Waldo's Petrol Station - WIP

**Geebung** · 28th April 2008, 11:09 PM

While surfing around in this extensive forum I happened across some plans to build a toy petrol station - many thanks to Waldo for posting these plans.

So, not being overly experienced in woodwork I decided I should have a go and build something for Geebung junior.

Someone asked for anyone who had built it to post it on the forum and since I have not seen any posts I thought I would show you mine - in all its hokey glory (don't you just love the numbering on the clock).

I have not quite finished it as I need to add the petrol pumps and the roof for the petrol pumps...all in good time. However, the majority of it is complete.

After rereading the thread on these plans I read that Waldo's version had a detachable roof. So when constructing it I made sure I could get the roof off - second photo.

I did not use perspex as per the plans for the windows. I used clear acetate - the type that is used for report covers...worked a treat. I used 6 mm mdf (which means that I shouldn't post this in woodwork eh?) the size of which translated quite well to the quarter inch ply they suggest you use in the plans. Thankfully I still have all my tape measures in inches.

The winding mechanism is not the best so it is preferable to allow more slop in the lift well...the roller is centred over the lift but in reality it should be to one side to ensure that the string is not being pulled at an angle. The winder itself was pretty easy to construct but once again I did not follow the plans exactly.

There were a lot of components to this build - a bit like a jigsaw puzzle (I even lost a few pieces) - and if I had to build it again I would love to have access to a sliding drop saw. Every piece was hand cut with a tenon saw...and by Christ my sawing is not that even...so I ended up with a few gaps here and there.

Anyway, Geebung Junior was impressed. And in the end that is all that really mattered.

**Waldo** · 28th April 2008, 11:17 PM

G'day Geebung,

Thanks for putting the pics up, and glad too that the little fella likes it too. The petrol pumps will finish it off nicely. It's a jig saw and not rocket science, but I grew up with the one my Grandad made for me and in a few years will make one for my little bloke.

**Sprog** · 29th April 2008, 12:46 PM

I'll bet Geebung Junior was impressed

That is great, good work.
I am going to have to make one for my grandson.

**funkychicken** · 1st May 2008, 10:34 PM

Ahh brings back memories, I used to have a little 2 storey car park with a ramp between the levels which you shoot the cars off ...Good times...

**munruben** · 1st May 2008, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by funkychicken

Ahh brings back memories, I used to have a little 2 storey car park with a ramp between the levels which you shoot the cars off ...Good times...

Yeah, not fun getting old is it funky.

**artme** · 2nd May 2008, 02:33 PM

Nice one!

**LeftyJim** · 22nd June 2008, 04:28 PM

Just to add to this thread so that Waldo can see the results from the plans, thanks again Waldo !

This one was done on a tablesaw using 6mm ply, plenty of gaps here and there as well.

You need to watch the lift measurements, especially as you will be using metric components (dowel and ply) and imperial measurements off the plan.

I used flat polycarbonate sheet from the hardware store for the windows - bought half a linear metre and now have heaps for further projects.

The painting was done by the better half, and took the longest of all the parts of the project. Next time the parts will be painted separately as small modules before final glue up.
The paint that was finally used after a bit of experimentation was White Knight "Splashes" gloss acrylic enamel - water based.

We are very happy with the end result, and the young lad has a ball with it.

**Waldo** · 22nd June 2008, 04:40 PM

G'day LeftyJim,

Thanks for putting up the final pics. Nothing beats something made by a Grandad or Dad for a grandson/son.

**Chipman** · 22nd June 2008, 11:28 PM

The garage looks good guys.... I sometimes wonder why we don't have a toy making forum.

Here is one I made for a school fundraising sale

Cheers,

Chipman

**Geebung** · 23rd June 2008, 03:35 PM

Lefty and Chipman...what can I say! They look a treat...much better than my hamfisted attempt.

Nice paint jobs too.

I painted the bits I wanted to paint prior to assembly...definitely much easier. And I have said it before - I wish I had a compound sliding saw.

Question for Lefty - how is the winding mechanism going? I glued mine but didn't do a good enough job. Did you glue or put a pin through the dowel and the winder?

**munruben** · 23rd June 2008, 04:01 PM

Nice work guys, any child would be pleased to have one of those. Geebung ! I reckon a bit of black on the base for the forecourt and drive etc would look great.

**LeftyJim** · 24th June 2008, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Geebung

Question for Lefty - how is the winding mechanism going? I glued mine but didn't do a good enough job. Did you glue or put a pin through the dowel and the winder?

Hi Geebung,

I put the winder together pretty much as shown in the plans - the holes in the main large dowel were a snug fit to the side dowels, same with the winder handle. If yours is a bit loose, some pinning would do the trick I reckon.

If a littl'un gets a bit too enthusiastic with it, at least it can be fixed easily, unlike cheap plastic.

**Geebung** · 26th June 2008, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by LeftyJim

Hi Geebung,

I put the winder together pretty much as shown in the plans - the holes in the main large dowel were a snug fit to the side dowels, same with the winder handle. If yours is a bit loose, some pinning would do the trick I reckon.

If a littl'un gets a bit too enthusiastic with it, at least it can be fixed easily, unlike cheap plastic.

I think the winder issues is because I used mdf for the winder...it was a tight fit with the dowel initially but with a bit of force the mdf wore down pretty quickly.

Thread: Waldo's Petrol Station - WIP

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Waldo's Petrol Station - WIP

Petrolstation

Well here's my version

Similar Threads

Toy Garage (Petrol Station)

Waldo's Router Table

Waldo's 2nd stage Dusty

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions