# O Scale Sawmill
**URL:** https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316
**Category:** O Scale Builds
**Created:** [March 10, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316 "2026-03-10T18:08:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Curt](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/Curt)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 11:36am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/81 "2026-04-14T11:36:54Z")
Ray outstanding job on the boiler and mill engine and plumbing them together. They look real to me. Enjoy the symposium.
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/82 "2026-04-14T14:47:08Z")
Thanks Curt
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### Author:  [@KKarns](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/KKarns)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/83 "2026-04-14T16:30:55Z")
Mill engine and boiler detail look great Ray! Excellent materials for a great scene at the mill, well done.
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### Author:  [@tommich](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/tommich)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/84 "2026-04-14T16:44:13Z")
Ray, both models turned out really nice. The weathering is very well done.
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### Author:  [@MuddyCreekRR](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/MuddyCreekRR)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/85 "2026-04-14T21:53:17Z")
Outstanding work…in the process of clearing the workbench…actually work table for this to get mine back in gear….
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/86 "2026-04-14T23:02:16Z")
Art, Tom, and Ken, thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. That said, I’m also very receptive to criticism and or suggestions. It’s been my experience that you always learn more from people who know a lot more - and that’s true of all of you on the forum.
Art I’m happy to hear you are renewing your efforts, I’d be anxious to see what your doing.
Ray
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### Author:  [@Kevin.L](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/Kevin.L)
#### Post date: [April 14, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/87 "2026-04-14T23:08:24Z")
You have done a great job on the boiler and mill engine.
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [April 15, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/88 "2026-04-15T14:35:52Z")
Kevin, thank you. Like I’ve said before I have not read visited the forum for quite some time. I looked you up and read through your O scale sawmill build this morning. I’m glad I did before starting to scenic the model, I’m sure I’ll go through your post multiple times as I progress, your detailing is brilliant. After consulting some very talented modelers and discussed the options for a removable roof and the risks associated with that I’ve decided that having a removable roof is not going to happen. I like how you put the PS for the led’s above the storage shed then tarped it, that would make things easier. I really like the sawdust bin, but what really caught my attention was the use of fiber optics for the sight glass on the boiler, just brilliant.
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### Author:  [@Kevin.L](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/Kevin.L)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/89 "2026-04-17T02:49:27Z")
Thanks, Ray, for your comments this forum is certainly the place to learn from fellow modelers to try and improve on your own skills. Also, for your information a Terry Lukanic a few years ago loaded a book on Google Books “SWSM Modeler’s Tips, Tricks and Techniques” is well worth a look.
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2026, 3:52am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/90 "2026-04-17T03:52:57Z")
Thank you Kevin - I looked up Terry’s book, looks like it’s downloadable for free - It’s 524 pages, not sure I have enough time on the planet. Seriously, I looked at a few of the pages and it looks to be very well done - thanks again.
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### Author:  [@admin](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/admin)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/91 "2026-04-22T22:49:34Z")
Outstanding Ray, your boiler and mill engine are as good as they get. Looking forward to more updates!
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/92 "2026-04-23T02:52:06Z")
Thank you Brett
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/93 "2026-06-11T21:01:07Z")
Well, it’s been almost two months since my last post. I thought that I would be off for a couple of weeks while I attended the Sn3 symposium in Denver the last part of April. That was truly worth the trip, great layouts, great modeling, and great people. These distractions have a way of snowballing and its true in this case. House painting, plumbing projects, and yard cleanup have all gotten in the way. However, I have been able to find an hour or two a day to work on details and to start detailing the sawmill. This is certainly an area where most on this forum excel, and from what I read most enjoy. I do enjoy this, however I’m not very creative so pretty much follow the photo’s Brett has in his manual. I have not put the lumber stacks in the final position yet, and have not got wood on the live and dead rails yet. Other than that I would have said I’m finished. The problem is I’ve still got a couple of hundred detail parts left that have not found a home.
One of the things that impresses me the most is how much thought Brett has put into these details. Two things really impressed me, first, the workbench with the knee vise, and second, adding doors to molded cabinets.
I have started working on the roof, the trusses are built and I’m in the process of texturing and staining the stripwood (all 330 linear feet). I have had advice from some very competent modelers not to have a removable roof. I still have not made up my mind (nor do I have a good idea on how to do it successfully), but there is still a little time. Comments/Ideas would be welcome.
Enough said, I’ll just add the photos.
I think this is my favorite detail
Final resting place behind the storage shed.
I really do like the look of this cabinet with the doors added.
Also got the wall for the boiler house put in place.
Sawdust bin permanently installed, I’m happy with the way the sawdust looks, no photo you’ll just have to take my word for it. I’ve also been adding sawdust to the floor, looks reasonable, but I’m cautious about overdoing it.
Wood pile to feed the boiler
And here’s where things stand today.
Ray
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### Author:  [@Kevin.L](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/Kevin.L)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/94 "2026-06-11T23:34:42Z")
Your work continues to look impresive.
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### Author:  [@Curt](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/Curt)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/95 "2026-06-12T10:53:41Z")
Ray your modeling and detail work is outstanding. I always have detail parts left over too.
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### Author:  [@admin](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/admin)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/96 "2026-06-12T13:36:40Z")
What a fantastic modeling job Ray! There is so much to take in here. I am enjoying looking back at the photo’s you posted and discovering details upon details. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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### Author:  [@tommich](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/tommich)
#### Post date: [June 12, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/97 "2026-06-12T17:20:28Z")
Ray, the coloring and placement of details turned out GREAT! I like the amount of sawdust you’ve used
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### Author:  [@RayKnight](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/RayKnight)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2026, 3:57am UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/98 "2026-06-13T03:57:28Z")
Kevin, Curt, Brett, Tom. Thank you
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### Author:  [@KKarns](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/KKarns)
#### Post date: [June 13, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/99 "2026-06-13T19:34:06Z")
Fantastic work here Ray! Good grief, so many cool details. You nailed it my friend, well done.
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### Author:  [@sdrees](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/u/sdrees)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://sierrawestforum.discourse.group/t/o-scale-sawmill/316/100 "2026-06-14T19:42:57Z")
Very nice job Ray.
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