This thread was started in January, 2017
NejcR
January 2017 in HO Scale Builds
…well, quite a few twists actually 
But let’s start at the beginning - I’m Nejc Roskar, I come from Slovenia in Europe (sounds familiar? Yes, Melania Trump is from the exact same country :D).
I’m building a logging layout, Logging at the turn of the 20th century. It’s based somewhere in Slovenia, but logging machinery from USA will be used too. Railroad is based upon electrified logging railroad in Mislinja, Slovenia. Rollling stock will mostly be scratchbuilt (well, it already is to be precise). There will be Victorian era town (plus a village including a few blacksmith shops with water driven machinery) on a module 4, here’s a glimpse at the cobble stone streets:
Modules 3, 2 and 1 are main, logging ones. I’ll build a large bandsaw mill and a small venetian sawmill on module 3:
…big machine shop, woodworking shop, steam electricity plant, and some smaller structures on module 2:
…and we finally arrive to module 1, which is reserved for SW Twin Mills:
Although I have quite a few SW kits, everything else on the layout will be scratchbuilt, but I’ll use all the castings for details
I’ll made many modifications, here’s the list:
- adjusting the machinery to smaller logs
- fully detailed interior of the old sawmill
- lighting will be installed in both mills
- scratchbuilding or modifying new mill machinery
- adjusting everything, because of the small space available
Let’s go to the pictures!
Front and rear wall of the old sawmill:
Modified side walls (those three openings at the left wall are due to the three steam engines:
Boiler house walls (for two boilers, both will be visible through open doors):
New sawmill floor:
Scratch built old sawmill floor:
Log haul:
Slightly modified front dock:
Slab bin:
New mill sorting platform, with one more speed reduction and slightly changed log deck machinery (similar to SW O scale one):
I scratch builded main saw (among others, using a lot of SW castings from other kits). First, the difference between new and weathered saw blades (using the same technique as Kevin and Bill, with dremel tool). I wanted it only slightly weathered:
Bottom saw during construction (note the sawdust conveyor for bringing sawdast to the boilers):
Finished bottom saw (husk), smaller top saw will be attached to the ceiling:
Log carriage machinery is based on Phillips Brothers Sawmill carriage (see here from 5:23 on: ):
…that’s it for now, I’m building with full steam, so expect next update soon!
Any comments are very welcome!
Best regards, Nejc
Comments
CarlLaskey
January 2017
Nejc
A wonderful job on the mill you have gone to the limit.
Carl
KKarns
January 2017
Wow Nejc, very nicely done. Love your wood treatment. Excellent attention to details, simply outstanding work…look forward to following along here…Ken
admin
January 2017
Outstanding Nejc! What a wonderful project. Your thoughtfulness to the overall project and weathering of the wood is fantastic. Looking very forward to seeing more of this mill come to life…
MitchN
January 2017
Nejc,
I like the finishes you have created on your machinery. Very realistic. Glad to see your work.
Mitch
brownbr
January 2017
Great start. Thanks for sharing.
KCSTrains
January 2017
Welcome Nejc. Very nice work and a lot of thought into the details. Your wood treatment and building is spot on. Thanks for sharing. Phil.
NejcR
January 2017
Thank you very much guys!
Currently I’m finishing the old mill machinery (husk, carriage, edger, rollers) + rollers in new sawmill. Next step will be upper husk in new mill and steam engines. Later two cut off saws and two overhead log turners (pulleys and friction cones will be visible in the new sawmill only) will be assembled…
KCSTrains
January 2017
Nejc, one other thing - when taking pictures, see if you can adjust your white balance to the blue side. The yellow of your pictures takes away the great detail you have achieved. Your picture of the bottom saw during construction is the look you want. If you are not sure what to do, click on “auto white balance.” Phil
Wes
February 2017
Wowzers. Theres some pretty fine modelling going on there Nejc. Please show us more.
NejcR
February 2017
Thanks Wes!
