The MIK is over and it is time to turn-to on the Triple O - 2026 Plans & Objectives. Some of these, such as the AM-Critter and the observation tower are 2025 hold-overs, but they are close enough to completion to merit starting in on the next project, rehabilitating our 2021 Mik Challenge – Hale Ipukukui o Haluku’ilio. Unlike some of our earlier rehab projects, we build this from the ground up, so, with luck, this should go smoothly.
The first thing the 1:24 gang and I did was really inspect it in situ on the railroad. There was a threat last year discussing water-proofing wood, and you can see some of the damage here TiteBond III vs. The Elements – A Tropical Sort-of Study as well as in our 2026 objectives. In summary, the soup cans held up, the cookie tin did not, horizontally placed wood rotted, wood in contact with rotting wood rotted, plastic exposed to lots of sun warped, and foam is immortal.
Here we go…
Our inspectors debarked at Haluku’ilio (Dog Wall), the main harbor of No’u’ea.
Five years have taken their toll on ke Hale Ipukukui o Haluku’ilio (the lighthouse at Haluku’ilio). Rust is visible from the station, and the support beams have collapsed.
Clearly, it is hazard to the keeper and surroundings and thus no help to mariners!
Closer inspection shows serious rot at the foot of one of the support beams.
Rot on the roof deck was everywhere and severe.
The tower structure, soup cans behind foam “rocks” and latex paint appeared solid, though rust was bleeding through.
The light platform was a totally different story. This cookie tin had all but surrendered to the elements!
Windows, doors, and trim, all of various plastic, held up OK. though southern facing ones buckled.
The windows were two pieces of plastic, with the girls drawing on one, an an outer sheet applied over the top. The artwork, what I think is the most important part as it, more than anything, places this building in time, seems to have survived.
Goals for the rehab include:
- Preserve original art work. This was a real challenge during the Refurbishing Mama’s Bakery No Ka Oi. Everything else is just parts; their artwork is unique.
- Make the model moveable. We have learned to accept the knicks and scrapes of moving things on and off the lanai. These are easy to repair. We build to the exacting standars of 1:24-ish PLAYMOBIL scale, anyway, so none of our structures are loaded with fine detail!
- Apply lessons learned. We’ve learned a lot about techniques, glues, paints, materials, etc. over the last couple years. To the degree that using these doesn’t conflict with #1 and #2, above, we are going to use them!
I am still weighing using plastic for the deck and external tower braces. I’ve no idea what to use for the lightplatform itself, though I am weighing a plastic wrap around the original foam core. I don’t intend to replace the cans in the interior of the tower, though I may pull off a couple stones just to see how bad the rot really is.
We’ll see what comes out the backside of this project!
Eric
