A brief description/details of the garage construction.
Approximately 2.5 years to build the garage. A few hours in the evenings and
several weekends.
The garage door was the biggest challenge. I built three prototypes, lots of
trial and errors, and scale drawings. I started
with cardboard and 1/8" masonite to test the weight/size of the door panels. The
lighter the weight, the better. The tracks
are made from 1/8" K&S Brass u-channels (sometimes called "C" channels). To
create the 90-degree bend, I placed a 3/32" metal rod in the length of the brass
channel. Then bent it around a 2"-steel pipe. Perform the bend on the solid side
of the channel. The first two attempts
did not work. Too many wrinkles. Finally, I figured out to perform the bend
process slowly. Also to wear work gloves for a
better grip. Still a few wrinkles appeared. Using needle nose pliers, I smoothed
out the wrinkles in the 90-degree bend. Not
perfect, but very close and the tracks are smooth for operation of the sliding
door.
Each door panel has two straight pins (length of 1") on each side, set at each
corner. These represent the rollers. The pins
slide perfectly in the brass tracks. The pins are epoxy glued into 1/8" square
tube. The door panels are designed as a Real door. Using 1/8" square tubing
for the frame of each panel. I used Evergreen .010-mil plastic sheet for the
final face panels. Then covered with 1/32"
basswood strips. The door hinges are made from 1/16" tubing and pieces of sheet
plastic. Pieces of paper clips fabricated for the hinge connectors.
The opener track assembly also designed like the real thing. I took pictures of
the real garage door assembly and then
created scale drawings. The hinge that connects the door to the opener-track is
constructed exactly as the real deal. Using
thin metal strips cut from plumbers strapping, pieces of brass u-channel and
paper clip wire. Holes drilled in the "J"
bracket and brass connector as needed. I initially tried to "reinvent the wheel"
for a different design, but the real design
is the only way to go.
The brass tracks are installed the same as a real door but with some scale
modifications. The vertical portion of the track
has a 1/8" plastic u-channel attached to the backside (epoxy glued). Then epoxy
glued to the wall of the garage. The
horizontal portion is attached to the garage wall with a strip of metal from the
track to the wall. Small-scale nut/bolts
from Hob-Bits secure the bracket to the garage wall. The vertical portion of the
track extends down thru the floor at 3/8” for
structural strength (epoxy glued and then filed with a quick set plaster).
Attached to the "J" hinge is another LONG 1/8" brass channel that extends thru
the back of the garage back wall (encased in
a 1/4" square tube track). To open, I pull the channel outward. To close, just
push inward toward the front of the garage. If
you plan to build a rollup door, just study the door and track assembly of you
real house garage door.
The lights are miniature Christmas tree lights made by Darice. Available at
craft stores or thru www.sunshinecrafts.com. All
types of craft supplies. The lights inside the garage rafters are the Deco
Lights (20 lights) Super Bright Teeny Bulbs. About
3/32" in diameter. I only used ten and the remaining lights are hidden thru the
backside of the garage. I made the light
cans from 1/8" square tube (Evergreen). The lights fit perfectly. The outside
lights are also made by Darice: Craft and
Floral Light set - Clear or Mixed color bulbs - steady burn. Also about 3/32" in
diameter.
The drywall is REAL. I used a flat saw to cut the top layer of 5/8" drywall
(pieces cut at 12" x 8". Then used the orbital
sander to remove any remaining plaster. Cut the drywall sheet to scale and laid
out the scale 4x12 panels. Real joint
compound. Drywall tape = use your imagination. Stucco is real. Stucco patch as
for exterior house repairs.
The circular saw is fabricated from Evergreen sheet plastic and misc. pieces of
plastic. I used my Sears circular saw as a
model. A few hours to build it (scale drawings and trial/errors).
The wall switch plates and receptacles: I took digital pictures of the various
electrical items in my house. Then photo
reduced to 1/25 scale using Microsoft Publisher. Printed in High Resolution
Color. Glued each image to .010 mil Evergreen
plastic sheet to create a realistic depth of field.
Misc. items: I scanned the Duplicolor and Tamiya spray paint can/labels on my
HP-Scanner. Then using Microsoft Publisher,
photo reduced to 1/25 scale (wow, these images were really small and delicate to
work with). Printed in Color-high
resolution. Glued to 1/8" and 3/16" Evergreen solid rod.
The Suzuki dirt bike on the side of the house is from the original MPC Dodge
Off-Road Pickup Camper kit.
The Honda CB-750-4 (diecast motorcycle) is 1/24 scale (fantastic detail) from
IXO-Museum.
The Harley Davidson hidden behind the Honda is from the Maisto 3-cycle set
(diecast motorcycle) in 1/24 scale (fantastic
detail).
The roof is a kingpost truss design. The front windows above the garage door in
the gable area represent a design my friend
built into a real house. All framing wood is balsa wood. Cabinets - balsa wood
and plastic sheet.
I could wax rhapsodic for hours about the fabricating of all the details, so
instead I will let the pictures tell the story.
Very few items are not fabricated. It is obvious.
Enjoy the pictures of the various stages of construction and the videos. I
appreciate your time to view "My Garage".
Sincerely, Larry