Wooden Toy Train #4: Final construction, painted and ready to go

It’s been a long pause between drinks, so to speak, but I have finally gotten around to updating the progress on the toy train.

Because the boiler is hollow, it would be a great place to store things, so I wanted to make a way of being able to gain access. In the real thing, the front of the boiler opens up, or so I believe, and of course there is access to the firebox in the cab section. For the toy, making the front open would be too complicated and too delicate, so I opted for making a fire door in the cab space.

Once again, to make a hinge like a proper door would be too complicated and too delicate, so I opted for a pair of rotating doors. Simply drill a hole in the firewall of the cab.

Photo shows the two halves of the fire door open.

Photo shows the fire doors closed with little wooden dowel knobs attached.

Better to paint before assembly, otherwise the paint would render the doors inoperable. Also glued one side of the cab to make an L shape. I find this helps a lot when it comes to gluing the cab assembly to the base. Once the glue has set, it is simply a matter of gluing the other side of the cab in place.

Note the two red marks on the yellow doors, this is to show that there is enough clearance to stop the doors from jamming shut.

There is just enough friction to keep the doors open or closed, no doubt over time this friction will lessen but a short sharp tap with a nail punch should help later on.

-- Tony, Australia, http://www.wooden-toy-plans.com/