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Thread: In which I fix a barn built by my grandfather

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    Default In which I fix a barn built by my grandfather


    Okay, it's a really small barn.

    The story behind the barn:

    When I was little, my step-grandpa started building this thing. I loved it as soon as I realized it had to do with horses. I wanted to look at it every time I went to their house. But I never got to play with it. Or touch it. Ever.

    When I was a teenager, my grandma mentioned to me offhand "You know, your grandpa built that for you. But he decided if he gave it to you you'd just break it and ruin it so he kept it instead." Well. Gee. Thanks for letting me know.

    He died several years ago. Not long after, I was helping grandma clean out her house and guess what I came across, partially boxed up and mouse eaten?

    "Oh, you can just toss that box."
    "Are you sure, grandma? This is that barn grandpa made."
    "Yes, just throw it away."
    "...can I have it?"
    "Oh, did you want it?"

    My grandparents are/were a special kind of special.

    The barn set in storage for years. I don't have kids and I don't have anywhere to display it. But I have some vague inkling of what I'd like to do with it, so the repairs began!


    A closeup of the roof.


    Looking down on the stalls with the roof and loft removed.


    The barn from the front.

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    So far I've given everything a thorough cleaning, and I patched some broken bits and chew marks on the turnouts (pictured under the barn in the first picture in the first post).

    Everything is now patched and sanded!

    Just for fun I stuck a few horses in there. These are "Classic" sized Breyers, about a 1/12th scale to a real horse.


    They take up both sides of the aisle, but they fit, technically! I feel like this might be a job for a smaller horse, though.


    eeee it's almost like looking into the real thing!

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    So my current debate has to do with painting. I'm pretty sure I'm going to leave the roof the color it is and just apply some kind of clear coat to it. The rest of it...I just don't know!

    I was debating going with the traditional red barn. It's classic, instantly familiar.


    But there are so many awesome barns I've seen. So many options.






    So what do you think, Mellos?

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    Oliphaunt The Original An Gadaí's avatar
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    That predominantly green one is purty.

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    Stegodon
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    Quote Originally posted by RabbitMage View post
    But I never got to play with it. Or touch it. Ever.
    Yep, know that feeling.

    I like the red. American barns are always red.
    Last edited by Zweedo Rodriguez; 24 Nov 2011 at 07:46 AM.

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    That is so cool, I love projects like that but I do let my kids play with and break the toys. Heck that just means we get to fix them.
    Though the covered train bridge was trashed beyond repair, :sigh:.

    It is cool, my son is too old for the wooden trains I made in such large numbers but we were looking at old pictures and he decided he wanted to set up a really large layout, I just asked him to wait until after Thanksgivings.

    The Red barn will look best as with toys it is always good for the toy to be obviously what it is suppose to be. I recommend adding a good luck hex over the main doors.

    What are the stall dimensions?

    Having a teen daughter I know a fair bit about different size and price ranges of toy horses. Just last we she painted up 4 of her old horses purple for a little project with me. I built a cart for them to pull out of a large block of styrofoam and other odds and ends.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    The Red barn will look best as with toys it is always good for the toy to be obviously what it is suppose to be. I recommend adding a good luck hex over the main doors.
    I agree with this. Probably a fairly simple one that will be recognizable at a small size:



    It should look gorgeous in a nice barn red with white trim.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

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    Quote Originally posted by What Exit? View post
    What are the stall dimensions?
    The stalls are all 4 1/2 inches long, 3 1/2 inches wide, and the walls are 3 1/2 inches tall. This is excluding the built-in mangers.

    So far the overwhelming response is for red and white, so I think that's the direction we'll be going!

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    My daughter has a set like this:

    I think they would be perfect for the stalls you are describing. I've seen them in most small toy stores/Hobby Shops or of course on line. A pretty cheap addition to your wonderful barn.

    Breyer has some smaller scale horses that would work but a higher prices of course. I would not order this one online though as I am sure of the size of the horses:

    You also might get lucky in the toy section of your local Dollar Store.

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    You know, looking at Breyer horses makes me want to keep this barn all for myself and get like a million horses and just sit on the floor and play ranch all day.

