Merry Christmas

Tis the night after Christmas and all through the house not even a creature is stirring...well except for the dogs.

The night before my birthday I got hit with a chest cold. I haven't been that sick in a good fifteen years or so. Knocked me on my butt. I still get complaints I sound like an old salty truck driver when people talk to me on the phone. Though the cough and raspy voice remain I feel 100% better than I sound. Needless to say I haven't done much physical work on the bus. I have been surfing the net and getting ideas and pictures of what I want to include so I have made progress just not any that you can see.

I've showered myself with several Birthday and Christmas presents but with the inclement weather "Santa" (UPS) hasn't delivered yet. My sister did send me two birthday cakes in 1:12 scale. I tried to get a picture of them but my camera skills or maybe my camera doesn't do them justice. If they are in focus you can't see the detail and if I get close enough to see the detail they aren't in focus anymore. So you'll just have to believe me that they are really cute.

When I last did any physical work on the bus I had sanded, puttied, sanded, painted, sanded, reputtied, sanded and repainted the outside of the bus. Because I don't want it to look like painted wood I was a bit disappointed at the end result. I want it smooth as a babies bottom and it looks more like a baby that had a major acne problem at one time. With each step it is getting smoother but I don't have a lot of progress to show everyone. This time I used Spackle to see if that makes a difference and while it is drying I'm writing this post. From the initial look of it I think this is going to be the ticket. I don't think the wood putty could get into the fine parts I'm trying to smooth out. It did great on the big parts but we'll see.

That's it for now. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and I hope and pray that everyone has a great 2009!!!!

Bus Progress

Well I've puttied, sanded, painted, and sanded again the five main pieces to the first floor of the bus. Of course each step takes time in between to thoroughly dry so it may not look like a lot of progress but it really is. After all this is a hobby and not something I want to rush just to finish. I am looking forward to seeing if the finished product looks anything remotely close to the picture I have in my head of how I WANT it to look...lol.
The inside floor section (right) and the driver's side wall section (left).

The underside of the floor section.

The passenger side, front, and rear of bus. And yes, I am a messy painter...that's why the cardboard covers the table:)

That's it for now...later all.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving All

I have three floating holidays I have to take before the end of the year (or lose them) so decided I'd take one the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, have Thanksgiving and the day after (regular holidays), Saturday and Sunday (regular days off), and take another floating holiday Monday which is tomorrow and that would give me a week off and not even have to dip into vacation hours. Needless to say I have been working on my bus project.

First of all, to make it a double-decker the overall height can only be 14"...equalling 14' in real life. Actually it was quite interesting. I was surfing the net to find out what a typical double-decker bus was and found out on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Transit the following:

"Community Transit put a double-decker bus into service on August 1, 2007. An Alexander Dennis Enviro500 manufactured by Alexander Dennis Limited, it will be used on commuter routes between Seattle and various points in Snohomish County during its first year in operation. Community Transit is one of three transit agencies that operate double-decker buses in the United States for non-sightseeing purposes, the others being Unitrans of Davis, California and Citizens Area Transit of Las Vegas, Nevada (which operates the "Deuce").
Community Transit has since then ordered 23 additional buses to reduce congestion within the Snohomish County-Seattle Interstate 5 corridor. The first of these 23 will be delivered sometime around 2010."

So I am right in step with progress around here.

Doing some more surfing I found out the overall height was 14' thereby making my miniature needing to be 14". So the kit if made according to the instructions would measure 11 3/8" so I have to do what the miniaturist community calls "bashing." Bashing just means taking a kit and modifying it to make it work for the purpose you want to use it for. I figure I need at least 7" for the first floor and 6 1/2" for the living quarters...I know for my relatives that sounds awful short but not everyone is 6' or over in this world...lol They should be sitting when it is moving and they'll just have to deal with the lower ceiling.

To accomplish this I lowered the first floor. Quite the undertaking I might add but it gained me 1 5/8" that I didn't have before. Measuring and then cutting 30" lengths four times (okay 6 before I was done) took quite a bit of time. Thanksgiving day I cut the floor apart into three pieces using my hands to stabilize the wood...not very effectively I might add. As much I as didn't want to venture out on Black Friday, I found I could order online from Lowe's and they'd have it ready for me to pick up at the customer service desk. I was in and out in 10 minutes. I got a set of 15 clamps ranging in size from 2"-18" for under $20.00. Well worth the dough and saving wear and tear on the ole muscles. This allowed me to make the other 2 cuts with relative ease. Go to glue it together only to find out I hadn't allowed room for the axles and had to recut the two vertical pieces about 1/8" off...least with the clamps it wasn't that difficult but time consuming...lol Below is the glued, puttied, sanded and ready to paint results of my efforts.
The three sections were the original floor. I had to cut that apart and then with the extra wood that surrounds the pieces I was able to get the two vertical pieces that actually drops the floor.