Phil, thanks for the advice I’m aware that those pictures didn’t turn out very good and here’s the reason - I took those pictures on my 4th module (Victorian town one), where I have dark clouds on the background and have adjusted lighting to rainy day. Here’s the difference between this 4th module and other three, logging ones (where the weather will be partly cloudy):
Partly cloudy:
…and cloudy, where I have taken those pictures:
That picture of a bottom husk during construction was taken under my working light and I’ll take some more pictures of some details and repost it…
Nejc
KCSTrains
February 2017
I understand. We just want to have the best view of your great work. Phil
Wes
February 2017
Damn. A weather system for each module too. Impressive
NejcR
February 2017
Wes, it’s nothing special, just different background and lighting. Here’s another picture where three logging modules are visible (there’s a smooth transition into very cloudy weather to the left, town module, but I don’t have any picture at the moment):
…and here are better pictures with more or less same content as a few days ago:
Sorting platform:
Carriage:
Old mill front wall:
Old mill front dock:
Here’s slightly changed pond dock:
One of the walls for the boat house:
Boiler house front wall:
Log haul:
And two shots of a bottom husk nearly done:
Nejc
admin
February 2017
Really love the boiler house front wall door… outstanding!
Bill
February 2017
Agree with Brett, very cool! Also, your wood coloring on the docks is spot on. I’m looking forward to seeing this all come together!
KCSTrains
February 2017
Your pictures are so much better. Now I can really see the detail of your work. Outstanding. Phil
NejcR
February 2017
Thank you all!
Really cool to see such nice comments from the experts…
NejcR
February 2017
Progress - most of the sawmill machinery for both mills is built:
Carriage for the old mill:
The hog/grinder:
One of the live rolls:
Another live rolls system:
And trimmer (lifting system for the press rolls still to be added):
I’ll post pictures of everything built so far together in a few days
Best regards, Nejc
KKarns
February 2017
Once again Nejc, splendid work. You’ll have such fun placing all that great equipment in your mill!
admin
February 2017
Excellent! Looking forward to seeing it all come together…
KCSTrains
February 2017
Ditto. Really good work. Phil
NejcR
February 2017
Thanks guys!
Yeah, it’s really quite a joy placing everything together. Every part of the sawmill machinery that lays on the floor is done - I’ll post pictures tomorrow, as promised. I’m currently working on the upper husk, next in line are two cut off saws and overhead log turner…
NejcR
February 2017 edited February 2017
It’s not tomorrow yet, but I managed to find extra time to post following pictures (note that any missalignments might be due to the fact that many items aren’t glued in place yet):
New mill floor:
There’s a driven conveyor belt leading into the hog. Same wheel that drives the hog also drives the conveyor up to the slab bin:
Close up of the endless chain drive:
I had to change the bottom husk a bit - at first I didn’t take the falling (freshly cut) lumber at the back of the head saw into account:
Live rolls behind the main saw:
Better look to the carriage cable drive:
With stairs added:
Old mill floor:
Same conveyor that drives off the excess sawdust from the bottom husk of the new mill, drives off the sawdust from the edger too:
Old mill carriage:
There will be only bottom husk here. Cable drive for the log buggy and slightly different carriage drive are visible here:
Live rolls in the old mill:
Pond, as it looks like at the moment:
Old mill and new mill floors:
You can see a lumber flow here:
Green one isn’t a regular one, lumber is carried over to the live rolls that eventually lead to the edger only if really necessary…
That’s it for now
Regards, Nejc
brownbr
February 2017
Fantastic work.
Bill
February 2017 edited February 2017
Wow, this is outstanding! Well thought out and will have a ton of visual interest.
Coming along nicely
KCSTrains
February 2017
Wow!!! What detail!! You should be very proud of your work. I am. Phil
Joel
February 2017
Love the way it is all coming together.
Joel
KKarns
February 2017
That is one comprehensive sawmill kit! Winderful work Nejc.
NejcR
February 2017
Thanks a lot guys! It’s really cool to read such comments!
Ed, so glad you pointed this out Usually no one’s ever heard of Slovenia, even some European citizens! I’m from Maribor, that’s the second largest city here, right after Ljubljana. If someone ever comes here to visit, I would recommend lake Bled and it’s surroundings. It’s at the opposite side of the country as Maribor, but I visit it each year anyways, it’s truly beautiful. Well, opposite side of the country here means 2.5 hour drive, believe it or not
Despite being small, technical heritage is very rich in Slovenia, specially logging, ironworks and mining. For example, there were many logging railways here in the past and one of the main transportations for logs were logging cableways. There’s one restored near Bled, although not working anymore. Those cableways were real technical achievement, designed by our engineer, Lambert von Pantz.
