posted
A little over a year ago I built a little truck/sidewalk sign and stuck it out by the road. I was convinced I had discovered the next best thing since sliced bread. The reaction was immediate and it was the reaction I was hoping for. Our little red truck sign was an instant landmark.
But as much as people took notice and even stopped to inquire about the little truck, wanting one for their own I never sold one. People always choked at the price. But I was confident my price was right and the reluctance to buy was more the result of the times we were in. It turns out I was right but a little off on my timing on account of the economy.
This past weekend I showed the truck once more in a trade show I entered. The little truck grabbed every ones attention once again. Time and time again I heard people say "Here's the guy from Yarrow... and we were far from home. People recognized the little truck. They also wanted one for their own business.
One guy in particular really took notice. He owned a heating business and he wanted a red truck or his own to park in front of his building. But he didn't want my little red truck.. he wanted me to custom build a special one for him. It turns out the price I thought our truck was worth was a little low. I asked for and got twice the price I was asking last year.
Now I'm determined to sell more of these little units. I have another customer asking for a 1950's style truck and another wants a little coupe. In the meantime I'm hard at work on the little gas station, pumps and car I took a deposit on last week. Here's the progress so far...
I picked up the wheels just before the weekend. Yesterday morning I started with this...
By quitting time it was looking pretty good and starting to look like a car...
Tonight after a bit more welding and then some Abracadabra Sculpt it was ready for its first cruise. Most of the progress on the sculpt was on the other side...
The eye bolts on the top of the windshield and seat are to tie it down in transit and also lift it into place when we get there. The driver's door is left off so visitors can easily get in the car for photos. By tomorrow we should be almost done the rough coat. Then the fun begins.
Stay tuned for progress...
-grampa dan
[ February 16, 2010, 10:03 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Here's a pic of the driver's side to show how the door is open to allow easy access. These little fat fendered cars are fun to do!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Eric Elmgren ericsignguy@comcast.net A & E Graphic Signs Park Ridge, IL "The future isn't what it used to be" -Yogi Berra Posts: 192 | From: PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Do me a favour Dan..... Don't ever grow up OK?
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Kelly Thorson: Do me a favour Dan..... Don't ever grow up OK?
Growing older is inevitable..... Growing up is OPTIONAL !
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
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I love the way your stuff evolves through pictures We have a company that wants a truck building from a golfcart, that was OK and a fun challenge, but they also mentioned possibly making 10 more identical which was not so much fun, the fun thing with your trucks is they grow out of whatever is close at hand, and a rough sketch rather than looking mass produced or factory made, maybe we can sell in an idea of making them all slightly different own characters?
posted
Lovely- if you'd sat there any longer, I'm sure the cage around the car would have enclosed at the top & you'd be trapped in!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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So who's building the truck while you just sit in it, man... talk about custom built, they fit the thing right around you !!!... those B.C. people...
-------------------- Eric Elmgren ericsignguy@comcast.net A & E Graphic Signs Park Ridge, IL "The future isn't what it used to be" -Yogi Berra Posts: 192 | From: PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS | Registered: Aug 2009
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Once the pencil rod frame is welded up we fasten galvanized mesh (lath) to the frame using tie wire and nippers. The job isn't hard but does require practice to master. Properly formed and shaped and tied securely it makes the application of Sculpt (or concrete) much easier and faster. The hardest part of this job is NOT to cut yourself on the sharp edges.
I've been wiring the shell of the car as we go as I haven't had a chance to get ahead of Sarah (the person who is mixing for me). Mixing the sculpt is a tough job but Sarah is able to keep up with me.
In spite of many interruptions today we made pretty good progress. It will take one more day to finish the rough coat. And for those that asked it is about 1/4" thick and pressed lightly into the wire. We have used about 75 lbs of Abracadabra Sculpt so far on this project. It's my guess we'll use less than 200 lbs more to finish. Once mixed the sculpt is easily workable for an hour or so, then it gets tough and leathery. In 3-4 hours you can do little more than dent it. Overnight and it is like steel.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
It's looking good Dan. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind, how/what are you using to apply the Sculpt? How large of an area do you work with at one time?
I hope you don't mind all of the questions, but this work fascinates me.