Here is a side view with the driver seat just sitting there to add something different to the photo...lol You can see the wheel support...the cut away section is where the door will be. You can also see the dashboard and wheel. They look purple in the photo but are actually a deep blue. I found a picture of a speedometer, gas and oil gauge online that I can cut out and paste to the dashboard and it was a deep blue so this will match it nicely.

The first floor I don't want the windows because there will be displays against that wall and for whatever reason I felt the bus sides should be reversed. I want the closed side out to the traffic so to speak and the open side towards the side of the road. That required cutting the two sides apart and gluing them back together so that the drivers window and the solid side are one and the door and open side are the other. (If you are confused look at the last post with the pictures of the bus put together and I think you'll know what I'm talking about...if not...wait until the bus is done...lol)
Instead of punching out the windows I put wood putty in the cuts and puttied where the driver's window meets the solid side section.

It may not seem like I got very far but you have to realize that every glue step takes 30 minutes to dry and if I don't just leave it I tend to fidget with it and mess it up so best just to glue and go play Pogo...lol It also takes the wood putty 2 hours to dry to where you can sand it...that was enough time for a nap! It is the holidays after all. Well that's the progress and here's hoping everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

Update

Several people have asked me..."How's construction going?" And my pat answer has been, "It's going." A couple of things have come up.

1. I was waiting for an order to come in with my outlets and eyelets for outlets because I needed those before I could properly measure the wainscoting.

2. Order arrived but now I can't find the piece of wainscoting I painted for the living room because things are so disorganized. So construction stopped organization started.

3. Weather turned cold and the second bedroom - the construction zone had stuff piled in front of the heater so needed to clear that so I could be comfy.

4. Bought two cheap utility type shelves to store the "stuff from in front of the heater" on and another work table.

5. I belong to the Greenleaf blog which is all about miniatures and they were encouraging me to start work on my Garfield. What? Start another house before the other one is finished? Most people on the blog have several going at once so that argument went right out the window.
6. One thing I didn't do with the first house was to make a template of everything. (I was too excited to get to work on it to do that boring step...well now I wish I had.) So I'm doing the Garfield right by making templates. Something that takes a lot of time but doesn't really need pictures to show what I'm doing...it is punching out the pieces and tracing around them on poster board...real exciting stuff...lol

7. Then I get an email from the business I bought my kit from. They have contests throughout the year and the next one is going to be, "Get on the Bus." The email included a discount of 50% off on the bus. (Shown below)

Now their contests have some great prizes such as $1000.00 gift certificate at their online store. And generally all entrants get some kind of thank you for entering type prize. Well 50% off and a chance to win how could I pass that up???? So my focus has now changed to thinking about what I can do with the bus.

Began surfing the net for ideas, asked my co-workers and friends and came up with making a miniature mobile classroom. For those who have been to my office you would know I love wolves. I have a bulletin board plastered with all kinds of pictures of wolves. I have a plaque of a wolf, my calendar is of wolves, I have coffee mugs with wolves...basically I collect wolves! So one of my staff (thanks Tim) suggested doing a mobile classroom devoted to the education of wolves. BINGO!!!!!

I'm thinking of making it a double-decker and having the living quarters on the top and the classroom on the first level. So how big is this project? The bus measures 30"W x 11 3/8"H x 9 1/4"D so it is no small structure especially making it a double-decker!!!!! But what fun! I have the capability of making water decals on my printer so figured I can get pictures off the net, put them on decals and the bus will have a custom paint job really easy.

Well that's what I've been up too along with work which has been extremely busy...with several 12 hour days. I swear I should have taken some law classes with investigations, documentation and dealing with lawyers, police, fire department etc. Hate it when real life interferes with my working on my miniatures...lol But the job pays for the fun of working on my mini's so guess I'd best keep it a while longer;) Until next time...

Guess its time for an update. It seems I've been working on the house a lot but not much to show for my efforts. Since it has been a while though I thought I'd give you an update anyway.

I have everything punched out of the packaging boards and all the pieces are in gallon sized zip lock baggies. The only thing left in the box is the sheets of shingles.

I am very lucky that I have my second bedroom devoted to working on this project so I don't have to pull it out, work on it, and put it away when I'm done. I can just leave as is and close the door. This is really helpful because you need to let the glue dry good before moving on to the next step and you can't always get back to it the same day. I can work on it in 15 minute increments if that is all the time I have.
One thing that has taken a while is measuring the roof for the shingles. It is much easier to do when it isn't on the house but I needed to make sure they all met right at the joints so it will be one fluid line...at least that's the plan...lol
Then because the underside of the roof will be the second floor's ceiling I gave it a coat of paint, sanded it, painted it, sanded it, puttied the imperfections, sanded and painted it again. I now have a nice smooth well-coated ceiling for the second floor.
I also got the rounded tops of the windows cut out of the siding. I tried to do it with a jeweler's jigsaw and broke the blade twice and hadn't gotten very far so took the exact-o knife and worked painstakingly around the tops of the windows. Glad it wasn't glued onto the house so I could work on it on a flat surface.

