This thread was started October, 2024
Robert.G
October 2024 in O Scale Builds
So, it’s been a while since I’ve posted some building work which doesn’t mean I sat on my but. It’s just that I am 'Retired ’ now. …( sounds almost like a conviction.. 
and what they say seems to be true. No time to do anything. All those projects that were waiting for this ‘phase’ in one’s lifetime…
Anyways, I did work on this glorious kit, O’Neills, for a while. And now no more excuses for not posting some pics.
Just a few changes I’ve made, for example, as you can see, I am covering the roofs with individual shingles instead of the perfectly good provided laser cut ones, but for those who know my work, I like to go the extra mile… :).
So, all the details are done, the main building , that is, the construction is done. Still working on the workshop, so soon I’ll be able to put everything together and work further on the weathering and putting all the fantastic details in place. The complete diorama so to speak.
Anyway, this is a FANTASTIC kit and I have to congratulate Brett for this one. All SW kits are great, but this one will end in my favorite top three.
So here is just an impression of where I am now. Nothing is completely finished, so just a little more patience please.. More pics will follow.
soon more.
Comments
ALCOALCO
October 2024
I simply cannot tell the difference between your modeling and the real world! Always a great pleasure to see your postings. Thank you.
admin
October 2024
Well, this is gonna be so much fun looking over Roberts shoulder as he creates his O’Neills diorama. Thanks for sharing with us. Great start. Love the weathering on the ribbed roofing and the subtle coloring on the doors and windows.
TomMich
October 2024
Robert, your work is always inspirational. You put realism into every model. I am looking forward to seeing this one finished with all the details and little extras you put into every model!
MuddyCreekRR
October 2024
Really digging the blue tones you are using…custom mix?..or a stock color?
Robert.G
October 2024
Custom mix indeed. Several thin layers, like glazes. Light blue, broken white, and light grey are in the mix. And of course, the pigment powders. Mix of umber and black. But VERY little !!! Less is more. Don’t want it to be artificial. And that goes for every use of the powders.
Jerry
October 2024 70.21.149.151
As usual your work is excellent. Perfect coloring.
Jerry
Karl.A
October 2024
This is going to be fun to follow, both with your outstanding work
and the amazing photography.
KKarns
October 2024
beautiful work as always! Love the aged blue finish.
Robert.G
October 2024
Some progress, the individual shingles are placed waiting for weathering.
As you can see, I’ve put an extra window in the front wall of the workshop. One can’t have to much light whilst working… An one can peek into the shop as well :). More details and weathering will come against this wall when assembling the structure.
There will be plenty of light bulbs in- and outside the structures. There are to many fine details that have to be seen…
Jerry
October 2024
Beautiful roofing. And the signs are pretty dam good too!
Jerry
ALCOALCO
October 2024
The picture of the end wall and its subtle shading of wear and tear is fantastic. Really makes this special.
admin
October 2024
Love the shingles and the weathering on the wall/doors, simply outstanding.
Robert.G
October 2024
OK Gents, Fellow Travelers, here some more pics of progress on the wonderful O’Neills build.
The concrete casting is very well done and simply invites you to do the best one can on the weathering of it.
When following the elaborated templates, you can’t go wrong with the staircases. Just stay calm and respect the drying times of the glue. The glue surfaces are very small sometimes.
As for the roofs, the corrugated panels are chemically weathered with acid. An outside job and with eye and hands protection.
The 'tar papered 'roof is , as always made according the original provided plans, but I’ve added extra boards underneath , also as always… , so the tarpaper, black painted paper tissues in my case, shows thru.
Weathering of everything is NOT finished yet. This is just to give you guys an idea where it’s going… 
In case I didn’t mention it yet, The O’Neills is a MUST have, MUST build SW kit…
TomMich
October 2024
Amazing work Robert!
glandesjr
October 2024
Looks awesome, Robert. Really like what you are doing. I learn a lot from your builds. I also agree this is a lot of fun to build. I really enjoyed building mine and found it challenging but in a good way. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to watching this as you progress.
Kevin L
October 2024
Love your work.
Karl.A
October 2024
Fantastic work Robert, the shingles look great and your work on the tired and aging paint is superb, just like I see it out on the job.
ALCOALCO
October 2024
Boards showing through tissue—I will use this for sure!
KKarns
October 2024
Wonderful detail work Robert. Has your signature look and appeal!
Jerry
October 2024
Your coloring is just superb! You always have that right touch for your coloring.
Jerry
Robert.G
November 2024 edited November 2024
I just replied to Joel’s great build about extra details and next level and stuff. So, that’s what I do all the time. Make a fantastic kit even better…
Like here for example. I put real pewter on the roof, made of real individual shingles.
having so much fun with this kit 
More soon..
