This and that...

I am a bit stuck with my beach hut: Pierluigi (Pimini) from Italy has not sent me the two-plate gas hob yet. Because I cannot get to the kitchen area once I glue the house together, the walls are just taped together, at the moment.

Bildunterschrift hinzufügen

With all the goodies I got in Chicago this hut is more than full... 😏. Not quite my usual style - but then my son reckons is looks like a perfect hang-out for the surfers! He added the binoculars and got me to make a weed plant ... a must have for the boys 😉

Outside shower has still to be installed

Please note the beer crates - a rare find!

Not only did I learn how to make a boat and carve surfboards - but with excellent tutos I made as well a fishing net and glass floats!

Another issue is how to photograph this properly? I mean, Switzerland is not exactly known for sandy surf beaches 😏 I know quite a few sandy spots at the lakes but - surprise - there are always mountains in the back!!
Any ideas are welcome!

But I was busy with other things as well. I added more chairs to my Shapeways shop - mainly modern ones. They turned out great but sanding and painting them does usually take some time...

Sturdy Softshell Chair - difficult to cover with fabric so I opted with chalky paint

Dainty...I am amazed how they can print this!

This is as is with legs and all

This model is 'seat only' and I attached real wooden legs - took me a while ;-)

The industrial lampshade is great as well and I want to try this asap. Because it can be printed in metal it should hang perfectly.

Printed in matte black steel - a bit too rough for my liking,
I will try a different polished metal next time

And then I started my next project!!
More about this in my next blog...

And yes - it is definitely not a room box!

Here what I would like to share with you though:

Just dicovered wood veneer fabric from Halbach!
This opens new possibilities...

For minis the 'stone' s best because of the fine grain

Not sure if you know this tool - but I simply could not do without it!
Measurement marking ruler -- also available in metric version

So, enough for today!
Regards, Marion 

Vacuum Forming a Miniature Boat with Styrene

Every Beach Hut needs at least a rowing boat!

After countless trials making this with thin balsa strips I was a bit at a loss.
But then I chatted with Dorota from Miniafanaberia about styerene and this got me onto the right track!

I made the shape of the boat with foamboard layers and after thorough google video research about vacuum forming, I gave it a shot because I had a few glossy 2mm styrene sheets anyway (stashed away because I thought I would never use them..).

First I made the vacuum box using a plastic box, made a hole big enough for the vacuum sucker, and closed the box with wood and plenty of wholes in it.

I tried with two kind of frames.

Sheet tacked onto the frame and sits on TOP of the box: good for small items because there is less styrene waste

Sheet is clamped between two frames and is LARGER than the box: good when you need the entire sucking area of the box

The great thing though: it worked first time!! And this with rather thick 2mm styrene....

Only with the surf board the first try was not ok because the styrene was not long enough in the oven

I made three of them because it was so easy 😀. Cut them into three different heights.

Added 2x1mm rim on top with super glue. 

And here the finished product (anchor and fishing net missing..)!