Search results

I hope that as I am getting closer to semi retirement that I could take my micro- layouts on the road to some train shows. I noticed that the On30 Haiti sugar hauler “Ti Neg la” (Haitian Kreyol for the Little Guy) needed some upgrading. So I purchased the O scale Banana tree kit from Pegasus...

Thanks Z man. I've been taking photos on my mini logging layout in O scale. Still have to build the ET&WNC RR layout. But hope its coming soon. Doc Tom

My latest creation for the upcoming On30 ET&WNC layout is one of Tweetsie’s iconic wooden hopper cars. My modeling buddy Bill Nelson scratch built the wooden body. I went to work adding detail parts, grabs, stake pockets , wheels and couplers. Here is the model in primer gray...

Yes, it is not so messy. Particularly with the water effect at the very edge of the mini layout I elected to hold off on the casting resin. I have like you successfully use the casting resin in the past. Doc Tom

Putting the finishing touches on the mini logging layout. I painted the river and stream bottoms and their shorelines using acrylic paints. Using an interesting product Dave Frary liked called “ModPodge” I applied the river and stream surface using a fan brush. Following are pictures of the...

Here is a short video of the operating steam donkey loading logs at the landing on the mini layout. Hope you like it. Doc Tom

Hi. Heating, cooling,track lighting, sheetrock, work bench all installed.........ready for some modelling. Doc Tom

Thanks Swamp Daddy and Zathros. I do en joy getting in to the old photos as part of research. Here is the train house I dragged in to the back yard to build the new layout. Doc Tom

I have wanted to build this layout for a very long time. I have enjoyed On30 for about 10 years now. I have built two mini layouts that have graced the electronic pages of this fine site for quite some time. A sugar cane hauler set in 1920 Haiti and a primitive backwoods logging operation set in...

I now remember that post from 10 years ago. Beautiful. LOOKS like jewelry as I said 10 years ago. Those loaders were neat projects. Doc Tom

Well, I went ahead and made a video of the steam donkey in action at the log dump. Hope you like it. Doc Tom

Neat. Do you have any pictures of the HO tongs? Tom

Thanks. I just learned something new in the wonderful world of logging.'Tis appreciated sir. Doc

Thank you Swamp Daddy. It has been a lot of fum to pay homage to the early loggers working with steam. Well, it was sunny and mild this January day in 1910 Kentucky. Since it was a day of rest, Sunday, the boys thought they should play and enjoy some “Tom foolery” and some backwoods “Hi- Jinx.”...

This has been a most productive weekend where everything seems to be coming together. I finished weathering the chains and lift mechanism at the log dump. So it was time to go to the other side of the mini layout and get the log loader working at the log landing. To lift logs I had to...

I have completed a little more of the mechanism at the log dump on the mini layout. Using tiny products: "O scale blackened chain" from eBay,3d printed hooks from shapeways,and miniature jewelry rings from Hobby Lobby, the lifting chains are attached to the lifting bar. The Little People...

I wanted to show you some more of the work on animating the steam donkeys. The first one I worked on is the donkey engine at the log dump. Rather than powering the winches electrically I chose to use a manual Cable to lift the logs or lift the unloading mechanism at the log dump. Here you can...

Glad you liked it Gandolf. More to come. Doc Tom

Thanks Zathros. I think the sound modules add a lot to the overall "ambience." Doc Tom

One of the ideas i had was to make this little layout pop with many details and sounds. So I went online to the ITT (Innovative Train Technologies) website and browsed their extensive catalogue of sound modules. I have two steam powered donkey engines loading and unloading logs on the mini...