Thread: The long build

So I started by laminating some crapiata to make the boilers. 10 pieces and each piece is numbered as it comes off the piece of board. Glued together to maintain matching grain as much as possible. Then I cut out ply for the wheels. It was during this bit that I had to stop and put it away for a while. The photo is of my foot showing the side effects of chemo. Hands were the same. Couldn't stand at the bench. Couldn't hold tools. Apart from that I had given up smoking the day before surgery and the shed was where I used to go for a smoke and a think. A bad place to be as the memories were too hard.

As well as that chemo had turned my taste buds upside down and I couldn't handle coffee. No coffee, no smokes and not being able to hold tools. I locked the shed and walked away for a few months.

Fast forward eight months. Chemo is done and dusted. Hands work again. Still off the smokes. My taste for coffee is coming back. Still haven't had a drink. Did I mention that alcohol tasted crap as well.

Apart from anything else I had a long list of jobs to do before I could disappear to the shed. Jobs done, negotiated a 4 day work week instead of five so I now have a day a week that I can call my own. So back to it.

All the sides, cabin, cabin roof etc are made out of 12mm pine except for the little guys cap. That is a piece of "something" from under the bench.

Wheels are spray painted out of a can. Two coats of poly. For the rest. There was one whoopsie. Dropped and smashed during the glue up. I recovered. After walking to the edge and looking over with cancer a little thing like rebuilding a broken train is kids play.

Good to see you are still on the laughing side of the grass. Not a nice journey you been on but looks like its fair weather sailing now.

Love the trains, perfect for the young ones and the good feeling it gives you to see them happy, well done x10

I find that it is the woodwork that has helped me in the past and I see it as therapy. Hope all now has settled and you are enjoying your shed time.

The train looks great and i love the way you have set the grain on the boiler really stands out.

Love the way the grain is oriented on the boiler. A bit of colour on the wheels really makes an eye catching toy that will see many hours of fun for a young child.

Glad that you have recovered from your illness and are now back in the shed.

Alan...

What a top story.. Toymaking is the bomb, you can't beat it for getting you head sorted, so enjoyable.
The train looks absolutely beautiful, it's roll down the tracks for many many years of fun & play; well done...
Cheers, crowie

I love the train as well. You have had a tough trot. Really good to see you are on the mend and back in the shed. Keep up the top work

Regards

Keith

Thank you guys. I totally agree with woodwork being a cathartic past time. It was very difficult being on the bench for so long.

Things aren't over and done with yet. Another fours years of blood tests, scans, colonoscopies and visits to various specialists before I get the all clear. But I'm one of the fortunate ones. I've met so many others with this mongrel whose long term prognosis does not extend that far. And the trouble is the majority of the bad ones are youngsters in their twenties, thirties and forties. But it is what it is so in the meantime I will continue to make sawdust. )

Originally Posted by ivanavitch

Thank you guys. I totally agree with woodwork being a cathartic past time. But it is what it is so in the meantime I will continue to make sawdust. )

Great to here, I'll look forward to seeing more of your handiwork in the future if not near future... Cheers, crowie

Not sure how I missed this, but great work.

Hope the worst is behind you and that things will get better for you.