I finally finished building the Surrey Parker Log Loader kit from Wiseman Model Services and put it in service with the Salmon Run Lumber Co. As you can see from the photo below, it's a good looking piece of work, but what a fussy kit! It's been around for a few decades, and the rather summary instructions (in a hard to read font for these old eyes), aren't for the faint of heart.
I made a few mistakes along the way because I couldn't interpret the instructions properly (and I've been doing these sorts of builds for a long time!), but looking at the result in its natural setting, you really can't tell. I'm rather proud of the results, and yes, the claw will hold a scale log.
The logging flat cars in the photo are scratch-built, the figures, including the stag on the far right are from Woodland Scenics, and the stumps are cut from fallen branches I picked up in our backyard. I'm rather proud of the results, though I spent more time cursing while building this than any other kit in recent memory. And now, onto a few scratchbuilt structures I've been planning.
