The COCONUT EXPRESS is........

[jhart]

Just awesome!!!

[Pappy]

Larry, what kind of trouble are you trying to start for the rest of us?????

[mater]

That is excellent work Larry. I love it.

[lrogers]

Wow, thanks for all the kind comments fellows!

Hank,
With all the presents we have stuffed in that thing, I'm not sure a full scale CH-47 Chinnook could lift it. Empty, it's a two person job to move. Oh, how's the sim training going??? Is it all ready Christmas in Japan and are you flying yet??????

JSCOOK,
I'm not sure how much it cost, I very seldom keep track of that stuff (I'd probably be depressed if I did). Best I can figure, including the plans, hardware kit (combo from Miesel) ply, poplar and paint was under $200. Cost of labor, I won't even go there! Tool up wasn't bad, I had everything I needed, but did have to buy a new ROS about 3/4 of the way through when my little RYOBI burnt out a winding in the motor. Oh well, I got my $35 out of that little workhorse before it bit the big one.

Several jigs will make this project easier to build. A circle cutting jig for the bandsaw (all ready had), circle sanding jig for the disk sander (made from scraps in about 1/2 hour) and some 90 degree assembly jigs that I had from another project.

The plans (5 sheets) are quite good. I spent several shop sessions rough cutting all the parts and stacking them per assembly. I built the wheel/bumper assemblies first and they took forever due to the number of parts. Next came the fuel tank/toy drawer. The body of the train actually went together fairly quickly.

Painting is a project totally unto itself. I suggested STRONGLY that LOML grab the paint brushes and paint parts as I went along. She decided she would be all right doing sub assemblies. I like sleeping in a warm bed at night so I have not given her any "I-told-you-so's".

This project is a lot of work and will test your precision, but you will learn alot from it and have a lot of fun building it!

[SARGE..g-47]

Very nice work indeed Larry and congratulations on coming up with the idea for one. As long as I have been whacking wood, the thought never crossed my mind.. until your post. But it won't be erased easily as I think it would be safe to say that next Xmas is just around the corner..

Regards and sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor on Xmas morning which I have a feeling will be telegraphed by oohs and ahhhs and rightfully so!

Merry Xmas to you and yours...

[Scottydont]

That is great Larry! An heirloom for sure. For a minute I was envsioning modding that into a BT saw mobile stand! LOL!

[LinuxRandal]

That is great Larry! An heirloom for sure. For a minute I was envsioning modding that into a BT saw mobile stand! LOL!

That will be the Caboose..

[WoodButcher26]

Very cool. If there are other grandkids, I'm sure they're going to be clamoring for something similar soon. You may have just expanded your project list for the foreseeable future...

I'm subconsciously chuckling, 'cause my first son just got married this year, and I can see my own project list getting modified before too many years.


Kim

[JSUPreston]

Shoot, I was in your neck of the woods yesterday morning. Came in on the Holiday at 8:00 from the anniversary trip. Wish I'd known...I'd dropped by to see if I could "borrow" it from you. It would look great in my...I mean my son's room.

Great job. Hope the young fella likes it!

[GPA61]

WOW, great work Larry.

[GeekMom]

That looks great! What a labor of love!

[Wood_workur]

I love it!!!!!

[ChrisD]

Larry, that really makes me wish I had started working wood when my son was into trains. That is really nice. Your grandkids are very lucky to have such a thoughtful woodworker grandpa!