"Easy Pickins"
- Thread starter Steve Ski
- Start date
Steve Jones SMS
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2024
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- 63
Hi Steve
Just had a lovely read through of your work. Very impressive my friend and a joy to see
Just had a lovely read through of your work. Very impressive my friend and a joy to see
JOHN R
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2024
- Messages
- 205
Tis indeed .
Steve Ski
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 548
Ok, so yall don't think I'm slackin and all, it's really been a busy past few weeks. Snow fly is coming fast, so no time to waste. I'm trying to get the wood done between weather systems, so I'll let yall know how that works out at the first snow fly. Until then, "Easy Pickins" is on hold.
No worries, but it ain't gonna get done lookin at it, HA!
No worries, but it ain't gonna get done lookin at it, HA!
Steve Ski
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 548
Sounds like you had an excellent day, Edbert. The leaves have all turned and are falling up here.
Yes, when the snow flies, I only need to be concerned about plowing snow, which I actually enjoy. A good Maduro cigar, some good tunes and let er rip.
Yes, when the snow flies, I only need to be concerned about plowing snow, which I actually enjoy. A good Maduro cigar, some good tunes and let er rip.
Steve Ski
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 548
Building the Accessories
Building up the accessories is another fun part of the build and usually signals we're getting close to finishing the project, but not always. A lot of times I'll work the accessories in between other larger portions of the build to keep the momentum going. In this case, after almost twelve years, we're getting very close to being done. Ya, this isn't the first glacial build I've done, but I plan on it being the last, and that goes for the huge base foot print, too. HA!
Since I've built the out-building/work shop there needed to be enough junk and tools placed around the area to give it a well-worn aged appearance. The veggies will make a big difference in telling the age of the structure, but so will weathering, and the rusted, worn-out tools, junk, and old equipment. Looking over old sheds and structures from Normandy in the 40's I didn't find too many detailed photos, but enough to get an idea of French country style builds. Yes, many were stone and brick, but several were wooden structures, so this will fly nicely.
After rummaging through tons of photos I ran across some old milk jugs, wooden buckets, brooms, shovels, and tools of all kinds. I made the milk jug out of scrap roof flashing and copper wire. The wine grape bucket was made in the same fashion as the barrels, a pretty simple process. But that gear "thingy majigey" is made from a hand full of gears from some old toys I found in my oldest son's old toy stash. Call it whatever you want, but it could have been from an old conveyer system, who knows?
The cutters are a bit large for the scale, but they'll have to do. As you can see it's made from 12ga. wire hammered flat on one end and bent to shape for the hand grips. I used actual broom thistles cut very thin for the old-style broom and chunks of resin to form the sledge hammers. The pry bars are heavy gage wire bent and shaped and the old-style oil can is made from very thin sheet metal. There's even a funky old-style candle lantern that will hang from the rafter beams. I knew those old beer bottle tops would come in handy someday.
I also made a loaf of bread, a round of cheese, some sausage, and a convenient picnic blanket to round out the scenario. Oh ya, one of those wine bottles will be opened, guaranteed.
I do believe I've got enough accessories to round out this shop in decent fashion, but if anyone can think of anything I might be missing, please holler, there might still be room for more small items.
Next up, planning the ground work and veggies. This is going to take some time planning the flow of the pour and placement. More to follow soon.
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
Building up the accessories is another fun part of the build and usually signals we're getting close to finishing the project, but not always. A lot of times I'll work the accessories in between other larger portions of the build to keep the momentum going. In this case, after almost twelve years, we're getting very close to being done. Ya, this isn't the first glacial build I've done, but I plan on it being the last, and that goes for the huge base foot print, too. HA!
Since I've built the out-building/work shop there needed to be enough junk and tools placed around the area to give it a well-worn aged appearance. The veggies will make a big difference in telling the age of the structure, but so will weathering, and the rusted, worn-out tools, junk, and old equipment. Looking over old sheds and structures from Normandy in the 40's I didn't find too many detailed photos, but enough to get an idea of French country style builds. Yes, many were stone and brick, but several were wooden structures, so this will fly nicely.
After rummaging through tons of photos I ran across some old milk jugs, wooden buckets, brooms, shovels, and tools of all kinds. I made the milk jug out of scrap roof flashing and copper wire. The wine grape bucket was made in the same fashion as the barrels, a pretty simple process. But that gear "thingy majigey" is made from a hand full of gears from some old toys I found in my oldest son's old toy stash. Call it whatever you want, but it could have been from an old conveyer system, who knows?
