Cottage Interior Build...
I've not had a chance to write much in the last few days. So I thought I'd take a moment now to give an update on what I've been up to.
I started building the three large trees for the Cottage Exterior set. These, along with some rocks and long grass, will be the final elements of the Cottage Exterior set. As I was building the first of the big trees it became apparant that I never had enough Seafoam to finish even one tree. So I had to stop that whilst I await a new order of Seafoam (3 boxes!) and scatter glue.
Here is the first tree "in progress"...
So, in the meantime, I decided I should crack on with building the Cottage Interior Set. The inside of Figet's Cottage is one large room with a big fireplace and an an Oven at one end. My aim is to make it cozy looking and at the same time a bit creepy.
When I first started building the Cottage Exteior Set, I actually built a large platform for it to sit on. This was made from timber and featured a gap big enough for me to gain access to the underside of the set so that I could use Tiedowns o attach puppets to the set floor. I had considered using this same platform for the interior set, but as the area of space the interior will take up is considerably smaller than the exterior set (which has a large expanse of grass and stones) I thought it would be worthwhile building a dedicated platform for it. Also it allows me to write a bit about how I make these platforms... Which are actually pretty simple timber frames.
First I had to cut the various pieces of timber to length using a standard saw. I premeasured the sizes I would need and then cut the lengths to size.
At this stage I also cut the blue-styrofoam into shape for the three walls that will feature in this set (left, right and back walls). You can see the various timbers and the styrofoam walls in the following picture.
The next step was to cut the joint shapes out of the various pieces of timber, using a hammer and chisels. Now - I'm not actually supposed to use a steel hammer with chisels (it's actually supposed to be a wooden or rubber one), but the steel one is all I had to hand, so I used that.
At this point I just want to say that if you want to use chisels PLEASE be careful. I actually gave myself a nasty cut when the chisel slipped. I cut my thumb right down to the bone when I was doing this build today! OUCH! I got quite nauseous. Luckily the nausea passed and there was next to no blood. I still have feeling in my thumb as well. So all is actually okay. I've cleaned up the wound and bound it to let it heal. Not the best thing to happen when you have a day of chiselling ahead of you. So, please remember these are dangerous tools - Treat them with respect.
You can bet I held them correctly for the rest of the day!
You can see in this image where I've marked off the part I want to remove (the idea is to remove a piece of WOOD... NOT YOUR THUMB!).
Some of the joint-ends required were more complicated than others...
Eventually I managed to get all of the pieces cut to the correct shape.
And it then came time to assemble them. To do this I used a drill to make pilot holes. And then a screwdriver to put screws into the pilot holes. I used two screws at each joint.
Thanks to the pilot holes, assembly of the frame never actually took very long to achieve.
A few more screws later and the animation platform (and floor of the cottage - which will be decorated with timbers) was attached to the frame. You can see that there is plenty of room underneath to give me access to the puppet Tiedowns.
And to give some idea of how the set will be laid out on top, I placed the walls in for this last photo...
I just want to finish by stressing once more the importance of being careful with your tools. I bet you're glad I never included a picture of my cut! It's not all that bad really... But it could have been a LOT worse! ;o)
I started building the three large trees for the Cottage Exterior set. These, along with some rocks and long grass, will be the final elements of the Cottage Exterior set. As I was building the first of the big trees it became apparant that I never had enough Seafoam to finish even one tree. So I had to stop that whilst I await a new order of Seafoam (3 boxes!) and scatter glue.
Here is the first tree "in progress"...
So, in the meantime, I decided I should crack on with building the Cottage Interior Set. The inside of Figet's Cottage is one large room with a big fireplace and an an Oven at one end. My aim is to make it cozy looking and at the same time a bit creepy.
When I first started building the Cottage Exteior Set, I actually built a large platform for it to sit on. This was made from timber and featured a gap big enough for me to gain access to the underside of the set so that I could use Tiedowns o attach puppets to the set floor. I had considered using this same platform for the interior set, but as the area of space the interior will take up is considerably smaller than the exterior set (which has a large expanse of grass and stones) I thought it would be worthwhile building a dedicated platform for it. Also it allows me to write a bit about how I make these platforms... Which are actually pretty simple timber frames.
First I had to cut the various pieces of timber to length using a standard saw. I premeasured the sizes I would need and then cut the lengths to size.
At this stage I also cut the blue-styrofoam into shape for the three walls that will feature in this set (left, right and back walls). You can see the various timbers and the styrofoam walls in the following picture.
The next step was to cut the joint shapes out of the various pieces of timber, using a hammer and chisels. Now - I'm not actually supposed to use a steel hammer with chisels (it's actually supposed to be a wooden or rubber one), but the steel one is all I had to hand, so I used that.
At this point I just want to say that if you want to use chisels PLEASE be careful. I actually gave myself a nasty cut when the chisel slipped. I cut my thumb right down to the bone when I was doing this build today! OUCH! I got quite nauseous. Luckily the nausea passed and there was next to no blood. I still have feeling in my thumb as well. So all is actually okay. I've cleaned up the wound and bound it to let it heal. Not the best thing to happen when you have a day of chiselling ahead of you. So, please remember these are dangerous tools - Treat them with respect.