    Then I remember I have actual horses and an actual barn to look after. Real barn chores aren't as fun though.

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by RabbitMage View post
    You know, looking at Breyer horses makes me want to keep this barn all for myself and get like a million horses and just sit on the floor and play ranch all day.

    Then I remember I have actual horses and an actual barn to look after. Real barn chores aren't as fun though.
    I fully understand, when my son starts working on the electric trains, I'll be helping a lot. Though the wooden trains I'll only kibitz when he runs into problems with track layout.

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    So the inside of the barn got layer of wood stain last night in a lovely shade called curry. I wanted something to make the inside look a little warmer. I think it looks pretty good.


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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Cool project!

    I'd go for a red barn. And if you were from Ohio, you could put the Statehood Bicentennial logo on it, as was done to at least one barn in each of Ohio's 88 counties: http://www.ohiobarns.com/ohbarns/obpics/OB-Erie.jpeg

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    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    That is so cool...it's a shame you never got to play with it as a kid. I agree that red is the way to go...red with white trim would be so pretty.

    Seeing those Breyer horses is making me wonder what happened to mine. I had an awesome collection of them as a kid, but I haven't seen them in years.

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    Progress!


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    Oliphaunt
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    That is just so cute.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Looking good!

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    +1
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been busy.















    Last edited by RabbitMage; 14 Dec 2011 at 06:37 PM.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    My inner twelve year old girl has died and gone to heaven.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

  21. #21
    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    Oh lord, Zuul, so has mine. That thing is awesome. I would have played with it and my Breyer horses ALL. DAY. LONG.

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    Oliphaunt The Original An Gadaí's avatar
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    That's class. Well done!

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Very well done, indeed! Some great pics to capture your craftsmanship and artistry, too. Many thanks.

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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Zuul View post
    My inner twelve year old girl has died and gone to heaven.
    I need to show this to my actual 12-year old; she's a horse nut.
    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    What a great job, that looks awesome.

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    Administrator CatInASuit's avatar
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    That is absolutely brilliant.

    Bravo
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    No picture updates this time, but a little news.

    I decided that I wanted to find a way to use this project to help out my favorite horse rescue, TB Friends. They focus on rescuing Thoroughbreds off the track and out of feedlots among many other things. I wrote Joe, told him some of my ideas, and sent him some pictures.

    He told me about a summer program they put on at the ranch where kids come in for a week and learn all about horses. Many of these kids come from low income families. A lot of them might never see a horse in person if not for this program. A lot of them don't have much to play with at home, either. Every year Joe and his wife try and send a few gifts home with these kids. He'd like to send the barn home with one of them this year. That sounds awesome to me.

    In the meantime I'm gathering up a few of my old Breyers and some horse books I can part with. I'm hoping by the time summer rolls around each of the stalls will have a horse and I'll have an armful of books and other toys to bring the kids.

  28. #28
    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Bless you! Those are going to be some very, very lucky kids.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    Oh, wow. You hadn't mentioned that to me before. That is a wonderfully generous act. Bless you indeed!
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

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    Quote Originally posted by Zuul View post
    Oh, wow. You hadn't mentioned that to me before. That is a wonderfully generous act. Bless you indeed!
    It was a secret! Plus I wanted to talk it over with Joe before I said anything. But I'm super-excited about it. I hope lots of kids have an awesome summer.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    Of course, this means someday you're required to make another barn for your own children... Better start buffing up on those woodworking skills.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

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    Why do you think I'm hacking together a chicken tractor?

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    That is really sweet, Rabbit. If it was mine, I don't think I could part with it.

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    It's going to be hard, but the logistics of trying to hold onto it for X years and through at least two moves before my hypothetical kids would be old enough to play with it makes it a little easier. Or at very least logical.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    Thinking about some disadvantaged kid going home with that makes me tear up like a great big ninny. In a good way!
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

  36. #36
    Oliphaunt
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    Oh, you are just awesome, RabbitMage.
    Last edited by Orual; 30 Dec 2011 at 12:54 AM.

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