Garden Railway Forum

I thought it may be of interest to people how I go about making bit and bobs in my shed (Snape St. Works) including the LASER cutting process and design stages.
So here goes!

First I start with an idea. Usually a bonkers one which gradually gets tamed. I like to think "What does my railway NEED to operate properly" and then go about designing it in boring lessons with pencil and paper in oblique and side elevations. The overall dimensions are then checked in place on the railway and I can then get about CADing. I use 2D design for all my design work and what one has to do is mentally picture your final structure (engine shed) then take it apart in you mind and draw it. Here is the engine shed in the late design stages.

A little look at the finer work, windows and valensing.

Red for engrave, black for cut. The fine bits will be made of 1mm ply and the shell parts will be made of 6mm exterior grade ply.
We will follow this particular project to the final stages and end up with a building similar in style to this one...

Very Nice, can't wait to see the finished result!

looking forward to the progress

Wow, that looks as though that is going to be a stunning piece of kit.

It's very interesting to see how things are designed and set out (seeing as how I've never tried CAD) and I look forward to seeing more!!

Right so today I am going to walk to school with two large bits of exterior grade ply wood. If I make it past the chavs unscathed I will then LASER cut them out to make the shell of the engine shed. Other bits I am making today include station name boards and a brewery sign for my Grandad. As for Mr. High's order, I am still trying to find some 4mm ply wood!
I'll try and get some pics and video for you!

Mr. Bond of the DVLR wrote: I am still trying to find some 4mm ply wood!

Funnily enough that is the one thing the shop I get my wood from can be guarenteed to have in stock. Otherwise try some of the DIY places, some of them do 4mm

hmm, may do. Had a bit of a disaster today really. The LASER cutter really hates exterior grade plywood. My hands are completely black now with radioactive LASER soot. It didn't cut all the way through so I had to try and finish it off with a knife. I have broken one knife already and the wood has split up a little in some places. I shall finish this building then NO MORE laser cutting with exterior ply wood! I also made the engine shed door arch a little low so the cab roof of River Butley wont go in... I will have to raise it up on a brick plinth! Pics to follow. I still need to cut out other parts of the roof and the finer detailing from the thin ply wood.

Mr. Bond of the DVLR wrote:As for Mr. High's order, I am still trying to find some 4mm ply wood!

I'm not too fussy, but I'd rather it wasn't larger, a tad thinner would be fine. Thank Yooou!

Ho well here are a few pics of the first bits going together. It took ages to cut out.



erg, really chard edges have lead to this...!

And one of the more successful projects going on...

Looking very nice! Especially the crane.

Today I got the shed out on the shelf to see what it looked like. I managed to get the windows out with B F and I and a large screwdriver...

The engine shed will be "plastered" and will sit on a brick plinth not because I made a mistake and River Butley won't fit through the doors but because I think it will look good. The roof lifts off and will be slate tiled.

I also painted my door sign which will be attached to the front door on the up coming open day.
It is made of two layers of 6mm LASER ply stuck together, spray painted blue then painted the letters and boarders with my lovely pot of gold paint.
I think it looks convincing.

It all looks great, especially love that sign, it's excellent. I hope to do technology next year for a level so maybe a few more of my projects can include some laser cutting. i'll ahve to make me one of those signs, just don't know what it would say!

I knew you had stolen my rail enthusiasts disease sign last time you were here!! Just knew it!

Well you stole my keys...

Just sent the cheque off for the pump for Bond Brakes to fit to my locomotive...

Just seen this thread, excellent stuff - that charring... might actually be useful...

One technique for weatherproofing buildings that stood Dad in very good stead was to take a blowtorch to the surface of exterior ply - especially around the edges. Whilst resulting charcoal was still warm he would apply waterproof PVA which would get drawn into surface whilst it cooled. The combination would form a very waterproof skin which was overpaintable. Some of the buildings he did this to 25 years ago are still around - a little worse for wear now but still here. Adaptable for LASER technique?

Keep up the good works love the lettering, superb

Fantastic design work, will you be mass marketing your kits?

As previously explored in another topic I am not really allowed to as they are made at school. I do occasionally sell the bubble wrap they come in though...

Can I order a piece of bubble wrap that goes round an engine shed?