I like the shoehorn idea. I might have to look into that.
Ooh. The sound of Pandoraās box being openedā¦
Jim if Todd installs a shoehorn, you know, he will consider installing a sound card to make authentic shoe-horn honking sounds.
Once he gets that far, you know, he will be tempted to create bystanders like Penny Loafer and her father Doc Martin who just might be found standing under an old shoe tree.
Maybe a school for Buster Brown and all the other Keds?
Iām wondering Iām looking forward to what a shoehorn sounds like coming round a bend.
Gotta say itā¦Needs HEP cabling and Ditch Lites.
Ok done.
What does a shoehorn sound like?
Cables and ditch lights? Do laces on the boot count? I might put a headlight above the windshield.
I donāt think a shoehorn will work for the cow catchers so back to the drawing board on those.
The front of a āflip flopā perhaps?
This project has been slow in the making but here is an update.
I decided to make a cow catcher from a piece of PVC pipe with coffee stir sticks glued to it. The yellow thing is a electric wingnut that will be used as a headlight. The wooden chunk has stir sticks added for decking and it will be added to the boot to make an observation deck for passengers.
The catcher is painted black and secured to the sole.
My plan was to 3D print a side frame to cover the wheels but space was limited so I opted to cut out a piece of plexi that will be painted black. I recently saw a video clip from the original Star Wars and how they attached a mirror to Lukeās Landspeeder to hide the wheels underneath. The mirror was angled to reflect the ground below and give the illusion of the speeder floating on air. That would have been a neat add but I didnāt have a mirror so the plexi will work.
There is not much left to do.
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The boot is just about done and with another week to build, Iām thinking about banging together a LL Bean building facade (non whimsical) that will be placed in my main yard.
With a bit of selective compression and maybe losing a level I might be able to make it fit and still convey the idea.
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A bit more digging and looky what I found. Someone already built one.
Now this is giving me some ideas but how to fit it into a 24"wide by 20" tall space?
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I can relate to your quandry, Todd. For my Comstock mine designs, I had to reduce all footprints by 50% and heights by 25%. For the X-Y I reduced number of windows & doors, and made them a bit narrower. For the Z, I shortened the floor and window / door heights.
Your originalās Z might be 10ā per floor, plus another ~6ā for the parapet (hiding the roof slope, and giving signage space). Assuming 1/2" scale, thatās 36ā * 12" / 24 = 18" high, plus some for the center peak. That aināt bad, right? Or am I messing up somewhere?
For your X-Y, do you have a feel for the dimensions? The facade may need reduction in windows & doors.
I think you are on it Cliff and Iām getting my mind wrapped round this. Looking at the base floor first Iām thinking to make the windows 3.5x3.5" and the doors 2" wide by 4" tall. Each floor will be 6" tall so 18" for the 3 plus a few more for the top and then the triangle piece.
I found a decent looking shop window on Thingiverse and I have the first one currently on the printer. I will need 5.
Next up is to find a file for the upper windows and then figure out the measurements.
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Remember, you still have some money left over from the build, Todd. Make them an offer!
Might work, especially if he paid in F scale dollars. 
The Boot is done but the accompanying building facade is not going to make the deadline.
Earlier this week I was still in the mood to build something so why not a LL Bean shop that services boot mobiles? In researching I came across the original LL Bean building and choose to build it.
I was able to find window files for the 3D printer that were close enough in design so a bunch were made.
Getting the idea of the layout
The frame went together quickly. I use plastic trim for the foundation to keep water from wicking up into the pine.
I made the corbels by cutting a piece of trim down.
Here is where the construction of the facade stands now. Everything needs to be painted and the windows and doors need to be fitted with plexi and installed.
With only 2 days left in the Mik 2026 Iām left wondering where did the time go?
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This was the scene as of 6pm Sunday night. The Bootmobile, my Mik 2026 project is done but the extra credit building facade backdrop is not.
I was able to do a bit more on the building today and should have it done in time for the fashion show glamor shots of the boot.
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Love it! You are officially the only person who was booted into a competition.
Hope youāve got forward and reverse correct. You want your best foot forward.
Gives new meaning to the phrase ātoeing the lineā. 
