Train on my brain.

[autobodyman]

After doing the train tunnels with the track on the mountain in the background, ( http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?t=14497 ) I thought it might be cool to do a train wrapping around a mountain. Train on the brain I guess, just thought it would be an interesting thing to try.

I thought about it for a little bit, drew up a rough pattern and then thought how am I going to get this many levels without screwing it up (hand carving) and ending up more than 1¼" thick and keep it scanable.

I decided to try doing this with some 1/8" plywood and carve each layer then glue up.

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t01595.jpg
I started by stack cutting the outside of the pattern on 5 sheets of 1/8" BB ply. about 10½" tall by 11" wide.


http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t028184.jpg
I cut out 3 more sheets of 1/8" baltic birch plywood to finish the layout.


http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t038090.jpg
The first 3 sheets carved and glued up with the 4th sheet sitting on top.


http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t049723.jpg
4 layers glued up and carved. I stack cut 3 more layers tracing the 5th one for a shorter pattern.

To be continued (limited to 4 pics)

[autobodyman]

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t052650.jpg
6th glued on and carved.

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t064766.jpg
7th & 8th layer sitting there.

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100503/110511/0t08781.jpg
alll layers on, carved, sanded and clearcoated. Overall wound up 15/16" thick at the thickest point. Not sure how that works out, must be a combination of the Metric plywood (slightly less than 1/8th inch) and my carving some.

Took me around 18-22 hours to cut, carve, glue, sand, cut, carve, sand, clearcoat this.

Like I said other than carving this mostly because I thought it might be interesting, I don't really have a place for it, not sure it's all that good really? Might have been better if I had planned down some regular wood to 1/8" thick, don't really like the plywood look.

Could probably spice it up with some trees around the bottom, probably won't do anything more than scan it (after the clearcoat gets good and cured) for a while anyway. My next project is to get started on Western carving for an end table I've been planning to build for a few years.

What do you think?

Thanks ~Mike

[easybuilt]

Now that looks GREAT! It must have been a lot of fun to create. I guess it will make a beautiful decoration for a kids room. Nice work! I am impressed.

[Griz64]

That is on FANTASTIC looking project. Something to be very proud of. I would hang that on any of my walls. Its just a good thing no real trains have to climb a grade that severe. It looks great bud keep it up.

[want2b]

That is just way too cool!! I really like the way you worked out the different 'layers' to achieve the final product. I agree, for me that would be a keeper to proudly display in my shop if only to remind myself what could be accomplished.
Great job,
Rick H.

[brdad]

I think it is a very nice job. I have an honorary nephew who would love to have something like that on the wall in his room.

[Eagle Hollow]

Mike,

I think it's great. Another one in a series of fascinating projects. Thanks for sharing the picture and the process.

p.s. By the way, did you pick up the last cutting bit at Sears in Rapid City? I went to get all they had at $17 but they were all gone.

[James RS]

Great job, reminds me of Polar Express