This will have to hold me for a while...

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This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby burlesot » Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:52 am

Dear All,

Thanks for your patience as I've slipped into my teardrop madness. Being a teacher and a passionate visual learner, I have immersed myself in your images and build journals for the past few weeks.

Per your wise suggestions, I decided last night to make a model of the teardrop I will build. (However, I have to finish graduate school first and I have just under 9 months to go!)

I started with the excellent Benroy design found here on the site. What started as a 'fun little exercise' ended just after midnight last night (12 hours after I began!) I had a blast converting the design into my new scale which was 1" = 6". Interestingly, I left my completed design on the kitchen bar for my family to see when they woke up this morning. The first thing my daughter said was, "Dad, it is the perfect size for a Barbie." Low and behold, it was. In fact, the scale is exactly the same.

So a few notes:

1: I did not spend a lot of time configuring the cabinets in this model. I basically cut several pieces to size and manipulated them until I found a pleasant layout. My 'build' will obviously be much more detailed. In fact, in making the model, it helped me realize some of the challenges and benefits to the space.

2: I put a few 'wish' items in the model: solar panels, a window above the headboard, and a tongue box. Incidentally, my wife has been asking for a headboard just like the one in the design for ten years, I'm going to be in trouble when she sees this model!

3: I ended up using black foam core simply because it was what we had. I have yet to decide if I would skin my build with aluminum, fiberglass or simply paint. I plan to read a lot more on the forum about the benefits of each.

I welcome any feedback.

Thanks,
Todd

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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby wagondude » Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:03 am

That was quick. Nice job on the model.

Bill
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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby burlesot » Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:24 am

Bill,
Did I mention my obsession? Yes, it was quick (in the sense that 12 hours building a model is kinda quick!) The hard part is going to be looking at this cool model for the next nine months. I will just keep reading and researching. In the meantime, what are your thoughts about 'skinning?' Does aluminum reflect heat? Do you need to fiberglass wood? Does paint and polyurethane provide similar benefits/challenges? I like the 'classic' look of the aluminum, but it scares the heck out of me to think of putting it on my teardrop. I guess I think that wood can be 'patched' and 'fixed' if you make a mistake and aluminum is so 'final.'

Thanks Bill!
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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby wagondude » Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:20 pm

The options for skinning would depend mostly on the look you are going for. If you think you will be painting, you can skin with fiberglass or, if cost or ability is an issue, cover with canvas sea;ed with paint. There are a few canvas covered tears out there (both conventional construction and foam construction). I do have a soft spot for the woodies that have the wood sides with aluminum top. The just have a look that apeals to me.

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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby JuneBug » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:03 am

So the next step is to get some cardboard and make a full sized mock up in the living room, which will be the perfect play space for your daughter or a nice study for you while you complete your thesis! Win, win! :)
"The large print giveth; the small print taketh away" Tom Waits
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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby DMcCam » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:37 am

Way cool model Todd!!! I just love seeing members models and aspirations for their builds. Oh, and welcome to the forum.

JuneBug wrote:So the next step is to get some cardboard and make a full sized mock up in the living room, which will be the perfect play space for your daughter or a nice study for you while you complete your thesis! Win, win! :)


JunBug's idea is a very good way to actually climb inside and see what works or doesn't. I did it for my design and it really made the space 'real' for us. We decided from the full size cabin mock-up that it was a go. Remember to have fun in the journey.

All the best,

Dave
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Re: This will have to hold me for a while...

Postby burlesot » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:23 pm

Great idea! That would be really fun to have for me and the kids! You could even 'pretend' with the cabinetry, etc. and get a feeling for how it would work! I love the idea. Time to start hitting the appliance stores!

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