Thursday 21 August 2014

Shed Progress...And General Banter...

All,

There was a time when I found building structures extremely frustrating.  I always enjoyed the process, but found it hard to be patient and take my time.  Major steps like preparing and painting items before assembly was a major flaw in my approach and I tended to complete an item according to the immediate time I had available.  Obviously the frustration would set in when the finished item displayed major flaws that could have been avoided if I had shown more patience.

I am unsure whether due to age, constant disappointment or maybe just a pure self determination to improve, I now approach my modelling in a very different way.  Like most  I have a very long way to go before I will feel competent as a modeller and happy with the end result...but I now thoroughly enjoy the JOURNEY rather than worry so much about completion of a project.  Now, ironically, I do experience a certain sense of sadness when an item is complete and it is time to move on.  A complete mindset reversal from my earlier years.

The shed I am presently building is in reality a mystery.  What started out as a way to develop and prove some modelling methods, just seems to be evolving.  I normally commence any project with a firm set of plans and a visualisation of the finished article.  Not so in this case, and while this approach normally ( for me ) ends up in disaster, I am happy with progress and now with the skeleton taking shape...I can see the final outcome.  It is certainly a hybrid with the material list now consisting of cast acrylic, basswood, Evergreen components, Wills products and DAS modelling clay.

The included photos show that the "steel" structure is now complete, besser block brick-up also totally finished and as of today the concreters have been and gone and the floor is now drying.  From a roofing point of view, the trusses and all roof timbers are completed and the first completed samples of the asbestos roofing and cladding have been treated and the result can be seen in the photos as well.  A final decision regarding access has also been arrived at and this now consists of a ramp for bagged or palletised product being transferred via forklift and on the opposite end of the shed an internal, truck loading dock has been installed with rail loading being available from a semi open side of the shed.  The shed will lend itself to many industries from bagged cement to grain, flour or indeed as an adjunct to many other manufacturing type industries.   

With this project now reaching the half way point...I have also been perusing the myriad of other structures that adorn my workshop and many other locations while looking for a slot to store the shed, and while regrettable...I have reached a decision to sell many of the items.  This will be a difficult process but there is only so much that can be utilised on the layout and with the joy I get from building...I can always build another in some varied way...Any excuse to build!







     

5 comments:

  1. I admire the way you have built this up in the prototypical way. I would have made each elevation up and then joined them together, but I think the result here speaks for itself. I know what you mean about the way things sometimes grow "organically". When you know the principles of the real thing as you do and you can evolve a variation on a theme...often these are the most enjoyable builds.

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  2. Iain,

    The truth is I have studied your construction methods and would not trust myself to build in "elevation" sections with the hope they would all come together correctly...

    The laser is also a governing factor as I can layout the footprint and cheat by cutting the positions of the steel frames... I guess it is the variation in methods that keep the hobby so interesting. I just hope that I can complete this structure and maintain the integrity of the whole scene with final detail and atmosphere.

    As you know I have "borrowed" the inspiration for this particular structure from your recent posts...so I have very large shoes to fill...

    Regards,
    Rod Kelly

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    Replies
    1. Rod, thank you for that very kind reply. In truth, I am just a "muddler" and my projects all have a good deal of luck and dogged persistence about them...but I am very glad if my efforts have inspired you to pick up the baton and run further with it. Yes, my method of building elevations does sometimes give rise to basic anglo-saxon language!

      I am considering laser cutting myself, it would make my life a good deal easier.

      thanks again,
      Iain

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  3. Rod

    I just caught up with this post, it is Saturday morning and we are about to leave for Goulburn. So after wandering about on the way we will see you about 2pm I think.

    Looking forward to seeing the model in the 'flesh' so to speak.

    Regards,
    Ray P

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  4. This is looking fantastic Rod, and I have to say it would certainly stand in good company with Iain's work. I too have tried modelling in elevations like Iain - in fact my current project is following that vein - but only because fitting the windows after the box is complete would be too tricky.

    Great shed here - really looking forward to seeing the finished thing. I especially love the truss work - must get out the coffee stirrers again some time :)

    Lee

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