-------------------- David Thompson Pro-Line Graphics Martinsville, NJ
I'm not this dumb, it's just the paint fumes talkin' Posts: 397 | From: Martinsville, NJ | Registered: Oct 2001
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Of course my brain is moving way ahead to; how do you sand (whatever works for the contour)? Do you cover the mesh inside or seal with paint so it won't rust? What do you prime and paint with (epoxy)? Are you looking for any summer help?
That looks like fun. Especially the metal fab. No ruler, no level, no square.
[ February 18, 2010, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: Dana Stanley ]
posted
I know from first hand experience it can't be sprayed, it's a 2 part epoxy clay. if you want an idea of what its like get some jb weld plumbers putty. as far as priming and painting I've just been using latex and acrylics.
-------------------- Jon Peterman 200 Summit Loop Grants Pass, OR -------------------- a.k.a. dc-62 success is in Jesus Christ Posts: 434 | From: grants pass or. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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The epoxy is mixed by hand in baseball size quantities with best results rolling it out like bread dough and then twisting it together... repeat until mixed thoroughly. Putting it on is by hand in golf ball sizes of material. I flatten it out between my fingers and then press it on. I dip my fingers in water to smooth it. Once it's on any sort of tool can be used to create textures. We've used sticks, forks, tinfoil, coarse cloth rolling pins or anything else that works. Whetting down the sculpt with water will prevent the tools from sticking.
I generally don't do any sanding... and always paint with acrylics... plain old top quality house paint.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
We made some progress today... but it was Sarah's day off and Bec could only work a few hours. I put on a little sculpt but spent the bulk of my time welding up the framework for the gas pumps...
We do not paint the framework inside our sculptures and after doing this type of work for better than 20 years don't see the need. I've gotten inside some of our structures for various reasons and there is little rust on the inside- even after that time. I have noticed that Disney does paint their structures and mesh... but then again they are built to last many. many years... The Matterhorn in Disneyland was built with similar methods in 1959 and is still standing. They used a lot of lumber to build the shapes in those days... now it is all done with welded steel, pencil rod and mesh like I have done here.
I made up a steel form for the base which will be filled with concrete once it is in place - just like the real thing. The post to support the roof is in the middle. A gas pump will flank each side. I got a good bit of pencil rod welded in place... finish tomorrow....
Sarah is on again tomorrow so we should finish the car for sure and perhaps even one pump will get the first coat of Sculpt...
-grampa dan
[ February 19, 2010, 03:09 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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We finished the first coat of Sculpt on the car at last today and got one pump done too. The welding is done save for the sign bracket which I'll put on tomorrow.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I still have to make a few adjustments... the headlight on the driver's side is a bit wonky, the back fender has a flat spot... ... but it will be pretty close when I'm done.
It's not perfect as far as symmetry... but it is a CARtoon after all...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
We've done a number of diminutive vehicles for parade floats over years. We like to start with a used golf cart which can be had fairly reasonable. In the past we did them with welded steel bodies but with my limited sheet metal compound curve shaping abilities it was challenging. With the Sculpting epoxy anything is suddenly possible.
Here's a little dump truck we did a few years ago for the owner of a local gravel pit. I added an extra axle to make it a tandem. The grill was done on the router using Precision Board. The body and box were welded steel, the fenders were hand molded fiberglass. The box raised up and down, and had working lights and air horn...
-grampa dan
[ February 22, 2010, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Sarah decided to go to the Olympics yesterday (with my permission) and so we did the last of the first coat of Sculpt today. Our order of sculpt is still in transit so it was close with what we had on hand.... and there was just barely enough. The router has been busy cranking out the pieces for the signs on the pumps as well as other bits. I'll glue up the big sign that will hang off the beam overhead tonight... perhaps even get that steel welded up too. We ended up using about 180-90 lbs of sculpt on the first coat. The final coat should take about the same which keeps things on budget as far as materials. The time is working out to about what I estimated too.
Its looking pretty cool already and I am excited to begin fashioning the details we will include. This is going to be fun in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
[ February 23, 2010, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Are you *sure* you know what you're doing?? LOL... just kidding Dan - that is some fantastic work!! Can't wait to see the finished product in all it's colorful glory.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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