In which I fix a barn built by my grandfather

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6005/6...64aab326d3.jpg
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!

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A closeup of the roof.

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

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The barn from the front.

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).
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6...a508c917bb.jpg
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.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6...abfd07118b.jpg
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.

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

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.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-egcuRyY5_Z...Small-barn.jpg

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

https://my.qoop.com/store/Patricia-S...pg,290,206.625
http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/co...ages/barn6.jpg
http://ugc.theknot.com/520965-original.jpg
http://www.readthehook.com/files/old...creek-barn.jpg

So what do you think, Mellos?

That predominantly green one is purty.

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Originally posted by RabbitMage

But I never got to play with it. Or touch it. Ever.

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Yep, know that feeling.

I like the red. American barns are always red.

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 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.

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I agree with this. Probably a fairly simple one that will be recognizable at a small size:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/membe...oking-love.jpg

It should look gorgeous in a nice barn red with white trim.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

What are the stall dimensions?

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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!

My daughter has a set like this: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

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: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MCdlSF5-L.jpg

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

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. :(

Quote:

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Originally posted by RabbitMage

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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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.

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.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6229/6...fb727b9e5c.jpg

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

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. :(

Progress!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6...58b421c97e.jpg

That is just so cute. <3

Looking good!

+1 :D

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

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My inner twelve year old girl has died and gone to heaven. <3<3<3

Oh lord, Zuul, so has mine. That thing is awesome. I would have played with it and my Breyer horses ALL. DAY. LONG.

That's class. Well done!

Very well done, indeed! Some great pics to capture your craftsmanship and artistry, too. Many thanks.

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Originally posted by Zuul

My inner twelve year old girl has died and gone to heaven. <3<3<3

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I need to show this to my actual 12-year old; she's a horse nut.

What a great job, that looks awesome.

That is absolutely brilliant.

Bravo :dumbo:

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.

Bless you! Those are going to be some very, very lucky kids.

Oh, wow. You hadn't mentioned that to me before. That is a wonderfully generous act. Bless you indeed!

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Originally posted by Zuul

Oh, wow. You hadn't mentioned that to me before. That is a wonderfully generous act. Bless you indeed!

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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. :3:

Of course, this means someday you're required to make another barn for your own children... Better start buffing up on those woodworking skills.

Why do you think I'm hacking together a chicken tractor? <3

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

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.

Thinking about some disadvantaged kid going home with that makes me tear up like a great big ninny. In a good way!

Oh, you are just awesome, RabbitMage.