
Kevin L
November 2025
Your work is outstanding, enjoy seeing it.
KKarns
November 2025 173.88.6.249
Appreciate that Joel!
Thanks much Kevin!
KKarns
November 2025 edited November 2025
In addition to the SWSM Mack AB Flatbed kit, I have completed most of the scenic work around the periphery of the Main Tie Mill. I set about securing all the wood products for the scenic work at the mill. Below is a picture of the basic materials I collected:
This collection of materials are all natural. Going from the top row down and from left to right they are:
-Scale logs cut to eight foot lengths and from roughly a scale 12" to 24" diameter.
-Rough wood chips
-Finished cut ties
-Off-cut slabs
-Saw dust
-Unfinished cut ties
-Thin cross section cuts and wedge cuts
-Larger wood chips.
My main goal was to find small twigs that had the bark grain prominent and running vertical to the living tree. Most trees have the bark running the long dimension and I felt this was paramount to giving a small twig the look of a large main trunk log. This is aged white pine branches.
These are the slab off-cuts. This was done with my #11 blade. Note how the bark grain creates a very realistic look of large slabs.
Regarding sawdust…Very light and uniform colored saw dust does not look very realistic
in scale modeling, it’s just too bright and stark looking. Toning down light sawdust can be accomplished with stains and/or pigments. However, obtaining a very realistic sawdust can be accomplished by choosing the right wood and cutting method to begin with.
Here are two types of sawdust. The one on the left was taken from the sawdust collection box under my table saw and then sifted to get a fine texture. Note the uniform light color and despite sifting the long dimension “chips” that filtered through the screen mesh in a vertical position. Most wood cut on a table saw is processed lumber which produces clean light wood like 2x4s etc. and clean light sawdust.
The sawdust on the right was obtained by using a small toothed hobby saw and cutting into the pine twigs that are illustrated above. I used larger branches of course but note the darker color and mix of dark and very dark. The darkest is the dust from cutting through the bark. Also note how much finer the sawdust is and this was without sifting! This sawdust can be used directly on the project without any other coloring. It’s a more tedious process, but well worth the extra time and effort.
KKarns
November 2025
Close up, note the darker mixed color and much finer sawdust and this is without sifting
ALCOALCO
November 2025
Somebody’s up early today! Great tutorial on preparing backwoods scenery materials. My Tie Mill will arrive next week. I have 40 acres of pine trees so I better get started harvesting the branches!
KKarns
November 2025
Nice, what state? Mine are white pine. Give us a report on your Tie Mill when you get into it!
MuddyCreekRR
November 2025 edited November 2025
Perfect time of the year to get small pine branches…Christmas trees…visit your local seller of Christmas trees…they often cut off lower branches on trees and have a "trash " pile of them…just ask. My Volly fire company sold trees for years…I have a big box of “trees” to work with…Great info here my friend…
KKarns
November 2025
There ya go! Appreciate ya Art.
ALCOALCO
November 2025
ALCO—Al from…CO?
KKarns
November 2025
Ahh…I broke the code!
Jerry
November 2025
Nice tutorial Ken. Thanks!
Jerry
KKarns
November 2025
You bet Jerry, and nice hearing from you!
kebmo
November 2025
i’ver got a giant white pine in my yard. hmmm…
Jeroen
November 2025
Ken! Im late to the party but man, isnt that just beautiful. I really love all the work you did so far with the extra details; the truck, the little bridge and all those small wood splinters and stuff like that. Im curious how you will do the sawdust in the scenery. Although realistic im personally not convinced that the way its done in the master diorama is what i would do. It might be a little to messy in scale. All in all: stellar work so far and I will follow along as of now!
KKarns
November 2025
Really nice hearing from you Jeroen, its been awhile! Trust all is well. Thank you for your kind comments here. First order of business in the world of sawdust, is getting the color and consistency right. I’m working on that and think I have what I’m looking for. I’ll be working the main sawmill area from back to front to maintain access without disturbing the details in front. This will also give me the opportunity to see how the sawdust is looking prior to detailing the more obvious and important sawmill machinery scenes. I have a nice operational scene developing behind the main sawmill backed by the up sloping pine forest hillside backdrop. More later…
KKarns
December 2025 edited December 2025
About time for at least a small update on the Tie Mill project. I have been working on the operations directly behind the main sawmill structures. As mentioned previous, I’m working from back to the front (foreground) to maintain access as I go. This rear area consists of a sawdust dump holding area, a maintenance area for the Cletrac Tractor, and a rough log inventory yard area. This scene is now completed and I just need to get some pictures to document my progress before work begins on the actual sawmill. All components of the sawmill are done, so planting the structures and machinery, and of course all the wonderful 3D printed details, remains to be done.
