This looks really cool Tom. You’re doing a great job and the flooring looks really good. Too bad I can’t get this in O scale but I saw Brett’s post that it would cost too much. But you’re doing a great job here. Looking forward to following your build.
The sand house and water tank are finished. As I stated I am building this for HO Standard gauge and the instructions are for HOn3. Thus the tank will be taller than shown in photos on the website and elsewhere. In any case I adjusted the height of the legs on the tank. Here’s a look.
Very nice Tom. I like your weathering.
Tom, the water tank looks great - there is a little rust under the bands, it’s very subtle but gives a pleasing effect, I like it;
Nicely done Tom! Coloring and textures are spot on and tank details look superb.
Tom, this is starting to look fantastic, just love the details on the water tank.
Thanks guys, the tank is pretty straight forward. Being that the bands are cast onto the tank it makes it a lot easier to get them straight. The texture of the staves make it look like individual boards. It’s just a matter of coloring.
Very nice job on the sand house and water tank Tom. The coloring and weathering make it look like it’s individual boards on the tank.
Is there a pit or bin to keep sand in?
Nice work Tom. The weathering on the boards is great.
I do HO scale also so I very much appreciate the high level of craftsmanship you’re showing here.
As I have said before I’m modeling HO standard gauge so things look taller than what’s pictured on the SW website. Also I needed a taller crane so I added one I have in my stash. I didn’t like how the crane was just standing there and not supported on the top. It seemed unstable to me, so I added a support structure and a roof to cover the coal and sand from the elements to help keep them dryer. Here’s my version of the coal/sand/water structures.
Tom excellent job on the diorama. You absolutely nailed the mounted crane and the wonderful metal parts.
Great work here Tom! What’s the plan for having these structures on a separate base than the Loco Shop? I may have missed the explaination.
Thanks Curt, I really enjoy detailing and try to make things look natural in a diorama.
Thanks Ken, you didn’t miss anything. I ultimately sell, or at least try to sell my builds. I’d love to keep them on display, but I do not have room for all the things I have built over the years. If I separate the components I can have a better chance of selling the separate components. You know how much work, time, and effort go into each build and by separating the components I can somewhat lower the price to sell. Even at that one doesn’t get paid for all the work that goes into each build. I don’t do it for the money, but for the love of the build. It would be nice however, to be able to recoup some of the costs.
Ahh…was afraid it was a dumb question! Make sense and I hear you regarding storage space. I have toyed with the idea of unloading some myself. Your work would be a fine addition to anyone’s layout or diorama collection.
I’m very much following this build…as I want this building. But in O scale. Brett has acknowledged that the cost would be formidable. I still scratch build when I can’t get something that I would love to have on the layout. This structure is just that. There’s a better than average chance I’ll build this. I’ve been waiting anxiously for the O scale Foundry installments…I’m looking down that same path…I want to finish it. Just waiting…I do have the first three installments near completion…ehhhh
Tom, very nice. One question, the what’s the background on those buckets next to the coal shed, the black ones?
Ken, it wasn’t a dumb question. It makes sense that all the parts would be included in the same diorama and I didn’t put them together.
Art, thanks for following along. It is a great structure and a real classic.
Ray, since I’m modeling HO standard gauge, I reasoned the engines would be bigger and require more coal. Hence I included the larger coal buckets. These are buckets from Fine Scale Miniatures. They were part of one of their kits from the past.
Moving along with this build. Up next the oil tank. It didn’t come out as well as I liked. As has been mentioned in previous posts, I don’t like working with epoxy. I know it’s a necessary evil. 
I always seem to get it everywhere and my hands become a sticky mess. Even though I try to just use a little bit. In any case here is my oil tank.
By the way, I sure like not having to reduce the size of photos to post on this new site, like we had to do on the previous one. Thanks Brett, and Jim!
Tom you did a very nice job on the tank. I use another glue and not epoxy. It’s sets up quicker and it’s cleaner to use. I don’t know if I can say what it is here.