Alright, so I wanted to share what I’ve been up to lately. I decided to tackle this little project, just one saloon. Nothing too grand, just a single, solitary saloon. You know how it is, sometimes you just get an idea in your head.
Getting Started
So, first thing, I had to figure out what I was going to make it out of. I rummaged around in the workshop, you know, the place where bits and pieces go to retire. Found some old bits of wood, mostly scraps from other things I’ve cobbled together. Perfect, I thought. No need to buy anything fancy. Waste not, want not, eh?
I spent a good hour or two just sketching. Not proper blueprints, mind you. Just scribbles on the back of an old envelope. Getting the basic shape, thinking about the porch, those iconic swing doors. You gotta have the swing doors, right? Otherwise, it’s not really a saloon, is it?
The Messy Middle Part
Cutting the pieces was the next step. This is where things always get a bit… dusty. My old saw isn’t the sharpest, but it gets the job done. Had to be careful with the smaller bits, especially for the window frames. My fingers aren’t what they used to be, so it was slow going. Lots of measuring twice, cutting once. And sometimes measuring twice and still cutting it a bit wonky. That’s just how it goes.
Then came the gluing. I tell you, I always end up with more glue on my hands than on the actual project. It’s a skill, I suppose. Clamped the main walls together and let them sit. Patience is key here, something I’m always working on. I remember one time I rushed it, and the whole thing just sort of… sagged. Learned my lesson there.
The swing doors, oh boy, the swing doors. They were a bit of a head-scratcher. How to get them to hang right and actually swing? I tried a few things. Little bits of wire, some tiny hinges I salvaged from goodness knows where. Took a few goes, but eventually, they sort of worked. Not perfect, but they swing.
- Got the main structure up.
- Figured out the roof – just some flat pieces, kept it simple.
- Made a little bar counter for the inside. You can’t see it much, but I know it’s there.
Finishing Touches (or trying to)
Then it was painting time. I went for a sort of weathered wood look. Mixed up some browns and grays. It’s amazing what a bit of paint can do. Makes it look less like a pile of scraps and more like… well, a saloon. A tiny one, anyway.
I even tried to make a tiny sign. Just “SALOON” in shaky letters. My hand isn’t steady enough for fancy calligraphy, that’s for sure. But it adds a bit of character, I think.
The whole process, from start to finish, probably took me a few afternoons. Pottering about, a bit here, a bit there. It’s not like I was on a deadline. That’s the best kind of project, isn’t it? Just for the fun of it.
It’s sitting on the shelf now. Looks alright, if I do say so myself. Every time I look at it, I remember the little struggles, the slightly crooked window, the glue I had to peel off my fingers. But that’s what makes it mine. Just one saloon, built with my own two hands. Good stuff.
