HO/HOn3 The Machine Shop at Deer Creek By: Ken Karns (aka Dr. Grunge)

[KKarns]

Featured here is my build of SierraWest Scale Models “The Machine Shop at Deer Creek”. To reiterate my methodology in choosing this project, I am building every HO/HOn3 scale kit from SWSMs in the order in which they were released beginning with Brett’s first release, The BlueSky Company Warehouse. The Machine Shop was Brett’s eight kit release and debuted in March 2000. The Machine Shop at Deer Creek was a limited run kit with just 400 produced and obviously sold out soon after. A full color ad was featured in the May/June issue of Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette (see below).

(Full page color ad in the May/June 2000 issue of NG&SG. Address and email not current so please disregard)

As with all SierraWest kits, this one just oozes that backwoods charm and character. My SWSM reference collection includes a copy of issue number 10 of “S.W. New!” Product and Modeling News from SierraWest Scale Models in which the Machine Shop was featured. I thank Nick Ogden for sending me a selection of the "S.W. New! "publications, including this one!

(The cover of Issue 10 of “S.W. New!”)

(Inside the issue featuring views of the expertly prepared pilot model.)

In addition to the newsletter I also have a copy of the Machine Shop at Deer Creek Reservation Form. I love to research the back story and acquire all information I can secure before starting a SWSM kit project. The search and research is part of the enjoyment of the hobby!

(SWSM Registration Form for The Machine Shop Kit release)

I also searched and color printed both the Manual Supplement pages and the pages from the Photo Albums.

Next up…I start the build project. More later…Ken

[Minion]

How disappointing, I thought you would dive straight in and show us what you have done so far! Still, the pre-amble was interesting and I am glad you have made use of some of the old SW News letters I sent you. They really were inspiring at a time before the internet took over. Every so often I get mine out to relive the old days .
Tonight I spent time glueing lots of railroad ties together to make a couple of stacks of new ties. This is a gentle way easing into starting the tie mill kit.
Nick

[KKarns]

Hey Nick,

I want to have the three framed walls of the main structure done before posting the first steps in order to get ahead just a bit. The front stone wall is roughed out with a few final details to add later once the walls are glued together. I’m on the last framed wall so should be posting actual build pics in a week or so. Nice to hear you’re working on the Tie Mill and look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[admin]

Well now, a new adventure from Ken! Can’t wait to see how you make the Machine Shop a classic Dr. Grunge diorama.

Great intro, brings back a lot of memories. Thanks to Nick for sharing the old green newsletters. I remember many (many) hours at the kitchen table folding, labeling, and stamping those guys. Then the internet came along, yay!

[tommich]

Looking forward to this build, should be another KK classic. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.

[KKarns]

Thanks much Brett! Look forward to your thoughts on the front stone wall. I’ll be posting the results soon. Terrific nostalgic kit this one. Love going back through the materials, such a great motivator. Reading through, I can feel your passion and enthusiasm for your products and that makes the world all right!

Glad to see you’ll be following along Tom, appreciate ya!

[Curt]

I look forward to following along Ken.

[Gerard41]

I’m ready Ken. This should be another one of your excellent builds.

Jerry

[RayKnight]

Ken, another thread to look forward to with the benchmark being set way to high. Can’t wait

[KKarns]

Glad to see you’ll be hanging out here Gerard!
Appreciate the support Ray and look forward to meeting you at the NNGC.

[KKarns]

Glad to hear Curt, really appreciate your comaradarie!

[Dwaine46]

Ken, can’t wait to see what you do with this one, what you did with the Backwoods Tie Mill and the Woodcutters Shack. You didn’t just build the models, but really built an entire picture. Go for it Ken!!

[KKarns]

Appreciate the support as always Dwaine and thanks!

[KKarns]

The famous “Green Box” that SierraWest Scale Models was known for and adorned the kits for a number of years. My kit was 398 out of a total of 400 produced, almost the last one to go out the door!

Large shelf unit in background housing my SWSM diorama collection.

The first step in any SWSM build is a comprehensive review of the equally famous, and highly revered, Construction Manual or “Bible”.

