Category: structures

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Building a Western Boomtown part 5: Goldie’s Place Bordello

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Every Wild West boomtown needs a bordello; a place where the lonesome miners can spend their hard earned gold dust on a little female “companionship.” Enter Gold Dust Goldie’s, the classic bordello from Knott’s Berry Farm Ghost Town. In this episode, I show how I built my version of Goldie’s Place, right down to the animated leg sticking out the window! Lot’s of wood structure construction tips in this one, including how to model old, weathered, paint-chipped walls.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Designing Laser Cut Structures with Adobe Illustrator

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Now for a much requested behind the scenes look at how I design my structures for the laser cutter using Adobe Illustrator. In this step-by-step tutorial, I demonstrate my favorite practices, techniques, and shortcuts for designing a structure in 1/4 inch scale, and then translating that design into laser cut parts. Naturally, all of the techniques are useful in other scales too. Some experience with cad or Adobe software is useful, but not required.

Thanks for watching amigos!
Dave

Flux Laser Cutters & Engravers

Adobe design software

Building a Western Boomtown Part 4: The Land Office

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

The wild west boomtown of Calico continues to grow with the addition of the land office! This little false front structure would be the first stop for anyone hoping to set up shop in town and make their fortune. In this episode, I share more laser assisted scratchbuilding techniques for wooden structures, with painting and finishing tips, LED lighting and a fully detailed interior.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Building a Western Boomtown Part 3: Butterfield Stage Depot

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Join me for the first structure build for the wild west boomtown of Calico! In this episode, I build the Butterfield Stagecoach Station from Knott’s Berry Farm, as originally designed by Paul Von Klieben. Step by step techniques and painting tips for modeling and weathering adobe walls and old fashioned tin roofing – plus wiring for LED lighting.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Building a Western Boomtown Part 1: Groundwork

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Howdy folks! Let’s build a Wild West boomtown! I’m jumping in with both boots on my 1880’s boomtown based on Knott’s Ghost Town and the real silver mining town of Calico. In this first installment, I lay the groundwork for the town with a road and some scenic rockwork built from XPF foam and Sculptamold. I also talk briefly about the12 volt DC power that will be used to light and animate the town’s structures.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

“Knott’s Preserved” by Christopher Merritt and J. Eric Lynxwiler: https://amzn.to/3n27CnE