12 Years of the Thunder Mesa Mining Co | Workbench Wednesday

Welcome to Workbench Wednesday at Thunder Mesa Studio! This week we're celebrating 12 years of the On30 Thunder Mesa Mining Company layout! Join me as I take a fond look back at the early days of the layout and how it's grown and changed over the years. Then it's a look ahead at what's in store for the future. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has followed and supported this model railroad project over the years!
Thanks for watching!
Dave
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Music:
"Cowboy Sting" by Kevin MacLeod - KZbin Audio Library

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Thank you for your narrative and re-inspiration of why we do this; for life without art is no life.

[@bradcraig6676]

Happy Anniversary! Your work is not only delightful and inspiring, but your channel is full of helpful ideas, tricks, tips, and techniques. School is rarely so much fun.

[@DJE2025]

👍👍Congratulations on 12 years of making a awesome and inspiring layout that can be enjoyed by all ages! Yes, including those of us in our 60's that are kids at heart. Always looking forward to your next video, Thank you. 🚂🚂

[@waynethomas1882]

Thank You for sharing your skills and your amazing work.

[@KlarkKent007]

Happy Anniversary! Thank you for letting us into your world

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you so much Scott

[@TheCebulon]

1:28 love the Star Trek phaser on the wall display.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Good eye!

[@loispadgett6306]

I was not here when you first started but glad I am now. Its been over a year sents I found you and don't want to miss a show because you inspire me and I have learned alot. It is never ending and thats the fun of it. Can't wait to see whats next. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@ponderingpops]

Dave, your fantastic work takes me back to childhood fantasies every time I see another video from you. Thunder Mesa takes me to a happy place and makes me smile. That my friend is the epitome of a successful creation! Thanks!

[@troygust43]

Thanks Dave for sharing all of your amazing work with us over the years. I love your videos and always look forward to what’s to come in the future.

[@Hellonwheels66]

This was a fantastic video on the history of your layout for those of us who weren’t with you from the very beginning. Great work Dave! Happy anniversary! I can’t wait to see how far along you are in another year!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@cascadiasouthernrailroad]

Congrats on 12 years 🎉. 14x16 isn't even small for the scale, especially with the level of detail and the right track layout

[@Gregtrainmaster]

this is great it shows people just getting in the hobby you are net gonna be done in acouple weekends

[@dyresnnicksen2177]

Happy Anniversary and thank you Dave to Play with my imagination through you great work, your videos and your stories. I have been with you since november 2011, and have loved every minute of it. I live in Denmark and hope one day to come and visit.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Wow, thank you

[@thunderstruck5484]

Thanks Dave for taking us along , and yes the scenery and setting is delightful and triggers that child nostalgia of wonder in me , it’s a pleasant emotion, thank you

[@aaron-uz6pc]

Here's to another 12!

[@RobBean-wf9ie]

Dave, it's great to see that the enthusiasm has not dried up/out. That the vision is still strong. May you enjoy another 12 years of creativity for Thunder Mesa...

[@russellpoland6637]

Thank You so much for the history and some plans on the layout Sir. It was great seeing the during and after pictures too. I really enjoy the work You are doing on the track and very much and appreciate the plans for the future of the railroad. I am looking forward to watch You work and expand it! Best Wishes and much Success for it and You! Thank You for sharing with Us all here on the tube! Later

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Many thanks!

[@jvanamb]

Dave about expansion & growth. The TMRR and GGRR like, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” ~ WALTER ELIAS DISNEY Jim in N.Y.

[@markdeschane4467]

Dave, Love it!! Thanks for the hard work and sharing it on KZbin!

[@puertoborrachorailway7317]

Excellent video Dave! “It exists to be delightful”. I love that statement! I’m stealing it! That’s exactly why I have mine as well!

[@user-ew8vv1si2p]

Thanks for another great video, and your art. I hope you have many more years of delighting us with your work.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you very much!

[@moodster8552]

Greetings from Palm Springs California! Thank you for sharing the history of the layout with us. I really hope to visit and see this in person soon.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@rrswitch48]

I remember it well from Railroad-Line forum. What a journey!

[@djrobi61]

Dave! What great history and thoughts on the Thunder Mesa, enjoyed it immensely. Happy Anniversary! The moving forward ideas and planning concepts are key. I think it helps modelers to know how to be creative and not get into a rut. Variety is the spice of life. Thank You.

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

Dave I absolutely love your work and enjoy what you do. Your channel is my favorite maker channel on KZbin.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Wow, thanks!

[@heybabe8438]

Why ,why not congratulations on this wonderful ride it's wonderful to see an artist hobbyist if it makes you happy thats #1. Ad to it making your visitors in person or on the net happy it's a bonus.

