Category: Thunder Maker Workshop

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Making Etta’s Place with the Creality Falcon2 | Part 3

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

It's time to finish up our build of Etta's Place and work it into the overall scene on my On18 Bandit Canyon Ry. I also offer some final thoughts on the Creality Falcon2 22w Laser and its usefulness to the hobbyist. I was recently sent one of these diode laser machines for review and this is my third video ascertaining its value to my creative process and possibly yours. I'm very pleased with the way the structure has turned out and have no complaints about the general capabilities of the machine. I received the machine for review, but to be as objective as possible, I'm not accepting any compensation from the brand or its marketing partners. If you are shopping for a laser cutter, I hope this series of videos will help you to make a more informed decision.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

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Creality Falcon2: https://store.creality.com/products/falcon2-22w-laser-engraver-cutter?aid=ytZBUS Coupon code: Falcon50（$310 Off）
Creality Products Collection: https://store.creality.com/pages/creality-engravers?aid=ZBUS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWJ2LX74?maas=maas_adg_E293166AE9FFEC212F3A25EA91B7EBF3_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Making Etta's Place Part 1: https://youtu.be/l394hqucpk8
Making Etta's Place part 2: https://youtu.be/UUL1oSRflM0
Designing Laser Cut Structures with Adobe Illustrator: https://youtu.be/5pZWQwMsZPY

Making Etta’s Place with the Creality Falcon2 | Part 2

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Welcome back to Etta's Place, my current structure build where I'm putting the Creality Falcon2 22w Laser Cutter/Engraver through its paces. I was recently sent one of these diode laser machines for review and this is my second video ascertaining its value to hobbyists. I'm trying to be as objective as I can and give an honest assessment, free of the usual marketing hype. I received the machine for review, but I'm not accepting any compensation from the brand or its marketing partners. My goal is to see if and how the machine can be integrated into my creative process, and possibly yours. Along the way, we'll talk about safety, quality, and value for the dollar as I take "Etta's Place" from a stack of laser cut parts to an O scale model structure ready for the layout.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Creality Falcon2: https://store.creality.com/products/falcon2-22w-laser-engraver-cutter?aid=ytZBUS Coupon code: Falcon50（$310 Off）
Creality Products Collection: https://store.creality.com/pages/creality-engravers?aid=ZBUS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWJ2LX74?maas=maas_adg_E293166AE9FFEC212F3A25EA91B7EBF3_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Relate videos:
Making Etta's Place Part 1: https://youtu.be/l394hqucpk8
Designing Laser Cut Structures with Adobe Illustrator: https://youtu.be/5pZWQwMsZPY
Quick Tip on Laser Cutting Materials: https://youtu.be/P5uYP-jez8I

Making Etta’s Place with the Creality Falcon2 | Part 1

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Fun with lasers! I've been provided with a new Creality Falcon2 22w Laser Cutter/Engraver for review and put it right to work on a new structure build. I wanted to see if I could get the same quality laser cut parts from this lower cost machine that I've become accustomed to with my 50w Co2 laser cutter. Follow along as I take "Etta's Place" from a rough sketch to a stack of precision parts ready to build! Along the way, we'll cover design software like Adobe Illustrator and the Lightburn laser driver. Over the next couple videos, I'll be documenting the entire process using this machine and giving you my honest assessment of it as a useful tool for hobbyists.

Note: The honeycomb, stainless steel consumables, roller, and protective cover are NOT INCLUDED with the Creality Falcon2 as it comes "In the Box." I'm informed they are available to be purchased separately at the Creality website. Links below. I apologize for any confusion. The actual purchased product details are subject to the standard "In the Box" provided on the official Creality website.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Links:
Creality Falcon2: https://store.creality.com/products/falcon2-22w-laser-engraver-cutter?aid=ytZBUS Coupon code: Falcon50（$310 Off）

Creality Products Collection: https://store.creality.com/pages/creality-engravers?aid=ZBUS

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWJ2LX74?maas=maas_adg_E293166AE9FFEC212F3A25EA91B7EBF3_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Designing Laser Cut Structures with Adobe Illustrator: https://youtu.be/5pZWQwMsZPY

Quick Tip on Laser Cutting Materials: https://youtu.be/P5uYP-jez8I

 

Recreating the Big Thunder “Blasting Ahead” Sign

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Join me as I recreate a trackside sign from Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland in 1:1 scale! Disney fans will recognize this one from near the dynamite chomping goat as you crest the second lift hill. I use some basic hand tools and faux-finish painting techniques to recreate this prop from the park for the walls of Thunder Mesa Studio.

Thanks for watching!
Dave

Making a One-Off Sci-Fi Rocket Kit

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Taking a short break from working on the railroad to make a one-off rocket model kit as a Christmas gift for my son. From initial design, to a prototype build, to boxing it all up as a finished product, follow along as a I put it all together – including mistakes made and lessons learned along the way.

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Building a Southwestern Trading Post in O Scale

Posted on by Dave Meek

Yá’át’ééh! That’s a traditional Navajo greeting, and appropriate since today’s video is all about building an O scale roadside trading post like those found along old Route 66 on the Navajo Nation. In this stand-alone project, I wanted to try something from a different era than my usual modeling on the Thunder Mesa layout. Some of the modeling techniques covered in this build include:
• Creating realistic aged adobe and stucco finishes
• Old weathered paint on doors and windows
• Watercolor weathering on Illustration board walls
• LED interior lighting • Do-it-yourself corrugated metal roofing
• Realistic tarpaper roofing
• Modeling flagstone surfaces
• Signs, paper posters and more

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn in HO Scale

Posted on by Dave Meek

 

Welcome to this special preview of Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn in HO scale! This kit has been over 2 years in the making and Jake Johnson and I are excited to finally share it with the world. Crescent Creek Models produced an O scale version of this kit in 2019 for the 20th anniversary of Walt's Barn at Griffith Park and folks have been asking for an HO scale version ever since! Kits go on sale July 17th, 2021 - just in time for Disneyland's 66th birthday. https://thundermesa.studio/product/walt-disneys-carolwood-barn-ho-scale/

Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave

Dave Builds the Last Chance Gas kit in HO Scale

Posted on by Dave Meek

Join me for a step-by-step build of Crescent Creek Models HO scale Last Chance Gas kit! I helped to develop this kit with my business partner Jake Johnson, and we’re both really proud of how it came out. The kit is based on a 1930s era Conoco station from Peñasco, New Mexico, but could easily represent a rural gas station anywhere along the highways and backroads America.

Last Chance Gas in HO scale: https://thundermesa.studio/product/last-chance-gas-ho-scale/
Last Chance Gas in S scale: https://thundermesa.studio/product/last-chance-gas-s-scale/

Thanks for tuning in, amigos!
Dave

Building a Miniature Trebuchet

Posted on by Dave Meek

And now for something completely different! Join me as I venture beyond the world of Thunder Mesa in this first of a series of new maker videos that exploring other genres and creative pursuits that catch my fancy. For this first project, I'm building a Medieval trebuchet! These massive 12th century siege engines were the super weapons of their day, and I had a complete blast building this one in 1/4" scale. Watch over my shoulder as I hit the workbench and describe the build step-by-step from start to finish.

Thanks for tuning in, amigos!
Dave

Anatomy of a Trebuchet