Diorama and Pilot Model Designed and Constructed by Brett Gallant and Karl Allison
Names, Logos, Designs and Photographs Owned and Copyright Brett Gallant
the Award Winning
Loco and Service Shops
SPECIAL ORDER
Companion Structure to the Donkey Repair Yard
HO Scale Limited Edition Craftsman Kit Number 208
The diorama as pictured is 19.5" x 10"
Study the scene, notice how effectively the clutter is integrated into the diorama, not merely placed around or on top. These details are created using individual components like cans, wrenches, gears, bottles, barrels, drums, crates, etc... Weathered and painted separately then glued in place. This allows you to concentrate on more realistic appearing details with natural variety. Just look at the wonderful character and coloration. This has not been possible before. A true evolution in casting design and production. It is much faster and easier to paint the individual castings giving each unique character through dry brushing and chalk weathering.
The Oil Tank, Water Tank, and Sand House are inspired by the wonderful modeling of Chuck Doan. Weathering techniques exploit the nature of the resin oil and water tank castings. Wood texture on the water tank, oil and gunky texture on the oil tank. Realistic piping and delivery creates a very prototypical scene. The service of the loco's is a very important part of the logging camp scene.
The main loco shop is sized to fit either Standard or Narrow gauge loco's. The second shop car track will fit smaller loco's or it can be utilized as a small repair and construction stall for cars. You can see sitting outside the shop side is a small car frame being repaired. The scenery is blended and flows around the components enhancing them. Simple techniques are presented teaching you how to create scenery this effective. Notice the wonderful texture and varied materials used to blend the scene together.
I just love the long wall of the shop. At just over nine inches long, the realistic peeling paint presents a beautiful backdrop for all the discarded loco shop clutter. Tucked just inside the double sliding doors sits a beautiful power hacksaw and small lathe. Belt and overhead shaft detail is included here as expected. The board and batten roof enhances the structure so much. With just enough patches to make it interesting, Karl and I enjoyed constructing it and capping off the structure.
Why all those incredible Castings? (Yes they are all included...) I spend so much time and energy creating details like the one's pictured since scene creation and story telling are the focus of the modeler. Everything we do in recreating a miniature world imparts information to the viewer. The era, age, care or neglect of the environment, level of activity, etc... are all visually formed when we build a kit. Wipe the details away and the backbone for that story remains but it is the very details themselves that create interest and a viable narrative. The layering of individual details creates a scene so convincing and prototypical.
SierraWest kits strive to offer the modeler a unique approach to the craftsmen kit, unlike anything else found in the hobby. With the perfect blend of scratchbuilding construction techniques and laser cut components, I use the laser as a modeling aide, not a replacement for the character and complete realism board on board modeling achieves. A philosophy I have never wavered from!
Look closely at the crisp peeling paint. New techniques provide the opportunity to model a structure with board on board detail over laser cut framing. The base coloring using powdered chalk creates a dry and dusty appearance that enhances the crisp and prototypical peeling paint. It is so simple and extremely convincing.
Complete interior detail is provided including many new castings. The cart and stock support are just two of many new pieces mastered for the Loco Shop. Once the roof is installed the views through the large open doors are fantastic. The machine shop with overhead belt and shaft detailing includes a spectacularly detailed power hacksaw sitting inside the doorways, very visible from the outside.
Utilizing resin and metal to create all those wonderful individual castings allows you add your own personality to the scene in the way you arrange and glue the details together. They can be stacked, piled, and arranged in ways that a single large casting could never be produced. This is a completely new way to re-imagine the most important component in the craftsman kit. Wonderful new techniques and processes are taught that speed and simplify painting and weathering the many castings.
I founded SierraWest in 1995 and have been a one man operation since day one. I make everything by hand to my exacting standards and know you will be pleased with your kit! I will never sacrifice quality for speed and always provide exceptional customer service and support including fast response to emails and phone calls. I am always here if you have any questions so please feel free to contact me anytime before or after you order. Thank you sincerely for you support!
The attention to the smallest detail is evident. The story telling is paramount in the development of each new kit. Instructions are provided leading you through every phase of construction including tool selection, assembly, weathering and aging, diorama composition, and scenery creation and application. It is of the utmost of importance to me that the techniques I develop and utilize are reproducible for modelers of all experience levels. When you view the pictures of the Loco Shop remember this. SierraWest kits are unique in the level and amount of detail provided. Since all four sides are fully detailed, you have a ton of flexibility in placement and view-ability.
Here are just a few of the features of SierraWest kits:
- Award Winning Board on Board Modeling Techniques -
- Learn My Techniques for Multiple Types of Wood Siding,
Masonry, Windows and Doors, and Roofing Materials -
- Large Assortment of New Castings and Realistic Clutter -
- Unique, Incredibly Fine Laser Made Details -
- Comprehensive Fully Illustrated Instructions -
- Thoughtful Time-Tested Techniques that You
Can Replicate to Advance your Skills and Confidence -
- Industry First Laser Cut Jigs and Assembly Aids -
- Intricate Laser Cut Windows, Doors, and Wall Framing -
- Signs Meticulously Researched and Reproduced
for Historical Accuracy and Time Period -
- Metal Roofing, Laser Cut Shingles, and Tarpapers -