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Dave, remote old railroads are still out there. Last Saturday driving down from Oregon on the 395 hwy. Just over the state line into California, saw an unusual train, took pictures and a video. Looked it up and it's the Goose Lake Railroad. Originally built in 1908, as a narrow gauge by the Oregon Nevada & California RR . Later taken over by the SP in 1929 and upgraded to standard gauge. SP sold the line to the newly formed Goose Lake in 1986

[@scottrobertson56]

I love your main reason for building is “to just be delightful”. I wish more people applied this in their modeling thought process, I think more would stay with it and not get frustrated by what others think their railroad should be. I look forward to your continuing adventures.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you Scott!

[@outtascale]

Love your work and dedication to the craft!

[@thebear5454]

Great nostalgic look back Dave. This video jogged my memory as well since I remember starting to follow you about a year before moving to the studio. I guess you had me hooked for a while now. 😁😁

[@justinborucki327]

Love your work! You have inspired me to step up my game on my garden layout. I picked up a LGB porter and tricked it out with details. And currently building some false front buildings in 1:20.3. Thanks for all you do!

[@WasatchWind]

I got into the channel a few years ago, but I looked into the old posts about it. So awesome to see how far it's come!

[@brianscott9749]

Happy Anniversary to Thunder Mesa and Dave!! Thank you so much for sharing your skills with us, I’ve been watching since 2012 or 2013 (not exactly sure which year), and I’ve enjoyed every minute!! Here’s to many more years at Thunder Mesa 🚂 , Gruesome 💀 Gulch and Bandit Canyon 🚂 !

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Awesome video. I love the word you've created.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Great episode, love this railroad. Greetings from Orlando. 🏰

[@daveb.trains7019]

A beautiful layout! Nice work!

[@CJ-ts1ys]

I was about to suggest a Phantom Manor addition to add to your beautiful layout, but then you mentioned plans for its creation in the video! Great work and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future

[@mikeregan8894]

Hey Dave great job. I really enjoy your work, been following you for several years. I m building a old west layout as well. My grandfather and I spent a lot of time in the calif deserts. Great job on calico keep up the great videos mike regan

[@folkertvanwijk5168]

Just heard you have been a graphic designer and illustrator to. Perhaps thats why your videos resonate so good with me. Although my layout is quite different I like seeing your videos an hearing your explanations. And love hearing your train off thoughts on the subject of building a layout..

[@paulbottrill8391]

Hi Dave. Love this channel as you make it fun and interesting and informative as you go along. Not been following as long as some but it must be 6yrs at least. Keep up the great videos. Regards Paul.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Welcome aboard!

[@rickdee67]

Happy anniversary Thunder Mesa! Congratulations Dave on creating the most spectacular railroad in miniature on earth! Your videos and pike have inspired me to take over a section of our den and like you i started with 3’x6’! 🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞🚞 Edit : btw video is not long enough!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Awesome, thank you!

[@scottcarter8203]

Congratulations to you Dave on the Thunder Mesa Mining Company's 12 years of modeling excellence, and creative inspiration. Your videos continue to educate and entertain with a high level of skill and a ton of fun having model making. On behalf of an eager viewing audience. Thank you for all that you do to further, and enhance this fantastic hobby.

[@davevan8864]

GREAT episode!!!! I kinda feel I have been here from the start. Found you with a google of 'On30' when I first bought a set. You were doing the blog with the 3x6 layout. Then Burnsland......then KZbin. You do keep me inspired and make me want to start a On30 layout....but with a 20 x 36 O3r in progress.....a 1923 T build and other stuff....TIME!!! But thanks for taking us along!!!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you so much, Dave

[@dstenger]

I found you on KZbin and look forward to every video! Keep up the great work!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you! Will do!

[@benderrodriguez2996]

Happy Anniversary from Oxnard California! Found your channel I think around 2020. I looked up haunted model railroad or something like that and your Haunted Undertakers Shop Revisited video came up. Been hooked ever since. 🙂

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Very cool!

[@3ftsteamrwy12]

Good work for all the years. I DO have an idea for expansion, but it wont take massive effort...why not configure the Grusome Gulch and the On18 layouts with interchanges to the Thunder Mesa layout, so theyre still portable, but now interchages with the main layout.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

That's something to think about!

[@Bigdog5899]

I love what you've built here. I'm new and I'm trying to do sage brush but I don't know how to get a realistic color.

[@politicsandtrains]

What do you find the best for covering stryofoam?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I did a video on that! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWqoinmkgcmmi8k

[@larryrogers5996]

I have a question. What scale do you suggest for buildings and people for on30

[@brlngtn]

Wow, it's amazing. The details are awesome. First time seeing your videos and am in awe by it.