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  1. kgstakes

    Dept 56 Christmas tree display

    Pictures of the Christmas tree project
  2. kgstakes

    Dept 56 Christmas tree display

    I drew it up on sketchup. Here are the plans. materials: 1 - 4x4x8' 1 - 2x4x8' 1 - 3/4" sheet of plywood (cabinet grade - option). 4 - 3x3 angle brackets 12 - 4x4 angle brackets Center of circles are cut the same size as the 4x4 ( I made a jig and use a router) I use a router and a circle...
  3. kgstakes

    Dept 56 Christmas tree display

    My wife has a lot and I mean a lot of dept 56 buildings and I seen this on a video and so I built one for her so she could display some of her buildings and we also have a O scale Christmas train so I put track on the bottom level. Just thought I would share
  4. kgstakes

    Running Bear's September 2026 Coffee Shop

    Good morning everyone!! It's 79f this morning suppose to be a high of 98f and I wanted to update everyone on my diorama I've been building. Here are some pictures thus far. I'm going to "plant" some trees as a background and also some more weeds and such but it's coming along.
  5. kgstakes

    Sawdust? What can I use for HO sawdust?

    HO scale sawdust is like everyone said it's like powder. But what I've done for my little sawmill is I took sawdust from my Proxxon tablesaw. That saw dust is like powder and worked great. One thing you should do if you do use this material is put glue on the ground or on the payload and...
  6. kgstakes

    Running Bear's August 2026 Coffee Shop

    Banta Modelworks Little creek mining company
  7. kgstakes

    Running Bear's August 2026 Coffee Shop

    Diorama getting there not real happy with the color of the dirt. After wetting and gluing it down it came out a little darker than what I was going for but maybe more details and some airbrushing will lighten it up.
  8. kgstakes

    Atlantic, Gulf & Western (AG&W)

    Nicely done I like it. Looking forward to more.
  9. kgstakes

    Running Bear's August 2026 Coffee Shop

    Update on my mine diorama. Have base made and all but the details on the structures need to be done and do more to the base with details but here is where I'm at today.
  10. kgstakes

    HO scale track cleaning

    I've use many different "cleaners" and I found that alcohol worked pretty good but what I've found that works really well for my switching layout is a good ole' fashion pink eraser. Believe it or not it is "abrasive" enough to get all the "gunk" off the tracks and once I had the track cleaned...
  11. kgstakes

    Running Bear's July 2026 Coffee Shop

    With all the other projects I have or had going I never gave you all a progress report on my little creek mining company build. Honestly, I hit a wall on it and have not got back to it. I've decided to just make a diorama out of it instead of building a cabinet with tunnels and such at this...
  12. kgstakes

    I've got a very BAD habit

    I never had that problem of tools or materials on the layout I kept that pretty clean. The workbench and any other flat spot in my hobby shop is fair game. I’m trying not to do that this time since I have the hobby shop remodel done. I didn’t want wall cabinets in there because it closed it...
  13. kgstakes

    Running Bear's July 2026 Coffee Shop

    I'm not sure if it was on this forum or another that I'm on, but we shared our "workshops" or "workbenches". I finished remodeling the hobby workshop "KG Miniature Workshop" and I have two videos to share. Still have some shelving to put up for reference books and dioramas but the hobby shop...
  14. kgstakes

    Layout heights

    My current switching layout is at a height of 38" and I have two base cabinets under the layout for support. A normal desk chair is a bit low for my layout as it is all switching but a drafting chair works well with it. Other layouts I've built were chest high around the room (I'm 5' 4") so...
  15. kgstakes

    Running Bear's May 2026 Coffee Shop

    Finally after finishing the basement and building a couple of cabinets for my shadow box layout I have the KG&B railway back up and running in its new home. One of the basement rooms is for hobbies and the little railroad is in its new place. With ac and heat to boot!! Couple of pictures of...
  16. kgstakes

    Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

    Progress report Evening work roof. Tar paper roofing. First layer of paint next weathering the roof. For now that it for tonight.
  17. kgstakes

    Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

    Progress report on my little creek mining company build. Walls done windows in and here are a few pictures on the build so far.
  18. kgstakes

    Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

    Been drawing up an idea for a hobby workbench and storage area. Multiple places to store tools and small parts in drawers. This workbench will replace my current craftsman bench that I've been using for over 40 years. Not that it needs replaced, but I would like to have a workbench that I can...
  19. kgstakes

    Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

    Here's a video I put together showing how I'm going to build the cabinet for the diorama of the Little Creek Mining Co. Project.
  20. kgstakes

    Running Bear's February 2026 Coffee Shop

    I'm starting a new build. I model in HO but for this build I'm modeling in O scale. Starting out with the Little Creek Mining Co. by Banta Modelworks. I'll build it per the kit but the setting it's going in will be all custom. Meaning it's going to be a stand alone diorama that will be...




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