Building a train – Part fifteen

The last step of amy project is to ready it for shipping. In this case we get to have the fun of delivering it ourselves. The train weighed in at 1,664 lbs. I had built a sturdy lift point into the roof of the cab on the steam engine. It was a simple matter of threading through a small chain and then using the forklift to haul it over to the trailer.

In only a couple of days out in the weather the rust evened out nicely, making the train look like it was a hundred years old. This is going to look fabulous high on the trestle when it is installed at the adventure golf.

I’ll be making the delivery in less than a week. These trips are always fun with lots of stares and waves as we travel down the road… this time more than a hundred miles distant. I’ll take a few more shots as we travel and on arrival. Stay tuned…
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.

Building a train – Part fourteen

With the locomotive now almost done it is time to work on the log car. It will sport a giant log with the name of the adventure golf on the side. The rounded log back and ends will be sculpted from fiberglass reinforced concrete. The face of the sign is to be routed from 30 lb Precision Board.

To create the woodgrain on the log I would use a sandblasted woodgrain from my TEXTURE MAGIC collection. The bitmaps are 11″ x 8.5″ at 300 DPI meaning they can be blown up considerably and still get good results. My sign face covered 4′ x 8′ and I would only be using a small portion of the bitmap. It’s marked in red below.

I first created a flat relief and the moved the bitmap over the relief, sized it appropriately and then entered a value of 0.2″ depth.

The lettering outline was created as a separate relief, nudged into position vertically and then MERGED HIGHEST with the background relief.

 The lettering was then added to the base relief.

 

The file was then tool pathed and sent to the MultiCam using a 3/8″ ball nose bit to rough and a 1/8″ ball nose bit to do a final pass. The sign face was laminated (with two other layers) around a welded steel frame.

Once the glue was dry we lifted the sign into place and welded the steel frame to the structural frame of the log car.

Then we began the painting process using Coastal Enterprises water based primer.

Next week this piece will quickly come together. Stay tuned…
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.

Building a train – Part thirteen

Tonight I installed the front number plate, the top of the steam dome with the whistle and a few of the other remaining bits. I also popped in the Heico Lighting LED modules and routed trim rings.  I quickly wired up the lights and then powered them up. It was instant magic!

I can hardly wait to get this thing to it’s permanent home and perched up on the trestle with the log car!
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.

Building a train – Part twelve

We are still keeping the MultiCam busy as we make the last of the details for the train engine. Some parts like the cast and riveted fittings around the smokestack and steam dome are best made by hand using a sculpting epoxy. Once painted up with the rust paint they will be indistinguishable from the steel parts.
I sourced a bunch of rusty chain to drape over the grab rails and then carefully weld in place. It added an authenticity to the whole train making it look used.
The number and name plates were next. These will be painted to look like aged brass.

The steam dome top and brass bell were also on today’s list. The rounded steam dome was a simple round relief while the bell was a revolved mesh. Both were sliced in EnRoute for routing from 30 lb Precision Board. Here Sarah sculpts the transition to the steel bracket that holds the bell.

Today I fasten the last bits in place to complete the train. Then we are on to the log car – already in progress in the shop.

Stay tuned for the final shots.
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.

Building a train – Part eleven

That big pile of pieces of cut and carved Precision Board is getting smaller each and every day as we glue and assemble and then fasten them to the train. Partially hidden pieces are painted as we go to make things easier. The big assemblies are now done and we are on to the smaller pieces and details.  It’s hard to tell what is real steel and what is made from Precision Board.

In the next few days we’ll finish off the last of the details. Then we’ll start in on the log car and other features for the golf. Stay tuned…
-dan

Published with permission from precisionboard.blogspot.com. Source.