Ahh, yes…here we go. Following a thorough study of the manual, I developed a strategy for what I wanted things to look like. As mentioned in previous build threads, I spend an inordinate amount of time planning and mulling over my projects and how the workflow should go. The Machine Shop was no different and I came up with the following main points:

Firstly, I always try and challenge myself to a new build technique or method with each SWSM project I take on and The Machine Shop at Deer Creek was no different. I have always wanted to do a stucco finished structure with a desert southwest feel to it. The iconic stone front wall of the Machine Shop was something I have been thinking about to utilize and apply this technique for some time. It may seem, at first blush, a modeling crime to cover up a good portion of this beautifully cast resin stone wall. I wrestled with this issue, but take solace in the knowledge that many builds showcase this feature to great advantage. I felt my vision would actually compliment the casting and illustrate the versatility of SWSM materials and kit design.

Secondly, I wanted the wood siding to have that weather hardened reddish yellow color/texture seen in many old southwest mining and town structures.

Example of the wood color and texture I am going for.

Thirdly, I’m going to attempt to construct and scenic this project away from my normal appearing dioramas that have a decidedly more eastern temperate feel, to a more dry desert southwest feel. This will be accomplished both in the structure finish and the scenic work. Weather I accomplish this, remains to be seen!

[TravisS]

Looking forward to this build Ken! Always interesting and informative to “look over your shoulder.”

[KKarns]

Hey Travis, nice hearing from you and good to have you checking in here. So you’re the one who took that picture!

[KKarns]

I began the actual work on this project with the front stone wall. The plan I had would either make or break the entire build. If this stone wall did not turn out, the options were limited to recover! The cast resin stone wall sat in the famous green box for 26 years and was still perfectly flat with no warping at all!

The following are the modifications I had planned:

-Line the opening with timbers to allow two large freight doors to be installed. The three other openings to the facility have doors so I decided to add freight doors to be able to close up the structure. This also allows for some nice visual interest.

-Modify the sides of the stone wall to provide a flat surface to spread the stucco. The corner pillars would be removed and replaced with timbers.

-Remove the stone peak and have the roof peak structure stepped back the width of the stone wall. This is a bit confusing without studying the project. I will point this out later on.

-Cut a small square access hole in the stone casting above the freight doors. I will then add an I-beam later with a pulley system to off load and load materials. This was inspired by a photo from Chuck Doan (see below).

• And finally…take a deep breath and apply the “stucco” and weather.

The resin stone wall casting with the freight opening extended to account for the installation of the timbers shown here. Note the side stone pillars and the stone roof peak extension…these were both removed…Yikes!

The freight opening framing pieces were made from balsa wood. Small square cut outs were added to ensure nbws were flush. Stained with AI and lightly dry brushed with off white to highlight the high spots in the grain.

Framing installed.

The next step was to remove the side pillars and the top extension and begin the never before tried application of the “stucco”.

Warning!..The following images may be disturbing to some viewers, viewer discretion advised.

Once the top stone extension was removed, I carved in stones to align with the other cap stones along the top. I added balsa wood timbers to the sides, these will be extended further with actual log timbers later. The “stucco” was made with dental plaster. This was mixed a bit thin and applied with a small steel spatula. Key here is to get a nice flat surface. I accomplished this by tapping the sides of the casting after the plaster was applied which causes the plaster to even out nicely.

Looks like crap of course! I was a bit apprehensive that I could still pull this off. I carefully began the detailing and weathering process. The following images illustrate the results:

Areas of the plaster were removed, cracks were made with a #11 blade, stones were colored with pigments, plaster was colored with acrylics and a sponge and weathered with pigments. More details will be added later such as the freight doors, I-beam and pulley, side timbers, etc. I do believe the goal of a desert southwest feel was accomplished…a sigh of relief.

Next up will be the wood walls.

[admin]

Wow, just fantastic. Cannot wait to see more. or should I say:

" ¡Fantástico, no veo la hora de ver más!"

[KKarns]

Hey Brett,

Thanks for the kind words of support. I wasn’t sure what you would think of my modifications of the front wall. I think in the end it will give a really cool take on the kit.

[tommich]

Ken, the wall really turned out great! It really has that southwest feel. The cracks in the stucco add a lot of texture, character and interest