You can bet I held them correctly for the rest of the day!
You can see in this image where I've marked off the part I want to remove (the idea is to remove a piece of WOOD... NOT YOUR THUMB!).
Some of the joint-ends required were more complicated than others...
Eventually I managed to get all of the pieces cut to the correct shape.
And it then came time to assemble them. To do this I used a drill to make pilot holes. And then a screwdriver to put screws into the pilot holes. I used two screws at each joint.
Thanks to the pilot holes, assembly of the frame never actually took very long to achieve.
A few more screws later and the animation platform (and floor of the cottage - which will be decorated with timbers) was attached to the frame. You can see that there is plenty of room underneath to give me access to the puppet Tiedowns.
And to give some idea of how the set will be laid out on top, I placed the walls in for this last photo...
I just want to finish by stressing once more the importance of being careful with your tools. I bet you're glad I never included a picture of my cut! It's not all that bad really... But it could have been a LOT worse! ;o)
posted by Paul (Vortex42) at
7:03 AM
7 Comments:
Ouch - makes me queasy just reading about it! I've avoided big cuts so far but seem to get burned at every opportunity...
The set looks great - really appreciate seeing how you're joining the frame. Will the walls be removable for access?
I am trying to work out if there will be an easy way (or even a need) to have a removable wall... The left hand wall would be the one most likely to need moving. Although... I can imagine needing to move the right one as well at points. I aim to get my storyboard finalised shortly - That should give me a good idea of what might be required. I only really need the full set for wide-shots... On mid-shots and close-ups I can actually light the puppet on it's own and simply composite them into the scenery. I'm hoping I don't actually need to make the walls removable.
Thankfully, my thumb has already started healing up! :o)
That is beautiful work, Paul. I wouldn't have bothered to make those lovely joins in the platform!, slambamwam rough is my way!
I should take a cue from you and use that sort of technique to achieve the joins at the peak of my roof timbers but I likely won't!
GOGOGO!
Nice animation stand Paul! I feel your pain man....i've gouged my thumb more than once with a chisel. First time I actually needed stitches! The second time I probably needed 'em again but it was right next to the nail that I thought stitches would be kinda impossible to do in that spot. Darn thing bled all night even with a tight bandage. Finally it stopped bleeding mid through the next day. The blood part doesn't bother me...it's the not being able to use my thumbs to work cause they're bandaged up that does!
Do you have a table saw? Those joints would have been a piece of cake with one of those heavy machines. Looks like you did a lot of chiseling on those joints, even with an injured thumb. Looks great!
Thanks all - The joins are actually pretty rough at points (I rushed the sawing side of things but was a bit more careful on the chiselling, so while the fittings aren't completely flush, they are tight enough)... But it's only a temporary structure, so I didn't mind too much about it being a little rough around the edges...
Just covering my tracks as I know there are some accomplished woodsmen out there who will be going "tsk tsk - Would you look at that messy saw work and atrocious chisel work!?".
;o)
I wish I had a table saw. I have loads of other tools but not one of those. It didn't take all that long to knock this together though. If it was a larger Live-action set, I'd prefer to use a table saw... I built one of those once, using this technique and it took about a week!
Check it out here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qByT6qkGDfQ
Cheers!
It's still a lot better than *my* animation stand! All I did for my band stage set was put four blocks of wood under each corner to raise the set up about four inches. I didn't need to any walks or anything but needed room for the long tie-down screws is all.
I don't have a table saw either. My dad however loves wood and did lots of carving and remodeling in his life. So I pretty much just use a lot of his tools whenever I need! :) Only drawback to this is the other day I had to help him move all of his lumber from the outside of the house to the shed...and let me tell you...it was A LOT of wood!
Your kitchen set looks good. Is that why you do stop motion now - smaller sets?
(^ rawhide mallets were what we were required to use back in college for woodwork banging of dowels and whatnots. rubber ones leave black marks and metal leaves nicks.
(^ speaking of nicks...
(^ THANK YOU for the admitting of the woops factor.
the abilty to put yourdself in harms way is seldom discussed: but happens ALL THE TIME on rush jobs.
"slow and steady wins the race"
--> tortuous speaking to hare.
(^ plus: the serious craftsmanship of an animation floor box HELPS in making the whole process... sacred.
(^the solid foundation may not seem to be my personified element in the mix, but perhaps that's because I'm tight lipped about that side of my job ethic.
(^ a large wooden maul/mallet was one of my favored tools long ago, but that's because I had to make it myself on a lathe.
and I STILL prefer to use this old over sized trowel of my grandfather's when doing masonry,
(^ while chewing blackjack gum just in case I need to clench my teeth.
perhaps oct 31 2009 can be a good eve to reveal widget's house warming party short or something.
barn raisings take lots of magic in the air t)o find floaters ready to assist.
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