Speaking from Experience: Building a train

WELCOME!

It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.

Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Building a train - part 16

I posted pictures and a small writeup of the log car that would accompany the steam locomotive on the Whistle Punk Hollow Adventure Golf project. That article covered creating and routing the face of the log which would act as a giant sign. Around that we welded up a framework of quarter inch thick steel bar, then attached expanded lath to that framework. Over this we troweled on a thick coat of fibreglass reinforced concrete and then as it dried carved in the woodgrain and bark textures. This was allowed to cure for a few days.

We then primed the Precision Board face of the sign with FSC-88 WB primer. This too was allowed to cure before we began painting the log with two base coats of acrylic paint.

We then applied a couple of coats of darker brown glazes. wiping off the excess and leaving the crevices dark.

The lettering was painted and then all of the undercarriage assembled. Today was the time at last to drag the piece from the shop and load it onto the trailer in readiness to transport to the site.

We transported the locomotive last week. As always the journey was fun!

Stay tuned for more instalments...

-dan