Hello! Welcome to the Choo Choo Barn blog. I'm going to replace the "Backstage" section of our website with this blog, that way I can answer questions and have more in-depth explanations of what's going on and how I make new things for on the Choo Choo Barn display.
I actually have a long list of what I want to accomplish this winter. We close the Choo Choo Barn each year around Jan. 2, this year the magic date is actually Dec. 31. I'll start working on the display on Jan. 2 since we reopen March 15, 2008, giving me just shy of 11 weeks to get things done. I'll probably make different categories for each project so you can follow along from start to finish and see what goes on in between.
I've been walking around the display the past month, looking at every animation and every little detail to see what needs fixed, spruced up, replaced, changed, etc. I've noticed quite a few things that need some "attention". Here's some of what I've found: Search light on top of mountain over the cave needs lights replaced, still need a sign and lights on the new manufacturing plant I built a few years ago (I'm calling it "Whosit & Whatsit Manufacturing, Maker of High Quality Products", flashing lights on fire truck at accident, repair playground at park and at the campground behind the circus, new animation at the pipelayer right inside the entrance to the display, other road equipment working at road under construction, more animals moving in the zoo, new man mowing (I actually started this animation last year), repair the scrambler (this will be fun!!), finish the new fire truck for the fire scene (started this last year and never got it finished), more cars with headlights and a replica of a Turkey Hill Minit Market! We're (Eric & I) are also going to replace the HO track at Dutch Wonderland and re-do the creek bed. I'm also going to remake the Lady Gay river boat animation.
Looks like I'm going to be spending a lot of nights and weekends in my workshop again this winter. But that's what it's all about; designing, planning, building and creating the best exhibit of its kind. Here's a link to a recent article that was written in an Internet only magazine. http://www.toycollectormagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:choo-choo-barn&catid=34:features&Itemid=62 The atual article had tons of great pictures. I think they changed their format.
Well, that's it for now. As soon as I get started building, I'll be back.