As you can see to the right of the peak above the porch - there is a gap between the first floor wall and the ceiling. This meant I had to put on the roof before I added wallpaper to either the kitchen or the big room.
Showing the windows cut out of the kitchen bay and the second floor. I then removed all the siding, marked on the back where it came off the house and it is in a baggie now too.
House without siding and the main part of the roof in place.
The back of the roof now is in place with the finials on the ends and middle...blame the photographer for not getting a good picture of the top of the roof where the finials are...okay so I can build the house but not great at photography...yet:) I would have gone back in and gotten a better photo but I have it all taped up after gluing the roof to the house better. So you'll just have to wait:)

Tapewire Completed

After the floor was done I started working on wiring. It was amazingly easy. The hardest part for me was to get the back off the tapewire. It was like peeling off sticky labels where they don't give you an edge to grab. The next hardest part was working with the 1/8" brads.
It is hard to see but about a 1/2" in front of the plyers is one of the brads that are required at every junction of the tapewire. I was surprised though that I didn't lose more or have more difficulty putting them in.
Everywhere you see the pink/purple tapewire I can have a light or outlet.
Every time I completed a new junction I used the test light that comes with the kit to make sure the junction I created worked. It was a bit tedious but better to test as you go and make sure the electricity travels to the new tape then get all done and not know where the problem is. Now I can start the wallpaper, beadboard, trim, molding, painting and a whole host of other things...lol

Doing the Happy Dance

I've been doing a lot of measuring, cutting, dry fitting, gluing and I'm actually pleased with the results. It has taken a lot of time but it was worth the slow methodical process. My mom always said that "mistakes [in any project] lets the devil out." Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind...the devil has a LOT of escape routes...lol I have tried to hide them the best I can - she's pretty square but the planks weren't always the flattest or most square so I had to do some creative carpentry to make it come out looking the way I wanted.
Floor over half way done.
Floor completely glued in!!! Doing the happy dance. This is how it looked before the paste wax was applied.
Ends all trimmed and paste wax applied and buffed. The wax filled in a few gaps and gave it a richer tone and nicer shine. Between this picture and the one above you can really see the difference the wax makes.
View from the back.

Steady as She Goes

Progress on the house is slow but steady. I'm working on the hardwood floor in the living room. It requires measuring and cutting and I'm able to use a scissors to do it but the piece I'm cutting off usually flies off into the bowels of the room never to be seen again. So I, in all my wisdom, figured well stupid, hang onto BOTH pieces when you cut then it won't go flying. Well although I was left with both pieces I also took a 1/2" x 1/8" hunk of flesh out of the inside of my finger. Now I KNOW why miniaturists say an important tool in one's toolbox are band-aids...lol
Here is another picture of the window seat this time with the beadboard painted and the baseboard setting up against it just to see what it will look like...lol
The other reason progress is slow is because I'm gluing in the hardwood flooring. I'm using what is called Skinny Sticks which are craft sticks similar to popsicle sticks but are only 1/4" wide. I want them to be in next to each other really tight so I have to glue a few, tape them in place, then wait 30 minutes while the glue dries.

I was concerned at first that I might not be using enough glue, that the glue wouldn't hold or the boards would warp but they are holding just fine. In fact, when I had to take one "plank" up because the tape hadn't held and it moved I had a somewhat difficult time getting it off the floor. So, although I could and did remove it, they aren't coming up without prying so I'm happy about that.

Surprise!!!!! More progress so more photos. I also cleaned up the construction zone a bit. With all the clapboarding there were pieces of wood all over the place.

More of the clapboard siding on the house.

A look at the kitchen furnishings. Its hard to tell but there is a sink, stove, refrigerator and cabinet. The flooring still isn't glued in but I had to see what it might look like and I can always change it.
Well the wallpaper doesn't show up real well but I'm trying to decide on the color of the bead board and trim. I'm thinking I'll go with this color and then accent with the color in the next photo.
I like the looks of the bead board here but with all the trim this color I think it will be way too much. I've been reading on colors and trim and they say the more muted colors are more historic/period colors.
I built a window seat in the front bay. Mostly because I didn't want to have to work the flooring into all those angles and it was a good way to use some of the scrap wood...lol It took forever to get the angles on the window seat to where I was happy with it let alone figuring out the floor. It still needs padding and trim but this is the basic.

