| | | |

Scale model memories

The older one gets, the older ones family members gets. It also becomes harder it can be to find/give a gift that they do not already have and also communicates even a fraction of the sense of love and appreciation you have for them. So when my parents began to talk about renovating the pool, patio and backyard of the house they live in, which I grew up in, but were uncertain of some design choices, I sensed a great gift giving opportunity.

The idea started out both small and simple – to mock up the backyard layout in Sketchup to help visualize some design choices about patio stone layout, colours, pool trim, etc. As time went by – the start of the pandemic delayed the scheduling/start of the contracted renovations – with each trip I’d visit them I’d get a few more measurements of rooms in the house and add details to the model. By the time the leaves were falling off the trees, I had hatched large ideas for a small scale version of their house as a Christmas present.

For the next few birthdays, anniversaries, or Christmases, there would be an additional detail added to the model until it was so large that Dad decided it needed its own table. This

Approximate Timeline:

  • December 2020 – Main House
  • July 2021 – Backyard Build
  • April 2022 – Front Yard Grown In
Name(Required)

Similar Posts

  • | | | | | |

    Zelda: Breath of the Wild table

    Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. This project was filled with so many mediums and opportunities to stretch my skills that it’s easily one of my most reference projects when someone asks what an ambitious Idealien Studios project looks like.

  • |

    Delightful DND Diorama & Cars

    What happens when you give a DND character, a bugbear named Gortho, one year and access to many maker tools? He creates a cave workshop and builds multiple cars to try and win the Best In Show award for a modified Pinewood Derby challenge.

  • | | | |

    DND campaign creations

    DND is equal parts decisions with dice, improvised storytelling, puzzle solving and world building that is unlike any other game you might try. For long-running campaigns, the chance to bring the best bits of lore out into the real world is a fantastic experience to share.

  • | |

    Hex-A-Deck

    The deck consultant from the nearest (orange) big box store sai “Everything you are thinking of is structurally sound, but it flies in the face of hundreds of years of engineering principles.”

    With Jim Carrey’s, “So you’re telling me there’s a chance” echoing in my head, I began an ambitious hex-a-deck building adventure.

  • | |

    Spicy little spice racks

    Some of the projects that have the biggest impact on day-to-day quality of life are also the simplest. These 3D printed spice racks mounted on the inside of a cabinet door for easy access when a dish needs a dash of something extra.

  • Improv team shirts

    This set of shirts went from idea to execution in one incredibly fun week. Once the team came up with their punderful name, we sketched out some concepts that I polished up into a final design to play on the idea of lighting and a lightbulb shaped BBQ.