The addition of the SWSM Cletrac Tractor and the Mack AB Flatbed 3D kits somewhat elevates the Tie Mill to a slightly more sophisticated operation than originally planned. Couldn’t help myself in adding those terrific kits to my overall plan. The Mack AB will be situated away from the main sawmill on an access road coming in from the right. The Cletrac Tractor is positioned in a maintenance shed behind the Mill. Between the main Tie Mill and the support scene behind is an open area that I felt needed some visual interest. I found an awesome reference picture of a 1920s Forklift servicing a small sawmill..that was the Ah…ha moment. Out came Brett’s 3D printed Chain Mast Drive Forklift 3D kit from my stash and on the bench it went. This is a perfect item to have in the scene, not too big to overpower the scene, but obvious enough to really show some operational logistics. I decided to use "cables’ rather than chains for my version. Here are some images of the finished piece:
The piece was first sprayed with a brown Tamiya paint from a rattle can. The chipping was done using the hairspray technique. A light mist coat of hairspray was applied over the brown base coat. Once dry I sprayed it with Tamiya XF-19 Sky Grey. After about 15-20 minutes I chipped it with a toothpick dipped periodically in water. The water soaks through the paint and activates the hairspray and the paint lifts. Key here is to get the smallest chips you can. This is difficult in HO scale but is difficult to scrutinize without magnification so no worries.
Some exhaust and oil stains were added and the cables were routed using ship rigging rope. Tire rubber was painted with a grey/black color. I never use pure black for anything, particularly tires. Just doesn’t come off looking natural to me.
The following is a shot for scale…I’ll have pictures of the final scene soon. Too cold to get any outside shots right now…Ohio.
East Side Lumber Co.
December 2025
Looks great! love the addition of a forklift. I have a similar idea in mind for mine, but using another of Brett’s kits as a base, more to follow on that soon…
TravisS
December 2025
Looks great Ken. You really got the well-used but still serviceable look on this little guy. Was just out in Stow, OH and can confirm it was cold! Might have to wait until March to get any outside pics.
KKarns
December 2025 edited December 2025
Thanks Aaron! Look forward to seeing your idea.
Hey appreciate that Travis. May have to suck it up and go out in the cold!
One disclaimer here. I realize that a forklift for a lumber yard would have bigger wheels particularly on the front. Brett’s design is for more of a shop type use. It still gets the idea across and if positioned effectively it’s not really that noticeable. The coolness factor outweighs the technicality factor!
TomMich
December 2025
Great build! I like the use of cables as opposed to the chains. weathering is very well done as is your usual.
ALCOALCO
December 2025
Since you did such a great job on the forklift, we’ll let the technicality slide…! LOL
KKarns
December 2025
Appreciate that Tom.
ALCOALCO
December 2025
?
KKarns
December 2025 edited December 2025
Thanks for the pass Al lol, and appreciate the support.
Jim M
December 2025
Love the forklift. I can’t wait to see the rest.
MuddyCreekRR
December 2025
Nicely done as always…that forklift is a great kit…can’t wait to see more my friend
KKarns
December 2025
Appreciate that Jim, and what a beautiful design and print it is! As mentioned, when I saw that reference photo, I just had to incorporate it into the operations at The Mill.
Hey Art, thanks much. I braved the temps and went outside yesterday and secured some pictures of the background scene. I can now begin finishing up this project by planting all the main sawmill structures and details. My thoughts are drifting occasionally to the next project and next in order…The Machine Shop at Deer Creek…see you there…Ken
Dwaine46
December 2025
ken, thank you so much for the little tutorial’s on your way of approaching each detail. what your doing is fantastic. Thanks
KKarns
December 2025
Hey Dwaine, so nice hearing from you! Appreciate your comments here and made my day. Lots to go over when I post the finished pics!
