Large Scale Central

Mina Mine bunkhouse

Modeling
#1

Ray Dunakin does some fantastic videos exploring old mines. One recent trip was to the Mina Mine in Nevada. Ghost Towns, Mines, and More!

Among many cool features, was the multi-room bunkhouse.

I instantly realized I needed to model it. Here’s my minimal progress so far.

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Redwood beams for the frame, and some redwood for the deck flooring. I cut up four Bachmann mine buildings, removing the roof peaks, and glued them together end to end. They sit on a floor of PVC board that will be scribed and weathered.

Next up is figuring out the roof line and getting the joists assembled.

2 Likes
What's on your workbench?
#2

Game on !

I meant I’m watching…I love shotgun style housing. Nice redwood BTW.

1 Like
#3

Looks like your halfway into getting started. interesting choice not normally modeled :sunglasses:

1 Like
#4

I never seem to take pictures before I start a project, and then a bit into it I think “I shoud document this!” So, here’s a few pictures of the base. Started with some reclaimed redwood boards that a site member was kind enough to give me several years ago. I have a supply of this ripped into beams and boards to make various things.

The basic frame glued and assembled. Need to dig out the brad nailer…

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Add the flooring for the deck.

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And then with the base of the individual rooms.

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Next up, like I said earlier, is figuring out the roof lines and deciding if I want to cut the joists out of PVC or 3D print them.

2 Likes
#5

Wow those buildings cut up are just about perfect. Had you not said what you used I would have thought you used raw materiel to copy the prototype. It looks very close to the picture in style and shape. Nice start.

1 Like
#6

Progress photos on how I design a roof truss.

Parts 1 and 2 are to get the sizing right. 3 was to see if beams would be strong enough (they are), and 4 is the general layout of the supports. 5th and probably final version is on the printer currently.

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3 Likes
#7

Looking GOOD!

Where will this go?

#8

No idea where this will sit. With the RR redesign I lost some major industries and I haven’t figured where they will go.

1 Like
#9

Ok, that one looks good. Now to print a couple more….

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#10

Roof trusses done. These eight plus one already printed. Now to figure out the next steps.

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3 Likes
#11

Trusses look good, Bob. 3D printing made quick work of them.

3 Likes
#12

They DO look good.
I suspect that the NEXT step is to put them in place!

1 Like
#13

Thats the hard part.

#14

Bob I’m liking this build for so many reasons. First, Ray takes some cool pictures of unique over looked by others buildings. Then you are proving the worth of 3D printing. Lastly its just turning out to be a neat build

1 Like
#15

A bit more work. Starting to glue up the roof and trusses, and printing some cross-bracing for the trusses as well

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3 Likes
#16

Lower cross bracing designed, and currently printing them all. Now to design the upper set and the ridge.

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1 Like
#17

I dont think you are working fast enough. Too much time between posts. My legs are falling asleep from sitting on the edge of my chair.

Great progress so far. Gonna be a nice structure.

#18

Great work, Bob. I love all the 3 D printing :nerd_face:. Like that is a surprise :wink:. How are you attaching the cross braces to the roof trusses?

#19

Awesome project, and already looking great! I’m glad to see someone modeling this interesting bunkhouse. I’ve always thought it would be a good subject to model, but there’s no room for it on my layout.

1 Like
#20

I’m a huge fan of 5 minute epoxy for this kind of thing. Since 3D printed objects have the lines from printing, it grabs pretty well.