Regards, Nejc
Jerry
February 2017
That is really a nice looking Mill. Excellent workmanship.
Jerry
Wes
February 2017
The internet truelly has made the world a much smaller place for sure. Its made it possible for people from all over the world to share our love for these wonderful Sierra West kits.
Look forward to your next update Nejc.
NejcR
February 2017
Thanks!
I had to change the log deck machinery, because logs weren’t pushed far enough with the old configuration:
…so I added another speed reduction gear set:
I also added a different log kicker:
…and now something that was one of the most challenging things in my modelling ‘‘career’’ till now - designing, building and mounting the upper husk. Before mounting:
You can see the tensioning pulley here:
…which can be operated via this lever (it’s purpose is to ‘‘shut down’’ the upper husk saw, when logs are smaller):
Upper husk mounted (note the mirror configuration of the new mill’s side wall - reason is improved visibility of the interior equipment):
Three identical holes on the second floor are for the lighting and long linear hole is for lifting the saws up for sharpening:
That’s it for now
Nejc
brownbr
February 2017
This is great modeling. Your attention to detail will make this a masterpiece.
KKarns
February 2017
Wondefully done Nejc, the detail is terrific and so masterfully constructed and weathered. Beautiful.
Bill
February 2017
A “little” twist is an understatement! Really coming along nicely
NejcR
March 2017
Wow, you’re really nice, thank you very much!
ironmountainlumber
March 2017
Hi Nejc,
Fantastic job! The machinery and the sawmill are wonderfully done. I am really looking forward to seeing it in the layout. The catenary system on your first picture is really cool and really love this type of rail system. Keep up the fantastic work.
Jim
NejcR
March 2017
Ed, Slavoj Zizek is one of the most recognized philosophers in the world. And yes, he makes you think, very deep stuff
Thanks Jim!
A bit of progress - machinery in the new mill is done and machinery in the old mill is almost done.
Here are the pictures of the cut off saw and the overhead log turner in the new sawmill:
Cut off saw:
Mechanism for switching between tight and loose wheel:
Overhead log turner:
Old mill pictures coming soon
Nejc
sdrees
March 2017
Wow, this is really neat stuff. Your workmanship is fantastic.
Bill
March 2017
Nejc (I’m not sure if that’s you’re name!)
The belt system and the rest of the interior looks terrific! I did want to point out the overhead log turner…it’s extremely red and stands out from all the other details.
KCSTrains
March 2017
Nejc, great, great detail work. I can’t believe the detail. Bill is right with his comment. I thought is was a temporary part. Phil
NejcR
March 2017
Thanks guys!
Yes Bill, my name is Nejc …and you’re absolutely right that the friction cones are too bright. I’ll tone them down 
Nejc
NejcR
March 2017
Here’s the new version of friction cones:
…I don’t know why I had in mind that they are so reddish
Pictures of the old mill:
Note the overhead log turner and lifting system for the press rolls of the edger (modeled after Phillips Brothers Sawmill edger):
Another cut off saw:
…next on production line are steam engines and boilers
Bill
March 2017
NejcR–
The color of the friction cones looks spot on after the touch up.
Can I offer one more suggestion (or am I pushing my luck)??
Looking at the areas where the moving parts make contact, they’d be pretty shiny because of the friction. Simple fix: If you take a plain old pencil and go over those surfaces, you’ll get a cool polished effect that looks like wear from metal on metal rubbing. Just take the pencil and rub the lead on the angled edges only:
I use this technique on any pieces that show metal wear: teeth on gears, pulleys, anvil surfaces, tools, etc.
NejcR
March 2017
Hehe, thanks Ed!
Bill, any suggestions are always welcome!
Were these things made out of metal? I had no idea how cones show wear but then I found a coloured picture of the overhead log turner from the McLean sawmill in WSM book. It seems to me like white/grey patina over the big wheel friction surface. So I used a mixure of pencil and chalks to achive this:
What do you think?
