WardWorks Studio Office

No, WardWorks isn't getting an office. At least, not yet.
I had a few ideas for an office that I've been wanting to get out of my head and since it's been too long since I've opened Sketchup, here you go.

No Job is Too Big - A Proton Pack Build

No Ghostbusters costume would be complete without a proton pack build.
I have a month to build the pack, finish the rest of my costume, and finish my son's costume.
I'm cutting it a bit short and will have to shortcut some details (which I will fix after Halloween).

The pack on Halloween.

The wand on Halloween.

We've GOT ONE! - A Ghost Trap Build

Many children of the '80s (and most adults) longed for a ghost trap and a proton pack. Since I never got either, combined with my son who loves Ghostbusters, I'm building us both traps.

Top of the line in paranormal containment.

Design Contest - Hardware

Every year Mockett holds a design competition for hardware and architectural components.
This year was the first year I managed to actually submit. Below are the components I submitted for entry. Winners should be announced in December.

The first design is a metal shelf bracket with a cotter pin that allows for differing shelf depths.

Keys for Logo Design

My favorite project, designing logos. I'll walk you through a few iterations and principles for logo design. One of the first to keep in mind, is a logo is going to end up on various pieces of media. A logo needs to be distilled to something that can be stitched on a shirt.

Barn Burning Sketchup Tutorial Part 2

In part 2 of the tutorial we will work on the exterior details. You can check out the previous tutorials here.

In part 1 we learned how to use many of the common tools, while illustrating the benefits of components & layers.

The barn with added exterior details.

Barn Burning Sketchup Tutorial Part 1

In this series, we are going to draw a barn. I will cover how to use many of the common tools, illustrate the benefits of components & layers, and provide a real-world application.

The finished product at the end of this tutorial.

Bottle Royale - A 3d Sketchup Modeling Lesson

This is how you draw a bottle in Sketchup.

Movie Poster Text

This is a great way to generate titles for your video or other applications. I'm going to use Sketchup and paint.net. Both are free applications.

The finished text.

I'm going to walk you through each command as we create the text.

Sketchup: Solar Study

Sketchup can be a great tool to develop a solar study. Below are three videos I created, two detailed animations and a rudimentary animation to delineate shadows.

3D Printing

I wish this were a post celebrating my new 3D printer. It's not. This is a post discussing the 3D printing class I recently finished.

The class served as an introduction to 3d printing and modeling, utilizing SolidWorks. While I had never used SolidWorks, I was one of two that already had a solid grasp on 3d modeling so the tasks were easy. The first class, I assisted three other people in completing the in-class assignment. The class only had seven people total.

The final project.

Designing an Out Building (with Video)

I decided I need an out building, so of course I designed one. It's ten feet by twelve feet. I'm planning 2x6 wood joists, plywood floor, wood studs, wood joists, wood siding or something similar.

Then I made it into  a video. Enjoy.

 Out Building Time Lapse Video

Upcoming Projects - Router Table, Vacuum Former, & More

NaNoWriMo is here and I am trying to crank out two-thousand words a day in an effort to meet the challenge of a fifty-thousand word novel by the end of the month. So far, so good. At the end of day four, I have 9,097 words. So you may not see a lot of actual progress on anything this month.

Now for a good excuse for pictures. Here are two upcoming projects. A router table which will be constructed of wood 2x4's and 3/4" plywood.  I will create some kind of track system for the guide board.

 And the more exciting project, the one that has caused me to collect toaster ovens all summer, is the plastic vacuum former. This device heats plastic, and in conjunction with a shop-vac will form plastic sheets to whatever plug I use. Expect to see toys, armor and whatever else I can image once it's done.

That's all for now. I've got to get back to writing!

Fireplace Mantle in a Weekend

It was actually two weekends, and it still needs paint.
For those of you that read the blog, this is not my mantle. I designed and built this mantle, and as a result designed and built myself a mantle.

I do have a tendency to improve the portions of my home that I improve for others.

This mantle fell victim to my nine month wood working hiatus as a result of my injuries sustained from working on my mantle. After two weekends of work, it's ready for paint.

The design is modern, something you would see on a home improvement show.

My Fireplace Mantle

I have resumed work on my fireplace mantle.  I had a nine month hiatus after an ER trip which was a result of working on it before.  This time there were no emergencies!

This is the end goal.

A Very Special Christmas Special Progress

So, in a weeks time, I've written a full draft for the hour long Christmas skit. The skit will span four Sundays in December.
We have to wrap it up in three weeks to allow for practices and set building to begin.

Fortunately, I have the set design done, with a few details to work out. We are planning to change the set from week to week- revising furniture and paint each week. We'd like to change the set during one of the skits. I think I've got an idea for that.

This really doesn't convey just how much detail is in this set.

You can tell the dividing and end walls are cut.
The seating wraps all the way to the back stage wall.

 The church already had a CAD plan of their stage, so I was able to design to exact specifications. Though you don't see in in the model, I've designed framing and structural components into the set.

Patio Design

Recently having designed a patio, I began thinking about my own (lack of) patio. So of course I had to design my own patio. This is the result.

I knew  I wanted a landing from the porch with two steps down to the patio.

I wanted the stairs to the ground to line up with the edge of the patio. After trail and error, I managed to get the levels to match as intended.

Of course, my wife had to add benches and a fire pit. Eventually I relented.

So this is now my fall project.  Like I didn't have enough to do =).

Patio & Bathroom Design

The task, design a patio and decorate a bathroom.

Patio Design
The current patio area contained a tall set of stairs without a landing. The goal was to have a patio that would house a grille and a landing to allow access to a clothes line. As you see, the design grew in size significantly.

Google Sketchup 3d Warehouse Contributions

I have uploaded a number of models to Google's 3d Warehouse.

The warehouse is place users can upload their personal models to share with the world.  I started uploading some of the models I used, then forgot about it... until now.

The most downloaded and viewed models were the handicap accessible grab bar models.

It's rewarding to think people are using something I created.

I was always disappointed the Ghostbuster's Firehouse didn't get more downloads. I suppose there is no accounting for taste.

Below are my uploads. 

Ghostbuster's Firehouse

The exact vanity I built for my bathroom.

A fireplace.

ADA toilet grab bars.

ADA shower grab bars and seat.

Mop sink.

Paper Towel Dispenser

ADA Sink Cabinet.

Soap dispenser.

Design Contests

A few years ago,  I entered a local design contest and won.

That propelled me to enter additional design contests and even a few video contests.
Unfortunately, I didn't win additional contests, and my interests have since shifted.

Design contests are a great way to push your creative side, learn, and develop your skills.  The fact that all contests have a deadline, means you can't put them off.

I have submitted a video for a Super Bowl commercial, a Lego animation, and designed a restaurant, an office building, a kitchen, and furniture.

I've also entered and even won a various 'photoshop' contests.

If you need something to do or you're stuck in a rut, try a contest. You may even win a prize.

The award-winning bus stop (that sadly, was never built).