Stanford's Hardware

[rodsup9000]

 A local modeler ask if I could make him a trackside structure with a foot print of 3" X 4 1/2". I said "sure" and then he asked about the price.
I said "well, that's a deep hole and give me a few days to think about it".     He said "you could make it a kit and sell a few to pay for your time"
 So anyway this is what I came up with. It will have a trackside dock and a small truck dock, both with awnings. 
I'll use 3D printed parts for doors, windows, trim and other details like dock clutter, a dog and a truck or two, and laser cut shake shingles.













 I flattened it out and drew up the walls to be cut on the laser. Laser uses color lines to differentiate different powers and speed.
Being I'm using Sketchup to do the drawing, I can't add color to the lines, I have to make separate drawings for etching (engraving) and cutting.
Here is the etch plate. I use indexing lines to keep everything in line on the laser, The laser always homes in the exact some place.








 Cut plate







  After some trials cuts I got all the wood parts cut out of .032" plywood This is where I'm at now





 

[Wolf N Works]

Looking good Rod

[peteski]

Yes, it looks  good (it's nice to own a laser cutter  ). One thing that I wish could be done differently is the wall-alignment slots in the roof.  That is not the greatest look.  But it is not just you - I see commercially made kits with that same "feature". 

I guess the roof can be covered with some sort of roofing material to hide those slots, but then I wonder why engrave lines in the roof to simulate shingles?

[rodsup9000]

Yes, it looks  good (it's nice to own a laser cutter  ). One thing that I wish could be done differently is the wall-alignment slots in the roof.  That is not the greatest look.  But it is not just you - I see commercially made kits with that same "feature". 

I guess the roof can be covered with some sort of roofing material to hide those slots, but then I wonder why engrave lines in the roof to simulate shingles?

 Those are guide lines for applying the shingles

[dnhouston]

Looks good Rod.  I'd be interested in buying one.

[rodsup9000]

   I use a very thin label paper that @JeffB recommended for all my roof coverings (rolled, 3 tab and shakes)
Here is what the shake cut plate looks like

[rodsup9000]

Looks good Rod.  I'd be interested in buying one.

Thanks David
 I'll wait till I have all the parts figured out and priced out.

[peteski]

Those are guide lines for applying the shingles

Ah, that makes sense.  I didn't realize that shingles were available or included.

[rodsup9000]

   Wall are glued together

[rodsup9000]

 
 I had this blue craft paint out for another project, so I just used it.

[rodsup9000]

  Windows have 4 poses, shut, 1/3 open, 2/3 open and all open. There will be 16 sets for a total of 64 windows.

  Windows and trim


 



 I'm out of white spray paint and my airbrush needs replaced, so I brush on a coat of refer white.








 Windows, doors and trim are done

[rodsup9000]

 
 I started with 2 colors of Hunterline stains, but I'm cheap and now I mix my own stains for wood. I get the powdered stuff from Amazon and mix it with 91% alcohol. Mix colors together to get different colors. I also make light and dark mixtures of most colors. I have about 25 different colors right now. The stains use very little powder, so it goes a log ways. I buy small plastic jars from the dollar store for storage.

https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Dye-Powdered-Solvent-Color/dp/B07LCY5VBV/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2O03QZ06KCW3E&keywords=wood+dye+powder&qid=1689291333&sprefix=wood+dye%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-3
 








   I also have a 4 shades of India ink-alcohol mixes.








 I decided to stain all the dock pieces

[rodsup9000]

  Some how I got the parts plate (with the dock decking) mirrored. I have 6 cut already. I was going to try and save them by etching the back side,
  but I don't think it's worth it. The plate only 2 1/2" X 4 1/2". My cost on the plywood I use is about a nickle a square inch. So it's about $4 of waste.   
Etching the back side would make them weak and prone to breakage.

[MVW]

Really digging this thread! (Sometimes upvotes just aren't enough.)

Jim

[Cajonpassfan]

Rodney, this is great, but don't you have this giant railroad to finish? He must be a really good friend
Fun stuff,
Otto