Regards, Nejc
Bill
March 2017
Nejc–
Some times color photos can show machinery that is really old, broken down, or completely out of service. Raw metal will oxidize in no time if it isn’t seeing regular use.
I’m no expert, but I think most of those transfer wheels were all metal. I have heard of some called “paper friction drive” wheels which look like this:
So, in this case, both wheels are metal but one was wrapped with a paper material. In my sawmill there is a set of transfer wheels that are called “angled bevel friction wheels”. Most of it is hidden, but I modeled them shiny like this:
At this point it’s probably splitting hairs. You’re doing such a nice job on this model I figured I share my thoughts with you. With the more muted coloring, I’d say it’s perfectly acceptable.
NejcR
March 2017 edited March 2017
Ed, great to hear this. I’m glad that it sounds interesting
Bill, McLean sawmill is still operating (or at least it was when those pictures were taken), so it shows wear quite realistically.
Anyways, I looked at the Ralph C. Bryant book Lumber if overhead log turners are described into detail and voila - bigger wheel was made out of steel, two smaller ones were paper-faced friction wheels. I guess it’s always similar with friction drives, one wheel being paper-faced for better friction.
So here’s the latest version of the overhead log turners, with two smaller cones ‘‘paper wrapped’’:
NejcR
March 2017
Your Slovene is very good! 
CarlLaskey
March 2017
Wonderful work.
Jerry
March 2017
That is some outstanding work. Hard to believe your getting this quality in HO.
Jerry
NejcR
March 2017
Thanks again
You’re right Ed, plus a detailed description of this type of log turner (with picture) is in the book I mentioned before, called Lumber…
Here’s the progress on boiler and engine room:
Nejc
CarlLaskey
March 2017
Outstanding there my friend, Well done.
Carl
brownbr
March 2017
Looks great. I like the cracks in the concrete floor.
KCSTrains
March 2017
Nejc, again you continue to amaze me with your talent, especially with regard to the construction of the machinery. I know you are not finished, but the one thing I find is that your scenes are too clean. Of course, I’m sure you will take care of that in the end with endless amounts of oil, sawdust, and dirt. Keep up the good work. Phil
admin
March 2017
The weathering on the brick boiler casting is superb. Well done!
SteveCuster
March 2017
Great job Nejc. All the machinery looks fantastic as does the brick.
NejcR
March 2017
Thanks a lot guys!
Phil,
you’re right, many details still to come! Small tools, boxes, benches, tiny details overall, some stains…I’ll also put some slabs and sawdust to the boiler house - plus I’m planning to get flickering flames into left boiler, holes are already prepared. But I’ll keep sawdust out of the machine house, I think that they were cleaning it pretty thoroughly from there.
Ed,
Laibach isn’t my type of band actually …I’m more of a rock guy. We have fantastic rock bands here, my favourites are Siddharta and Big Foot Mama. They’re leading music groups in Slovenia. Been to many concerts, in last December they made a collabo concert - big stage split in two, each half for one group. One of the best experiences in my life, best Slovenian rockers singing one song each (plus singing songs of each other) and of course some songs together…
Specially Siddharta have some songs in English and were pretty big hits at the time of release all over Europe. I’m sure that they would be world class if they weren’t from small country like Slovenia You have to check out My Dice (Slovenian title Ring), Insane (Slovenian title Napoj), Samo edini (this is Slovenian title, but on youtube there’s an English version too) and THOR (Slovenian title the same). Masterpieces
While I’m waiting for some bevel gears to finish the overhead belt drive system, I finished the lighting but it’s not yet installed, because belt drive needs to be finished first. I also made progress on the old mill roof, pictures soon…
Nejc
Karl.A
March 2017
Very nice work already, with the drive finished and the lights installed it is going to be fantastic.
NejcR
April 2017
You’re welcome Ed Well, lucky you, I’d like to see Pink Floyd too for sure…
Thank you Karl, nice to hear from you
KKarns
April 2017
Wonderful work Nejc, so nice to see this kind of attention to detail. Imaging is great!
