The March Challenge

For March's challenge I was to build four scale structures from materials I have on hand. I mainly wanted to make use the thin balsa boards I had recently aquired. I also want to build two structures primarily from card stock. I am making this post with the two structures that I have completed and although I still have ten days to complete the other two I wanted to make sure this post was posted in March.(This will be my last post for March).

Below. Two of the four structures from the March challenge.

This is outhouse and measures 4 by 5 scale feet in HO scale. The shed is constructed primarily from 1.5mmm thick balsa sheet. The roof was constructed from card stock and top sheet of corrugated cardboard.The foundation was created from several pieces of match sticks that have been glued to the bottom of the stucture.The out building was painted with a series of darker colors and then weathered with swathes of paints and washes.

I have started to experiment with using a wood burning iron to 'score' individual boards. I haven't came to any conclustions yet. The second structure a storage or tool shed is created from that same sheet of balsa I used above and measures a square nine scale feet. The windows are from my scratch box. The foundation was made by glueing bits of leftover paper rock textured material on pieces of matboard and the roof of a thick black construction paper cut into strips to represent tarpaper. I didn't mention it but a set of steps were created for each of these two structures.

The Most Expensive Woods in the World

Adam Savage's One Day Builds: How To Build a Box!

Although I aways find Adam Savage's videos interesting and informative this is one of Adam's better takes. His build of a box for a set of Appolo space suit mittens is near genius. The build seems to be counterintuitive, but then again, this is Adam Savege.

Adam slowly takes you step-by-step through the process of creating his display and storage box.

Process of Making a Traditional English Longbow

"The longbow was typically made from yew wood, which provided the right balance of strength and flexibility."

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>History and Significance of the English Longbow

Whittling Tips - The 8 Basic Cuts to Master

Small Projects - 1/ 100 scale Life Boat

The instructions are not the best and parts are very fragile. If I am successful, that is I can remove the lazer-cut parts without breaking anything, it should make for a delicate, neat and eligent model.

It is another of those small projects. Small projects are those that usually lack the complexity of the more multifaceted projects that require hours of work to complete.

The 1/100 Scale Rescue Boat Has Arrived

The instructions aren't has streight forward as I would liked and it took me a few minutes studying the instructions, studying the parts sprues, and even a glance or two at the image of the completed model.

This is a tiny model and care must be taken when removing parts from the sprue and during assemble. However, it will make for a very smart looking miniature model.

Laser cut 1/100 Scale Lifeboat Kit

It looks like it might be a fun kit to build. I recently found a couple additional laser cut wooden kits that deserve another look.

This will be my second item listed under the new label of boat.

A New Project Series

I have been very slow getting any type of project started, this month, and then to continue working with it. However, I recently started working on a new series named swamp shacks.

Shamp Shack 1 Under Construction/ Left and Right Sections

At one time this shack might have been constructed of one type of material, but over time parts of the shack were replaced with whatever was avialable adding to its shoddy appearence.

I used wood strips to create a interior framework so that I could model gaps between the mostly plywood sheets. This series of strucures is being built for an addtion to my narrow gauge Bath River railway.

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Sam Maloof: Woodworking Genius - Art in Progress

Here is another post for my "Chair Maker" series. Sam Maloof is a wood working professional or should I say artist. His work can be found in several prominent museums and galleries. His work can also be found in at least two past expresidents homes.

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Craft in America: Sam Maloof

The Chair Maker - Short Documentary About Lawrence Neal

This another maker doing what he does best, building chairs by hand.

The Chair Maker

A great video of a older gentlemen creating a rocker by hand.

Miniature Bi-Planes and Other Tiny Things

Pinterest has always been a place for inspiration. Although I probaly will not build one of these bi-planes they are very lovely to view.

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58 Very Tiny Things

HO, 1/87 Scale Details - Wooden Crates

Freight stations and docks need all sorts of goods. Here is small collection of wooden crates, part of my details collection.

Details are molded from all sorts of materials. These four are the metal verity. The top two have been painted and weathered and are ready to be added to some dock on my model train layout.

These two have been salvaged from a freight station kit and were to be adhered to the floor of the model. The castings are finely detailed and I decided to switch things up a bit.

These crates are cast from plastic and came from a kit that included are sorts of dock castings, including sacks, wooded cases in different sizes, barrels and other miscellaneous details.

As you might notice this kit includes materials to build your own wooden crates.

Of course you could build your own crates from scribed plastic and or cardstock.You could build any sized crates you require including those for loads on your flat cars.

Adam Savage Makes a Lock From Scratch!

Adams finds a box and starts to modify his find with more fitting hardware. In the process we get to see a little of his cave.

Adam is still working on his box. In the video he sheaths the interior with copper sheathing and by using reverse engineering Adam creates a homemade lock. Truly astounding!

A Swamp Hut for Inspiration

You really have to see this structure. It is so full of character and texture. The structure is a inspirational piece. One that I might have to mimic someday.

A HO Scale Wooden Shed in Disrepair

Perhaps the shed was just forgotten through the annals of time. However it still stands disused, and decrepit. I had a great time building this shed. It is primarily constructed from balsa and measures a scale square six feet and eight feet tall.

Specifications

Dimensions: 6’, 6’, 6’, 6’ by 8’tall. The roof slopes from 8 down to 7 foot.
Foundation: Foam-core
Internal Construction: Basswood framework
External Construction: Balsa random width boards
Roofing: Balsa slats, bits of toilet paper and corrugated paper

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Satisfaction Scale: 5 out of 5

The Foundation and Framing Have Been Completed

Continuing with that ramshackle idea I threw the framing up, trying to give its framing the same touch I hope to achieve in its exteror. A complete neleglet to its upkeep and in total degradation.

I just left the quirky things happened. I am trying to protray a shed that may be in disrepair now, but when constructed it was just "thrown" together. It was never to have lasted as long as it has. Actually, it may still be standing, but it has outlived its usefulness.

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Building a Highly Distressed Shack

After viewing this ram-shackled shack on Pinterest, I knew I would have to create one for myself. I haven’t done enough deep digging to find the original picture online, but I do believe where it can be found, Although the image on Pinterest is not credited, it has a certain authors signature methods used in its creation. I will have to make an effort to find this project on his website.

I have started by scoring random width boards from 3” to 12” HO scale from some small Balsa slabs. These balsa bits measure a scale 5.5 by 14.25 feet. I like using balsa because it it very easy to distress.

I made sure to cut some irregular boards. So far I have used a razor saw to add grain to the boards. This left a lot fuzz, which I believe I will try to burn off by passing them through a candle. After that process is completed I will go back and add some splits to the boards and board ends and add some knot holes to a few boards.

1/4 Scale Wooden Door

1/4 Scale Wooden Door

I built this door sometime ago. I had intended to use on a 1/4 scale wooden shack that I had planned to build.

I believe I used balsa strips, but it could have been basswood. I prefer balsa over basswood for it easy to distress, however it has been a while since creating this piece?