MuddyCreekRR
November 2024
Digging the real pewter…darkened with the metal blackener I would think?
Joel
November 2024
Just beautiful. Fantastic colours and textures.
admin
November 2024
The roofing looks so great with the addition of the lead cap and green moss. Subtle color variation but very effective.
KKarns
November 2024
The roof turned out wonderful! Love the added details.
Jerry
November 2024
Coloring of the shingles right on. And beautiful capping!
Jerry
Robert.G
November 2024
The big oil reservoir with a little ‘color’ on it. There’s already enough ’ grunge ’ going on..so I chose the blue to match it with the blue of the building, and a little color doesn’t do any harm.. N’est-ce-pas !!! ( doesn’t it )
environmental restrictions apparently weren’t really applicable back then… …
soon more
admin
November 2024
Uhmmmm, wow! The blue tie-in is fantastic and the weathering on the big support beams is outstanding.
TomMich
November 2024
Robert that is next level! The weathering on the metal sub-structure is awesome and the wood beams are amazing! The top of the tank really looks oily!
Joel
November 2024
Just fantastic. The colouring is perfect. I love the addition of the blue. It really makes the sign pop!
KKarns
November 2024
Outstanding work Robert. The base color of the tank is perfectly done and love the detail work on the support timbers.
Jerry
November 2024
It just doesn’t get any better than this!!
Jerry
MuddyCreekRR
November 2024
Ok…that’s a horse of a different color…or tank…or sign
Robert.G
November 2024
Dear Muddy, sometimes one has to leave the beaten path..
Karl.A
November 2024
Beautiful work as always Robert, the realism is always something you have mastered.
The worn paint is superbly done.
Robert.G
November 2024
Another great part of the construction of a SW kit is when all the details are painted, weathered and ready to put on their defined spot of the build. Just like a painters palette, you can choose, mix and create the different scenes. SOOOO much fun !!!
KKarns
November 2024
I agree, really enjoyable phase of the build when everything comes together!
Joel
November 2024
i too agree. most exciting time. You get to see it all pay off as you create each little scene.
Robert.G
November 2024
The most unusual and weird constructions are sometimes needed to obtain the right pressure on that difficult spot.. Hence the lead blocks.. I want to keep the roof removable so the seem in white glue , once dry, will keep the right angle for the roof.. It will be covered with the same lead as the tower.
Robert.G
November 2024
As with every SW kit, some more than others, I am faced with the dilemma of how to show as much detail as possible.
Brett puts a lot of work into accurately depicting all the parts, even the smallest ones, but at a certain point the roof goes on the building and bam, gone are all those beautiful details.
You only see a fraction of them. So I always try to find a solution to keep as much of a view of this as possible.
If it is not by placing skylights or extra windows, then it is by changing door openings.
Like here for example. I made sliding doors from the two gate wings. If they were to open outwards, there would be no room to move on the platform . If they were to open inwards, you would lose a lot of detail inside.
So this seemed like a suitable alternative. With small washers and some brass wire and profile, I soldered the sliding system.
I also made the platform a bit wider so that everything is not crammed together and people can still move with carts etc.
I also made the door at the back open to the other side so that you can look inside and not look at the outside door itself. An inside look, so to speak.
There is also sufficient light provided so that, when the roof goes on, everything is well lit.
More weathering and details both inside and outside when everything comes together of course…
btw, this could easily be a separate SW kit: The Welding Shop… 
Soon more…
TomMich
November 2024
Great modifications Robert! Great solution to showcasing all the wonderful detail parts included with the SW kits. Also the interior detailing is outstanding!
Joel
November 2024
Fantastic detailing. I really love the colouring on the raised tank.
KKarns
November 2024 edited November 2024
Beautifully executed Robert! Details are incredible.
MuddyCreekRR
November 2024
Really liking the direction you went with this…
Kevin L
November 2024
What a great idea to show the amazing details that come with these kits.
Jerry
November 2024
That is just some fine modeling. Just really showing off all the details.
Jerry
admin
November 2024
This continues to look amazing. Love the coloring on the raised tank and the pop of yellow from the hand truck.
ALCOALCO
November 2024
Incredible realism!
sdrees
November 2024
WOW Robert. I really like the treatment you did on the wood siding etc. Interior details are just fantastic.
geoawelch
November 2024
Modeling doesn’t get better than this.
Karl.A
November 2024
Wonderful work Robert, love the chipped paint on the metal items and the peeled paint on the wood, distinctly different effects beautifully done.
Robert.G
November 2024
Whilst layering the scenery and putting in the edifices, and most of all, waiting and waiting until everything is dry… I still had some details to finish.