Dwight
April 2017
Nejc ,
Absolutely amazing modeling. I’m also building a logging railroad based on an area just 100 mi from my house. It’s in south central New Mexico. To use Brett’s kit I’m doing something similar to you. Due to space limitations I’m just using the new mill , sorting and loading platforms and boiler and engine house. Seems we both took the instruction manual and disassembled it then put it back together the way we wanted. I’ll end up with lots of extras than can be repurposed elsewhere on the layout.
Fun , fun ,
Dwight
NejcR
May 2017 edited May 2017
Thank you both!
Well, it’s been a while since my last post. I have and will have very limited amount of time available for modelling in the next few months, but I’ll try to post progress as soon as possible…
I managed to finish the belt drive system and lighting - two of the most time consuming parts of the build I guess…
Enough of the words, here are a lot of pictures. First, some general ones:
NejcR
May 2017 edited May 2017
I tried to get the belt drive system as realistic as possible, in terms of HP used also. So I split the power between three steam engines and here’s what they’re driving - first big engine (~250HP) drives main machinery in the old mill:
You can see how everything is connected. Steam engine drives a shaft with bevel gear, and next shaft drives (respectively): winch for log buggy, main husk in the old mill, overhead log turner and the edger:
Next big steam engine (again ~ 250HP) drives main machinery in the new mill:
Similar system as with the first big steam engine - bevel gears are used to turn shafts 90 degrees:
There are two wheels on this shaft in the new mill, one drives the upper and bottom husk and one log chain drive plus overhead log turner:
Last steam engine (~150HP), smallest of the three, drives all live rolls and both cut off saws. Again, bevel gears are needed, to turn the main shaft:
Old mill cut off saw is driven from the first shaft, the one that is directly driven from the steam engine:
Next, friction cones drive live rolls in the old mill:
The main shaft also drives all remaining live rolls, grinder (with belt drive for the bin) and new mill cut off saw (via bevel gears):
NejcR
May 2017 edited May 2017
And here are some night shots:
I hope I’ll be able to post update as soon as possible
Nejc
KKarns
May 2017 edited May 2017
Brilliant modeling!..nuff said…
brownbr
May 2017
I like this a lot.
Karl.A
May 2017
Wow, just ..wow.
Karl.A
nextceo
May 2017
Very Impressive…as a guy who likes to include lights in my dioramas, well done sir.
admin
May 2017
Excellent!
KKarns
May 2017
Noooo…the ? was suppose to be !!!..fixed it, see above.
sdrees
May 2017
That is some damn fine modeling NejcR. And the lighting puts it way over the top.
Wes
May 2017
As realistic looking as a model can get. WOW
Joel
May 2017
Beautiful work.
Bill
May 2017
Superb!! Executed to perfection, Nejc!
NejcR
May 2017
Wow, models from all of you inspired me through the ages and are still inspiring me of course, so hearing such comments for my work is exceptional.
All I can say is THANK YOU guys
Jerry
May 2017
Beautiful work!!
Jerry
ironmountainlumber
May 2017
Wow, the lighting and just the overall feel and execution is superb! Great job.
Jim
KKarns
May 2017
What Ed said…
sdrees
May 2017
The LED’s available today really add a lot of great effects to a very nice model.
sdrees
May 2017
But Ed, this model is fantastic and the lights make it even more so.
Karl.A
May 2017 edited May 2017
This kit is incredible… as is the modelling.
Karl.A
KCSTrains
May 2017
Nejc, beautiful, beautiful modeling. Forget putting on a roof. People are going to want to see the detail you have created. Phil
NejcR
May 2017
Ed I know exactly what you mean
Phil, roof will be very ‘‘mobile’’ indeed haha
Thanks again to all of you for very inspiring words! Hope to update soon,
best regards from Slovenia, Nejc
NejcR
October 2017
Hi all! 
It’s been a while since my last update - I haven’t had much time for modelling lately, and even when I had, I wasn’t always finishing Twin Mills roof, because some drastic changes regarding my narrow gauge tracks are going to happen. Plus the extend of the roof and the fact, that I had to make it removable as a whole, makes my long forum pause reasonable
Enough talking, here are the pictures of the finished roof:
Removed roof:
One more shot of the mill:
Next I have to paint all the details (benches, tools, crates etc.), but I intend to do all of them (so for the whole layout) at once - so it will take a while I guess. But before that, I’m going to rebuild all of my tracks
Jerry
October 2017
Well that is really well done. Excellent coloring.
