Setting the New Standard with an Amazing Level of Detail

All photographs copyright Brett Gallant, download and print them for private use only please.
Pilot model pictured here constructed by Karl Allison, Kevin O'Neill, and Brett Gallant.

everything pictured is included except vehicles, track, and scenery

 

Now let's have a little fun and pull back the curtain...
As you study the photographs pay close attention to the realistic weathering visible everywhere. Special care has been taken to present techniques that are easily reproducible. The castings are painted with adapted methods from Chuck Doan, Dave Revelia, Kevin O'Neill, and myself. They represent a fresh approach to creating the kind of results pictured here. Tools and materials used are straightforward and conforms to my "no more than four steps" rule. I had more fun painting and weathering details for BlueSky than I have had in a decade or more.

BlueSky has so many amazing views that it's hard to choose a place to begin...

 

The tractor is in for a major engine replacement. Notice the newly created details like the paint cans with accurate vintage labels. That looks suspiciously like a pile of fresh beer bottles there in the front of the workbench. I Doubt any work will get done this afternoon. Glad the machine shop is out of commission... The masters for the beautiful old tractor are provided courtesy of Wiseman Model Services. Keith has graciously given me permission to cast these parts and include them in BlueSky. Thanks KW!

 

The old machine shop includes a broken down pedestal grinder and drill press with the remnants of the line shaft still suspended overhead. Maybe someday they will get the machinery back in business but I bet with the large machine shop annex on the nearby engine house that it won't happen anytime soon. The safety signs are a bit ironic with all of that beer just consumed!

 

All that remains of the drive shed are remnants of the old foundation and one lone belt wrapped around the tired and rusty electric motor that once drove the shaft and machinery. Notice the rebar wire sticking out of the concrete footing. It is small details like this that makes O Scale so much fun to work in.

 

A few minor repairs can be made by the part time blacksmith (and tractor repairman... oh yes and beer drinker) along with some wood splitting.

 

Another view of the stunning brick cookhouse. Working with great materials is a true joy. Parts that fit, are cast cleanly, and proven painting and weathering techniques that end with these results make modeling fun. The stack of produce crates is just waiting for the cookhouse stoves fire I bet. These are created with stripwood and a laser cut end piece. They took me about fifteen minutes to make and look awesome don't they? What a great scene and this is the back of the diorama. I always detail all four sides.

 

I found a picture online of this cool old green trash can and remember seeing them everywhere when I was young so I had to create one for BlueSky. Notice the raised "PUSH" lettering on top. Did you see the "US MAIL" raised lettering on the front of the mailbox? Scroll back to the very top of the page if you missed it and check it out there. You can run electrical wires between the weather head,fuse box, light pole, and small 3-insulator arm for even extra detail. I wimped out and left these off since this diorama travels to shows.

 

Possibly my favorite scene or maybe tied with the tractor being repaired? Most of us just love old gas stations and this little corner captures that feeling quite nicely. Lots of small details here including oil and coke bottles and old license plates. The scenery on BlueSky was inspired by our dear friend Brian Nolan whom I miss very much. Brian used to give me a hard time since I never took the time to create scenery as detailed as the rest of my pilot models. Brian was a master at many things but his scenery is second to none. Using his methods I adapted a great set of techniques that are very easy to accomplish. The results speak for themselves, I am very happy with them.

 

A view of the rear yard with all the realistic junk and clutter rusting away and baking in the hot sun. Texture is so important to quality modeling and this scene includes texture in the castings (rough and smooth), the brick cookhouse walls, tarpaper roofing, ground cover and scenery, and the wooden structures. These elements blend effortlessly and work well together to create a wonderful scene. This is the storytelling aspect to modeling. Abandoned junk, encroaching scenery, hot, dry, and dusty!

 

The barn has that definitive airy feel common with an old dusty barn. The laser cut wall frame allows light to peek through between the boards for a very prototypical feel. A couple of details to point out; the crowbars, (Should any loading dock be without a few to pry the crates open with?) the old floor safe, (probably filled with more beer!) and the wonderful hand truck. This is an old CHB casting that was destroyed years ago yet resurrected here.

 

Back to the Main BlueSky Page