KKarns
November 2024
Beautiful detail on both ends…Brett’s wonderfully detailed print and your equally wonderful detailed details.
TomMich
November 2024
Wow! Great weathering. everything looks so real. The wood grain on the cart is outstanding!
Joel
November 2024
Fantastic rust effect. Very realistic.
Karl.A
November 2024
Nice rust texture as always and the deteriorated end grain on the wood timbers adds a very nice aged effect to the wooden beams. nicely done.
sdrees
November 2024
Very nice rust. I like the black or dark gray highlights
glandesjr
November 2024
This is looking really great, Robert. Your weathering skills really set this off along with the other details you are adding. Really superb modeling.
geoawelch
December 2024
I have to ask, Robert - you said this is one of your top three favorite SWSM Kits - what are the other two?
Jerry
December 2024
Just beautiful work.
Jerry
minion
December 2024
geoawelch said:
I have to ask, Robert - you said this is one of your top three favorite SWSM Kits - what are the other two?
geoawelch said:
I have to ask, Robert - you said this is one of your top three favorite SWSM Kits - what are the other two?
The one he did last and the next one.
geoawelch
December 2024 edited December 2024
Haha - gotcha.
Robert.G
December 2024 edited December 2024
Well Ladies and Gents,
Here we are. Before moving to more serious matters, My Favorite kit stays The Sawmill. Then in no particular order, The Blue Sky Company and The O’Neills Fabrication. Now you can all sleep peacefully…
So, what do we have here. What Brett provides with his kits are not only the very best out there , ( we all know that ) but when you build them, and are built carefully following the plans, the most fascinating result will appear. Anyone can build these kits.
A lot of research has been done in the way they are put together, how they are best built, not to mention the really professional plans and materials included. The 3D printed parts give it an extra dimension.
But it goes much further than that. For me these kits are challenges to build something unique. Of course the manuals are an important tool and guideline , but these kits also offer the modeler an opportunity to give his own interpretation to it. Stepping off the beaten track so to speak.
And then it becomes even more interesting. So as you are used to see from me, I have also given this kit my own twist. To start with, let me put it this way, this kit are actually several kits in one. I have therefore decided to give every part a bit more space and thus let each one demand a bit more attention.
Spaces between the buildings are larger so that mini scenes could be created. Views, peek-throughs as they also occur in real life.
I also left out a number of details, not because they were not good, but because I felt they were not really needed. The gas pump for example is not included here because there are already several SW buildings with gas pumps on my layout.
I also think that details, no matter how I admire them, should have a logic to be where they are. Only then does it become a lifelike scene.
Ok, enough talk talk, you came here to see pics, so here they are. And thanks for the nice and motivating comments. Of course this is not the reason why we do this, but it is nice to read.
Thanks for watching.
Robert
Jim M
December 2024
Holy crap, this is just over the top fantastic. I love my O’Neill’s, but after looking at this, I kind of feel like starting over. Bravo.
ALCOALCO
December 2024
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, he goes and does this!! The realism is mind-blowing!
sdrees
December 2024
Robert. you have done it again! It is way over the top! WOW!!!
I like the color of your concrete, and the way you have done the wood siding and not the mention of all your details and your twists.
TomMich
December 2024
Outstanding! Really like that junk pile. I agree the concrete looks so real.
admin
December 2024
Amazing work! It is always such a treat to see your outstanding modeling. Thanks so much for sharing your work with us Robert.
Jerry
December 2024
This is just exceptional modeling!! You just create the most life like coloring and details to your projects!!
Jerry
KKarns
December 2024
Wonderful job on this amazing kit! So unique and in your signature style.
geoawelch
December 2024
Your modeling and the way it’s so beautifully presented makes your scenes look like someone pulled up to a real business with camera in hand. There is so much to study and admire.
Stevepass
December 2024
That looks incredible! Well done and very inspiring.
MuddyCreekRR
December 2024
I just love the spill under the tank…realer than real…
Joel
February 2
Just stunning Robert. Fantastic detailing. Love the colours and the weathering.
Kevin L
February 2
Your modelling blows your mind away. Wow.
glandesjr
February 2
This looks so awesome, Robert. The landscaping and buildings are just great with all the little details combined with your creativity which really make this special. I love it.
Pennman
May 14
Ok Robert, sure it’s a model, now where in your countryside is this group of real buildings? You have razed the bar much higher again this time. Every picture is a beauty to behold. You have motivated me beyond all expectations to become a better modeler. This is just excellent! Thanks for sharing.
Rich
Dwaine46
May 17
This is just outstanding. Just seems to be order in your placement of the junk. And the stains on your concrete . Like Jim said I like my O’Neil’s, but WOW!