Jerry
KKarns
October 2017
Wonderful work and the entire removable roof and the weathering is amazing, so well done.
NejcR
October 2017
Thanks guys!
NejcR
October 2017
Two more close up shots of the corrugated roof:
NejcR
November 2017
I mentioned drastic changes at the beginning of the roof update. If you look at the second, third and fourth picture in this thread, you can see finished tracks. Here’s how first module with the sawmill looks like at the moment:
…so I have dismantled all tracks. Reason? I’ve had a problem with Tillig H0e tracks from the beginning, they were simply too big. Profiles on those tracks are code 70, which is absolutely too big for logging railroads in Slovenia. For example, real profiles on the railroad in Mislinja had width of the head approx. 25mm (T. Brate, Gozdne železnice na Slovenskem), that is 0,3mm in 1:87. That cannot be achieved in this scale of course, but I wanted it to be closer - Tillig profile’s width of head is 0,8mm! Not to mention profile hight, which is way too big also.
Fortunately, I found out about Railboys from Austria. They produce H0e tracks that you have to build yourself and have code 55 profiles (width of head a bit less than 0,7mm). I ordered one straight track and one switch an I was amazed…
You can see straight track left and switch on the right (profiles are not pictured):
…but I still had one problem - profiles were still too big. Code 55 is good for some regular passenger narrow gauge railways, but not for logging railroads here in Slovenia.
Let me show you an example of one of the last logging railroads in Europe: Mocanita in Romania. This screenshot:
…you can see how small the profiles are and their ‘‘waveness’’. I tried to achieve similar weathered effect.
I had to try to build those track with even smaller code 40 profiles in order to achieve what I want. Comparison between profiles (Tillig is left, code 55 (originally with Railboys tracks) is in the middle and code 40 on the right):
All nails, track plates and all switch parts had to be grinded off, because of the smaller profile. A LOT of work, but I’m very happy with the finished product. With grinding of the nails I also achieved it’s individualism, because nails for those rails were hand made then, so they were all slightly different.
First let me show you the finished switch from up front, where ‘‘waveness’’ can be seen. It’s very close to reality on Mocanita:
Pictures of the finished switch and straight part of the track:
Rails in Mislinja were 7 metres long in reality. So I will make around 8cm long parts of the profiles and join them with such joints:
With locomotive:
Comparison between all three tracks. Tillig is at the top, Railboys track with code 55 in the middle (without nails, because it is just for demonstration) and Railboys with code 40 at the bottom:
Difference between code 55 (bottom) and code 40 (top):
…and comparison with Tillig switch and straight track:
I’m posting this here, because those tracks will be a part of the module 1, where Twin mills is located. First on to do list is finishing the track on this module, so this will be next update I guess. Then, as mentioned before, I’ll start finishing the details for the sawmill.
That’s it for now
Karl.A
November 2017
Superb attention to detail, and descriptions of the differences, this will set your models apart, (even further).
I can seriously appreciate your work, and love to see it and admire.
Karl.A
kebmo
November 2017
you’ve really done an amazing job on this kit. i can’t imagine building it myself. i also can’t imagine having to write the construction manual. just amazing from top to bottom.. such a great kit and a great job building it!
NejcR
November 2017
Karl, Ed and kebmo, thanks for such nice words!
NejcR
January 2 109.182.68.38
Hello from Slovenia, after quite some time
My Twin Mills complex was on hold for a long time, because I was building other structures on my layout. A few months ago, it was finally time to begin with the scenery. There are still some details to be added to the sawmill, and then it will be time to pour the resin.
This part on the layout, with the Twin Mills complex, presents wet weather, with rain still falling, so the lighting is adjusted.
Here are some pictures of the current state:
More follows soon
admin
January 2
Outstanding work! Very impressive.
CarlLaskey
January 2
The best of the Best great work…
Jim M
January 2
This is really beautiful. Fantastic job.
