Building for a tenner

[bazzer42]

Being a bit of a scrooge I have had a bash at the challenge to build something for under$15/£10. I had already started a gravel loader (i.e. cut the fascia board) and thought this might be a good test to construct something that fed the loader. It would also allow me to experiment with pound shop foil baking trays as a basis for the building. I've now got the roof on and built a small platform to fit outside the door (although the door still needs building) but struggling to find the easy way to build steps. Has anybody got any tips?
I've spent about £ 10 on this so far.
baking trays £3
Pound shop evostick £2
Strip of angle £4.70
I have to confess the slate offcut for the roof and fascia are left overs but would have a value of about £8
In keeping with the gauntlet that was thrown down I hope to complete this by next saturday, steps permitting!

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

Hi Bazzer, if you know anybody who has a child into Playmobil they have steps that would suit in lots of their buildings.

Cheers, Duncan

 

[Mik]

absolutely fabulous!(and not the two boozy floozies on the telly, either)

I probably have some bits of Plastruct stairs here that would work, but my experiences with your customs say it wouldn't get there in time...... Perhaps you could build them up from 3/8" thick stock (plywood) stacked? - or accordion fold a bit of sheetmetal then add wooden or plastic stringers? ?

Another option, if you need to cut that corner to meet the deadline, would be a ramp.

 

[bazzer42]

Duncan/Mik thanks - this site never lets you down for ideas. I have a huge playmobil castle in the attic - was the boys but being kept as the heirloom for me and the grandchildren (as and when). I may borrow a set if I can replace it on ebay. I've also meant to order the G scale Plastruct steps and ladder/cage but can't face the import hassle. My brother is in the States this autumn so perhaps....
If anybody knows of any uk sources please let me know.

 

[bazzer42]

As far as I can get by the 21st. Mostly from scraps that were waiting to be used in some form. It would have been quicker to use larger sheets of foil but Mrs B offers constructive criticism and have to agree smaller sheets look better. The platform was given a brick course today after her advice that the black angle looked crap. I might try a bit of dilute black masonry as a weathering but now want to plough on and build the loader. The tail end of the building will be set into the soil in the photos.
I wanted to add some polythene strips over the large hole where the conveyor belt will go but need to find time to mastic a leaking shower instead.

 

[Gizzy]

Looks really good Bazzer....

 

[Mik]

Well done, friend!
Even slightly less than finished, it looks great, and I hope you had fun

 

[C&S]

It looks really good, but I think I've missed out on some details - what did the unused baking trays look like - were they foil ones? Did you cut wall panels from them then score the corrugations onto them? Whatever - the end result is impressive.

 

[Tony]

I love it very authentic looking Excellent work

 

[bazzer42]

Hi, I should have given a bit more detail. The foil came from pound shop quiche tray bottoms, 8 for a £1. The bottoms were removed, flattened by rubbing over with a small piece of fascia board on a flat surface. This also roughened the surface to help the acid etch spray adhere (I hope!). A second coat of car primer grey was given (after corrugating). The foil was then cut into 2.5" strips and put through a arts n' crafts corrugater. The strips are a bit underscale length but I do get two strips per foil base. These were split down into 3 to 4 strips and glued individually with pound shop evostick.
The corrugated windows were made from an orchid presentation box donated by mum (although I bought the orchid in the first place - I love my mum :love. Strips of the plastic were ironed under a tea towel and then put through the same corrugater as fast as possible to give windows that broadly matched the tin foil cladding.
I have used a modern slate for the base of the roof to give it the weight to anchor it to the ground. I will be using the same for the main building that I started last night. Walls are built from plastic fascia board, a pig to cut with a knife but I can't saw straight with a fret or key hole saw. I use solvent weld to glue the walls together with UPVC angle for strengtheners.
The steps, after looking at Playmobil prices on ebay, came from upvc angle 15mm, cut down to 10mm and then stuck to two small strips of upvc (wickes) U channel split down the middle to give an L shape. The chequer plate is slaters bought for a wagon base. The door uses plasticard and plastruct angle with a door handle from copper wire. The hand rail uses poundshop plant supports for uprights and some 2mm rod for rails. The shop in my village actually splits bags on plastruct which is handy!
I want to add a bit of "industry" with some of the BECCS warning signs but that would cost £5 on a cheapo building. It was a test base for the main loader. This building will have a conveyor belt feed to the loader. I'll post that as it is going together to see if it all looks convincing.