Topic: Keke's Garage

[DocOutlands]

So last night I took the scrap walls that had been cut off the ends of the coolers to test out a couple of techniques.  Here they are.  First, an unaltered "raw" wall:

[DocOutlands]

Now here we have a wall with spackling material drying on it.  I got the kind that goes on pink and air-dries white.  I wonder if humidity retards drying time, because we put it on last night and over 12 hrs later, it is still light pink.

[DocOutlands]

Finally, here's an unprepped wall that has had a stone-finish paint applied, partly to check for color appropriateness ("Does Keke like this one?") and partly to see how the paint affects a raw wall.  In fig1, you can see the overall wall.  She likes the color and wants the garage done in that style.  In fig2, you can see what the texturing does to unprepped styro.

[Commander_Kurgan]

Tell me it is stone and I'd believe you.
That's amazing!

[DocOutlands]

The ... "interesting" part is going to be getting a good smooth surface on the interior for painting.  Outside, that awesome "spray-stone" will cover up any weirdness.  Theoretically, you can sand the spackle, so I may smooth it out that way - just get a nice thin coating with the spreader and then buff it on the rough spots with some fine-grit paper.

[Clonehead]

Yep, I do like that stone flek paint. I made a 1-1 tombstone one time to add to my halloween decorations out of foam and used this stuff to color it.

[spudafett]

man that paint looks awesome on there, can't wait to see the finished product.  If it were me I'd leave it unsanded and let it be bumby and textured.  add's character.

man I'm getting anxious to see everyone's speeders and vehicles.  Did anyone do a vehicle that's NOT a speeder bike?

[DocOutlands]

Keke's is not a speeder-bike.  I have one design - prolly my actual entry - that is more like a subcompact car than a speeder-bike (think a Bespin Cloud-Car, but single-pod), and two others that are flat out air-speeders.  Bren's is ... hard to classify.

As for the texture - yeah, the outside wall is definitely going to be left rough for the stone spray.  I'm thinking about a smooth interior wall, tho.  May just use Jules' approach and apply flats inside.

Gotta go check the spackle and apply stone spray if it is ready.

[DocOutlands]

Well, I don't know that the spackle was *completely* dry, but it was "close enough" for us! 

Fig1 shows what we had when we checked.
Fig2 shows Keke applying the spray-stone.
Fig3 is how it looks after we worked it over for detail coverage.

Remember, this is a test-wall!  However, I plan to save it for use as background wall-dressing.  Same goes for the wall that was unprepped before applying the stone-spray.

[DocOutlands]

The next step is the doorframe.  In Fig1, we've already measured and marked a 2" thick slab of styro and Keke has begun the serious business of cutting out the main frame for the door.  After that was done, I went in and cut out the inner part to make an arch.  Fig2 is the basic bldg shape and Fig3 shows the basic shape with the doorframe stood up in place.

The next step, we'll cut and mark the hole for the frame on the bldg itself.  Then, we'll glue it all together with Gorilla Glue and dowling.

[Clonehead]

Cool buddy! Looks like your daughter is really getting into this.
Cute kid by the way.

[narceron]

First off, congrats on such a wonderfully fun child, I hope my kids share at least one of my interests.

Secondly, the humidity does in fact impair anything drying, living in KY, its one thing I've learned.

Three, if you have a length of copper wire and a couple D  cell batteries, I recommend you(and not the child) make a foam cutter for super smooth cuts.

Not sure if it will work on the coolers, but I've had great luck with it on insulation,


Can't wait to see more.

[Tamer]

Looking good Keke and Doc.

[DocOutlands]

Yeah, Clint, she's gonna be a heartbreaker in about 6-7 years.

Narce, I'm thinking a bare coat-hanger, jumper-cables, and a lantern battery...   

Stand by for a pic update!

[DocOutlands]

Two pics from this afternoon's work.  I did the trim-work, as I didn't want Keke to have an issue with the cooler wall snapping on her and her getting frustrated with the project at this point.

Fig1 - doorway cut out on one side of bldg, with doorway arch positioned in front.

Fig2 - doorway cut in both sides with archway fitted in place.

I've put Gorilla Glue in the places I think touch and have it sitting on the drying-rack in the shop.  I also used some pieces of Gorilla Tape on the inside of the coolers to hold them together.