Backyard Things That Are Fun to Build - Hardcover

Wallace, Ray; Wallace, Raymond E.

 
9780965127561: Backyard Things That Are Fun to Build

Synopsis

Eighteen how-to building projects for children, completely illustrated with general construction guidelines, featuring a fort, pirate ship, rocket, and train, and other realistic playthings constructed from common scrap materials and recycled household items.

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About the Author

Ray Wallace has loved to build and draw ever since he was a child. Raised in Corona Del Mar, California, Ray spent many happy hours dreaming up and building "backyard things" with his neighborhood buddies. Inexpensive, educational and pure fun, these scrap-lumber creations became one of his passions.Through this early creative play, Ray developed many practical skills which served him well later in life. As a teenager, Ray became the first boy scout in the United States to achieve eagle scout twice (eagle scout & quarter master). As a reward, Ray was selected for a "hunting excursion" across the South Seas in the expedition ship Stranger. It was 1934 and World War II was on the horizon. To Ray's surprise, he discovered the "excursion" was secretly charting the South Seas in preparation for conflict!Eventually, Ray put his drawing skills to work as staff artist for the Copley newspaper chain. After establishing his own advertising agency, Ray needed a "keep-busy" project between jobs. He began to sketch all the wonderful "Backyard Things" he had loved and made as a youngster. The result is the one-of-a-kind book, "Backyard" Things That Are Fun To Build!Over the years, Ray has continued to design and build. One of his many designs for the amusement industry is the Columbia Sailing Ship located in the Rivers of America at Disneyland(. In fact, Ray was designated honorary captain of the Columbia by Walt Disney in 1958.Today, Ray Wallace, renowned designer, artist, architect, licensed master mariner and ocean-racing yachtsman, is founder and C.E.O. of Special Productions, Inc. in San Pedro, California, a world leader in design, architecture and construction for entertainment park and recreation industries. Ray's international roster of clients includes: Six Flags(, Sea World(, Knott's Berry Farm(, The Walt Disney Company( and many more. A reputable award-winning artist, specializing in representational fine art, Ray Wallace is unique in his comprehension of art and architecture and its influential effect on people.

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FRONTIER FORT Think of all the fun you'd have with a real frontier fort. Here's where your troops can camp overnight, or plan patrols and wilderness expeditions. Maybe you could build a tepee village right near the fort and trade with the neighborhood tribe.Next time you are near a place where they sell bicycles, ask the salesperson for some bicycle cartons or boxes. These are big and sort of flat and easy to cut to make walls and doors. Be very careful when you are cutting cardboard and always push the knife away from you. Remember, when building, always think safety first. Get some posts and stick them in the ground where your fort is going to be. You may have to dig a hole first. Then nail some long strips of wood across the top and bottom of the posts, but leave an opening where you want the gate. When you have cut the cardboard, nail the big pieces on the outside of the wooden strips, then you will have walls for your fort. If you want, you can cut the top edge of the cardboard to look like sharpened posts, like in the picture. The gates can be two pieces of cardboard nailed to the gate posts. You don't need hinges because the cardboard will bend. You should make the walls about as high as your head or maybe a little higher. If you have room in your backyard or in a vacant lot, you can make it pretty big, but you should get some friends to help you. Maybe you can find some more lumber and boxes and sawhorses, and build a general's headquarters and ramparts to shoot toy guns from. A cot under the ramparts makes a good hospital. A good idea is to make the gate big enough to get the covered wagon or stage coach inside, so you can save the settlers from outside attacks.

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