The cutters are a bit large for the scale, but they'll have to do. As you can see it's made from 12ga. wire hammered flat on one end and bent to shape for the hand grips. I used actual broom thistles cut very thin for the old-style broom and chunks of resin to form the sledge hammers. The pry bars are heavy gage wire bent and shaped and the old-style oil can is made from very thin sheet metal. There's even a funky old-style candle lantern that will hang from the rafter beams. I knew those old beer bottle tops would come in handy someday.
I also made a loaf of bread, a round of cheese, some sausage, and a convenient picnic blanket to round out the scenario. Oh ya, one of those wine bottles will be opened, guaranteed.
I do believe I've got enough accessories to round out this shop in decent fashion, but if anyone can think of anything I might be missing, please holler, there might still be room for more small items.
Next up, planning the ground work and veggies. This is going to take some time planning the flow of the pour and placement. More to follow soon.
Thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
Steve Ski
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 548
Are We There Yet?
Well, not exactly, because every time I think I'm ready to start placing ivy vines something else pops into my head and the action crawls to a standstill. That's not really a bad thing considering how well some folks detail their dios, Chuck Doan being a great example. If you have ever taken the time to really look closely at how Chuck details the interior of his structures you will come to the conclusion that he misses nothing. And if he did miss anything, you won't know it, his work is that good.
I'm not pressing for too much here, but I would like it to have a reasonably well lived in appearance for a working vine dresser's lean-to/shop in Normandy, circa 1944. I have no idea what a vine dresser's maintenance shop looks like, but somebody has to do the maintenance at the vineyard and the tools have to be stored somewhere, so artistic license will be leaned upon, no doubt.
The base work went well, no cracking or mud pour issues, pretty straight forward. I did use a boat-load of Elmer's Wood glue in the mix.
Veggie work has continued off and on at a slow roll. I also made some experimental grass clumps as seen on some YT vids with great results. No, I still don't have a static gun, but some day.
We're getting very close to placing vines and dressing the ivy up all purty, but not yet. I was thinking after all the ivy leaves that I've cut over the past few years, "wouldn't it be more appropriate to have "grape" vines crawling all over?" Uh, no,….not this go round, maybe next time, HA!
So far, the layout works well with the Ranger and Harley in place not conflicting with any of the tools or crates, barrels, etc. This really is a tight spot to work with, so I've had to make some adjustments that won't even be noticed when it's all put together. I do like having that roof off until the last minute, very handy for working space.
Lastly you can see I've worked up some more clutter bits that are within reason. I'm in no real rush, so more items may be fabricated as time goes on. However, I've already decided what goes on the bench next, so I'm kinda getting anxious to get this finished.
More to follow and thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
Well, not exactly, because every time I think I'm ready to start placing ivy vines something else pops into my head and the action crawls to a standstill. That's not really a bad thing considering how well some folks detail their dios, Chuck Doan being a great example. If you have ever taken the time to really look closely at how Chuck details the interior of his structures you will come to the conclusion that he misses nothing. And if he did miss anything, you won't know it, his work is that good.
I'm not pressing for too much here, but I would like it to have a reasonably well lived in appearance for a working vine dresser's lean-to/shop in Normandy, circa 1944. I have no idea what a vine dresser's maintenance shop looks like, but somebody has to do the maintenance at the vineyard and the tools have to be stored somewhere, so artistic license will be leaned upon, no doubt.
The base work went well, no cracking or mud pour issues, pretty straight forward. I did use a boat-load of Elmer's Wood glue in the mix.
Veggie work has continued off and on at a slow roll. I also made some experimental grass clumps as seen on some YT vids with great results. No, I still don't have a static gun, but some day.
We're getting very close to placing vines and dressing the ivy up all purty, but not yet. I was thinking after all the ivy leaves that I've cut over the past few years, "wouldn't it be more appropriate to have "grape" vines crawling all over?" Uh, no,….not this go round, maybe next time, HA!
So far, the layout works well with the Ranger and Harley in place not conflicting with any of the tools or crates, barrels, etc. This really is a tight spot to work with, so I've had to make some adjustments that won't even be noticed when it's all put together. I do like having that roof off until the last minute, very handy for working space.
Lastly you can see I've worked up some more clutter bits that are within reason. I'm in no real rush, so more items may be fabricated as time goes on. However, I've already decided what goes on the bench next, so I'm kinda getting anxious to get this finished.
More to follow and thanks for watchin. Cheers, Ski.
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