WIP Toymaker Press Ciccarelli GranPrix

[Dr. Bob]

We have a cousin of my girlfriend staying over for a few days. He came in the shed to check out what I was doing. He asked if he could help me, I asked him if he wanted to make a car. He said he couldn't do it, I said he could.

I explained how the scrollsaw worked, gave him a piece of wood with some random lines on it to practice, and he did pretty good. I already had this in mind, so I had the plans for the Ciccarelli GranPrix of Toymaker Press laying around. It looks like it was designed on the computer, not in real life. Plans are quite easy, but the large hole in front does not look realistic to me, so that won't be made. The wheels also do not look great, so I make a few for him.

He already made the fenders and the thin pieces which hold the window. He is now busy with the main body, 3,6 mm thick, so that takes some time.

Here is a photo of the car how it should look, and a photo of me (in the back) and him (in front) working on the car. Tomorrow I will post the first pictures of the parts.

[DigBaddy]

Can't wait for some update pics! I was thinking of getting this pattern as well, but passed. Is this your first project from Toymaker Press?

[Dr. Bob]

Originally Posted by DigBaddy

Is this your first project from Toymaker Press?

Yes it is. They have a lot of new patterns, and they look good on paper, but I don't know how well they are put togther in real life. You can see that the instructions on paper are all from a drawing program on the computer, not real models. I don't like that because it gives me the feeling that they didn't bother to try it themselves, so the instructions to put together could be off.

Does anybody else have more experience with Toymaker Press patterns?

[shadowfx97]

I have their Snazzy plans and the farm set. While I have made a few changes to compensate for weak short grain and a couple of mainly aesthetic changes, in general, the plans are well done and easy to cut. I need to resize the plans because my computer doesn't print them out full size ( I bought the download version of the plans), but I've been pleased with the ones I have made. My impression has been that John and Cynthia cut at least one prototype of each toy, but I suppose the "models" shown on their website could be computer constructs.

[Dr. Bob]

Shadow,

The plans are easy to cut, but for beginners I think the directions to cut the holes for the front and lights could be better (the now are non-existant, or at least I can't find them) It can figure out how it should be done, but I think it should be included.
The rest is very simple and it's a fun sturdy car.


Here are some pictures of the progress with:
him sanding (gave me the wax on, wax off feeling of karate kid )
a testfit
using a drumsander on the vertical driller
the fenders
and painting the car

He did not like the sanding very much, so it has some rough edges, but who cares for his first made car? We also dropped the lights on the car because of time pressure. We can barely paint it twice before gluing it together so he can take it home with him.

[DigBaddy]

Looks like it is coming along real well!

[Dr. Bob]

Here is the finished product! He is pretty proud about it.

[cal]

To drill the holes in the body of the Ciccarelli Gran Prix, I drilled them in the wood block before cutting out the car body.

[Hawaiilad]

I have many toy designs from Toymaker Press and find all of them easy to make. Yea, some I have changed a bit, but don't we all do that. I find this a good company to work with. Our Grandkids this Christmas are going to have all hand made toys under the tree.