So I know it has been a while since I've updated this so I figured it was about time. I have remembered to at least take pictures...hope that counts for something...lol

Basically I haven't done much more than the last picture shows...just a bit more of the clapboard siding. Measuring and fitting the clapboard has taken a long time but I'm happy with the results. The siding is just taped in place at this time.

I've been in the planning stage most of this last week to two weeks. Making schematics of the house so I can plan the wiring, outlets, lighting and how I'm going to hide what I don't want seen. I also decided NOT to go with the battery lights I got. They weren't the ones I thought they were and would take a lot of rewiring and I just said to heck with it and got an official tapewire kit. I can use them on the outside for Christmas lights or something so they won't be wasted.
The trim on the bay windows and front porch glued and "clamped" in place.

Front view of the same.

First bit of clapboard on the side of the house. If your eyes are good you can also see the door knobs laying on the living room floor...lol

Front with clapboard taped in place. I still need to cut out the upper window but I needed to get a jeweler's jig saw because it has a rounded top. I was also trying out colors for the porch. The color is more green than what it shows in this photo and I want it more grey so though the color will be similar it won't be this exact color.

Porch and side view. Again I was trying out colors and I've decided against these but might be similar just a different hue...although it depends on my mood when I get to it I guess...lol Well that's it for now...enjoy the eye candy and be back later.

Well this weekend has produced some progress.
I glued on the back walls and have them all taped waiting for the glue to dry. Love that painter's tape...it works great to "clamp" things while the glue dries.
It looks so nice when the tape comes off too...lol Still need to putty and resand but the walls are on.
Then I put on the front porch posts...quite the undertaking too. All glued and "clamped."

Sanded the next two steps and they are ready to paint.

Here they are painted. Once they completely dry I'll sand them and attached them to the house. What you see here are the front supports (the six straight pieces, the front bay/porch trim (the largest piece) and the kitchen bay trim (the C looking piece).

Here is the front porch posts all unclamped but still needs putty and resanding. But its coming along and I can't wait to get to the decorating part. Still need to think about where I want the lights to go and how I'm going to make fixtures and shades for them. I got a cheap battery operated set that I won't be able to use the fixtures and shades made for dollhouses so I'm going to have to create my own...but that's part of the fun too! More later folks...enjoy.

Starting to look like a real house!

Well I've been having a lot of fun but forgetting/neglecting to chart my progress so here it is. I think I finally have the camera/computer thing figured out...at least it was much easier this time so I'll try to keep you up to date with my progress. I don't get a lot of time to work on this during the week due to work but my weekends I can put some good time into her.

Kitchen bay window is puttied and ready for sanding.

View of the kitchen and of the mess I make with painting...lol I did put a few of the furniture pieces together. They still need to be puttied, sanded and painted but curiousity was getting the best of me and I had to see how they will fit in.

Laying down the planks (skinny sticks) to see what having a hardwood floor might look like. The planks won't be glued in for quite awhile but wanted to see what it could look like. Not sure if I will leave them natural color or stain them.

Full floor view I think I'm going to like the hardwood floor look. I have to decide where the lighting is going to be and what I'm going to do to the walls before I glue in the floor so I can hide any wiring or mess I might make painting the walls. So there you have it. More later.

Kitchen Floor

Kitchen Floor

I got the front bay window in and now I need to start thinking of how she's gonna look on the inside. I'm trying different things so this picture of the kitchen floor is just paper layed down. It isn't glued or anything. Sorta trying it on and see how I like it.

One nice thing about the black and white tile look...I know she's square!!!

Frustrated With Technology

From the Back (dry fit)

From the Front (dry fit)

From the Front with Second Floor in Place (glued and "clamped")

Tried for several hours to get the three pictures from my camera to my computer. But alas I have given up the fight so no pictures today. I am just too technicologically challenged. It was so easy yesterday I don't know what the problem is but I can't deal with it any more. I'll just have to tell you what I've accomplished. (Before posting I thought I'd give it one more try and well you can see I did indeed succeed!!!!!!!!)

I resanded everything that I'd painted. Wow what a differance that makes in the feel of the house. Then I dry fitted the pieces together. They fit (some more snuggly than others) so glued everything and clamped (taped-with painter's tape) them together until the glue sets. It is actually starting to look like a house!

Sanded and painted the front bay window and porch roof (front bay and porch roof are one piece). Let that dry overnight and I can sand and glue it the next time I get to work on it which hopefully will be tomorrow but we'll see.

So now that you know what the finished product should look like here is the start of the actual construction. Pieces were sanded and ready to paint.

Pieces needing to be painted.

Second floor and walls after first coat.

First floor

Left and right walls back.

Now they need a good 24 hours to dry before any assembly so more tomorrow.