HELP! Child wants a train to paint [Archive] - Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community

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Dave Lehnert

11-27-2007, 9:24 PM

In the process of helping a 1st grade class with some wooden Christmas projects a very young man approached me and asked if I would build him a train. I am not sure what exactly he was asking me to do so I need some help.

He was holding a wooden dowel and said to make it out of that. But said the wood was flat. He also said he wanted to paint the pieces and put it together himself. I asked if it was something he had seen somewhere but said he made the idea up himself. He took his little finger and outline the shape of a train ( I think) in the air.

I am guessing he wants a puzzle with the train pieces (smoke stack, bell etc...) cut out of plywood so he can paint and glue together. I am thinking a picture like what would be in a child's coloring book as a pattern.

I do not have kids myself so I am not skilled at what a 5 year old is asking. He has had some serious health issues so I do not want to disappoint. I have built some very large complex projects but the pressure is sure on this one. It was so cute how he asked me. He asked me in a low voice like he was told not to ask but it was his only hope to get his train.

Anyone know what he may be asking me to build? Anyone have a pattern they would like to share with me? Any thought, ideas anything? I am wide open to ideas that will please this little boy for Christmas.

Matt Wolboldt

11-27-2007, 9:52 PM

I think I may understand what he's asking for. I've seen a little toy train where, as you described, the train is built up from separate pieces of wood. In other words, the smokestack, boiler, cab, etc are all separate and slide onto dowels mounted on a flat wood base with wheels. I hope this helps.
Matt

Rob Will

11-27-2007, 10:11 PM

There are a bunch of wooden toy trains on Amazon. This one has shapes that might be constructed out of a dowell rod. I'm still looking.
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Wooden-Railway-Train-Gordon/dp/B000UD4YRC/ref=sr_1_35?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1196219323&sr=1-35

Rob

Rob Will

11-27-2007, 10:15 PM

Name train idea:
http://www.amazon.com/NameTrain-3-Letters/dp/B000HEQJ54/ref=sr_1_89?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1196219666&sr=1-89

Rob

Rob Will

11-27-2007, 10:21 PM

Here ya go:
http://www.woodcraftplans.com/shop/search.asp?keys=train

Rob

Dave Lehnert

11-27-2007, 11:44 PM

Rob Will

11-28-2007, 12:19 AM

Here's a bunch of wood train ideas.
http://www.woodentracks.com/Train_Engines_Train_Cars.html

Also, at his age he will be outgrowing the basic "Thomas" so I would lean toward one of the "older" Thomas engines. He also is learning to write his name so perhaps a Thomas style engine followed by a series of letter cars that can be arranged to spell his name; then a caboose.

If the wood components had a coat of laquer sealer, he could paint them with gloss acrylic art paint. As far as the letters go, if the edges were either black or natural wood, and with the face of each letter painted a different color, that would look good. He could display this in his room on top of a dresser etc.(?)

Ready made wooden wheels would make this go a lot quicker.(?)
http://www.craftparts.com/mall/page38.asp

Good luck and let us know what you come up with,

Rob