Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa Studio

06/09/2026

New video! https://youtu.be/0V1hejRtvac
I'm headed back to the old mining town of Calico this week to finish the street scene and build a few grade crossings. Starting from bare plywood and cork, I show my process for modeling dirt roads with sanded grout and go step by step through the build of some rustic wooden grade crossings. Then it's time for weeds, weathering, and a Model T truck load of details to complete the scene.

I'm headed back to the old mining town of Calico this week to finis...

06/08/2026

Looks like another cowboy spent his last dollar at Goldie's Place. Nothin' to do now but saddle up and head on back to the herd. Still, Goldie seems a might sad to see him go.

06/07/2026

A startled jackrabbit hightails it down the right of way as locomotive 12 blasts its whistle for the grade crossing on the On30 Goldfield & Calico Railroad.

06/05/2026

Goldfield & Calico No 12 emerges from Tunnel 2 pulling a mixed freight southbound towards Calico.

I'm working on the On30 G&CRR this week and have new video on the way!

06/03/2026

Reposting the plan for the On30 Goldfield & Calico layout as a refresher since I'm working on the layout this week. Though in a slightly different timeframe, the G&CRR is part of the TMCU (Thunder Mesa Cinematic Universe) and connects to the larger Thunder Mesa layout at Calico Junction, which is the switch at lower left, just left of the Calico Creek trestle.

06/02/2026

I'm back to work on the On30 Goldfield & Calico layout this week, building grade crossings and adding the road surface, ground cover and details to Calico's main street. New video on the way!

06/01/2026

International shipping news:

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05/31/2026

Here is the updated plan for the Thunder Mesa Mining Co that includes the new Latigo section. As you can see, this expansion is going to about double the size of the existing layout. Work on the new sections will start in June!

05/31/2026

As announced in my most recent video, here's a concept drawing for the Gold Tooth Mine. This will be the first kit coming from Thunder Mesa Kits as part of the Latigo Boomtown series. Kits will feature precision laser cut parts, exclusive 3-D printed resin details and characters, signs and stencils, fully illustrated instructions, and a full build video. These will be limited run and available in 1/48 scale only. Scheduled for release in late June or early July, 2026. Stay tuned for more updates!