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Dwaine's Sawmill

Although I have finished, not sure about that word, are we ever really finished with any of our projects.
Giving some insights on challenges and regrets.
Constructing the base was my first challenge, I looked everywhere, Home Depot, Lowes, and several other hardware stores, could not fine ¾” foam insulation anywhere. So had to settle for 1”. As always started with the foundation framework having to add a ¼” to the legs and trying to think ahead to make sure that I add ¼” to everything else that had contact with the base, which as it turns out wasn’t that difficult. Using one of Brett’s favorite sayings, “Don’t over think it”, something that I am verrrry guilty of.
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After getting the flooring lade it started to look like something. I felt like in my mind that I was accomplishing something.


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So adding other structural details just add to the fun.

Comments

  • Next came the framework which didn’t seem to be that hard.

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  • And my next challenge, apparently I got some of my Drive belt wheels mixed up, so with Brett’s help and extreme patience, got that all straighten out. Working with the gears and drive belts, I think the outcome really makes the sawmill come alive.
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  • Next came adding some internal walls, with of course some details.

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  • Notice the blank spot on the diorama. Will address later...
  • Rafters, lets talk about those. Being smarter than the average bear, I constructed the rafters. Then trudging on I glued them onto the wall studs. That was great until a week or so later I tried to put on the roof …. Didn’t fit days went by trying to figure out what was going on. At the point that I was about to call Brett, I was going over the plans again, I noticed some marks where the rafters were supposed to sit on the walls. I broke off the rafters from the studs marked them and re-glued them. Hocus Pocus the roof fit.. Not so smart are we Mr. Bear…
  • Fantastic work Dwaine! Such a masterful example of a backwoods sawmill. You're killing it here my friend. Wonderfully done. Remember, a sign of a great modeler is not that they don't make mistakes it's how well they fix them!!
  • Now let’s address regrets, the nbw details, tried several times to add these. But with my hands, just couldn’t pull it off. I sanded and re-stained several times, but just wasn’t worth it for me. And I think my biggest regret however was not making the diorama bigger. Am not planning on adding it to a layout, but did add extra space on the loading side of the Sawmill. Wish I had thought far enough ahead and add more space to the dock side. Then I would have been able to maybe add a small road to load trucks.
    But you know, putting the Sawmill together has been great for me. I got this from Brett at a time that I really needed a long-term project, and has worked out great for me. So, thank you Brett and thank all of you that post your work on the forum, showing and explaining how you do certain things, just making me want to do better at what I work on.
  • edited 3:32AM
    Such a fantastic job of building this amazing kit, your result is something to be very proud of, it is a beautiful build.
    Thank you for all of your comments and narrative along the way, they show how amazing this kit is and what an incredible result can be achieved.
    The pictures I will have to enjoy for some time to come.
    A wonderful build and a joy to see. Fantastic job.
  • Dwaine…fantastic build you have there…well done!!!

    Mine has been sitting on the orphan shelf for about 8 months…can’t seem to get going on it again

    terry
  • Great work it looks fantastic. Like you made a couple of blunders during my build but was able, the same as you, was able to fix them.
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