I Cannot Believe My Eyes

I regret to say that the model is not yet anchored to the wall for display. However, that is the next step. OPUS 1 IS 99.99% COMPLETE!!!! Let me explain...

First, the molding needed to be finished, glued and touched up.....check!
Second, all the parts needed to be screwed together to make it easy to assemble.....check!

Mounting screws holding the Ruckpositiv to the shelf

The only thing that I ran into is how to attach the Oberwerk to the console base? Last time I wrote about this, I would be gluing it after everything was assembled. However, if I ever have to take the model apart to transport, it will be very hard to remove that mid section if the Oberwerk was attached permanently. A solution...straps.

Yes, four straps (two on each side) will be screwed into the console base and the Oberwerk in order to better secure the Oberwerk without permanently fixing it in place. These will be put in place next weekend when the organ is mounted to the wall.

SO, at the end of the day, it was a family effort to set up a table to put ALL the pieces together. Taking a picture with the model laying down required a latter, but I managed to get some interesting shots. With that, I leave you a series of those photos.

Opus 1

Weird shot...yes, it's been rotated a few times.

Tune in next week for my final post for Opus 1! At the same time, you will find out the plans for Opus 2! Things are moving in the right direction! Until next time...

To Infinity and Beyond

Everything is coming together nicely and Opus 1 is nearing 100% completion. I expect next weeks post will be pictures of it mounted in place, on display for all to see. Like I said in the last post, the weekend was dedicated to preparing the shelf/choir loft. At this point, the shelf is all stained and ready...

...I would say the corbels are also ready. Although, maybe one more coat of sealer...

...and the molding is almost finished. I need to do around 2 coats of sealer followed by another round of the ivory/white combination.

So, what remains? I need to secure the brace that has been glued to the Ruckpositiv and paint it. This brace will be used to mount the Ruckpositiv to the shelf. I would also need to paint it red as well.

Following this...

1. The corbels can be screwed in place to the shelf
2. The shelf and corbels can be aligned and mounted to the wall
3. The molding may be glued to the shelf and any touch-up jobs may be done at that time.
4. The keydesk base can be screwed into the shelf. Afterward, the Oberwerk may then be glued to this piece.
5. Once everything is securely fastened and in place, the Hauptwerk can be placed on top of the Oberwerk, the two pedal towers are placed next to the center piece...

...and then you have a complete Opus 1!! It is amazing that a year has come and gone.

I've recently stumbled onto a phrase that is not commonly used here in the US of A. The word is Gap Year and, according to dictionary.com, can be defined as, a year's break taken by a student between leaving school and starting further education. Synonyms may include sabbatical, time off, time out and a year out. In my vocation, it may be called a leave of absence.

Call it what you will, but this year has certainly been a gap year and this model will forever symbolize this year of my life. It has kept my mind on this year and the personal goals that I set for myself back before I started this project. It has become a new hobby and I have learned a lot! However, the year is coming to and end. Though I cannot publicly announce what is the next chapter in my life, I can say that there will be enough time to potentially build TWO MORE ORGANS before this gap year officially ends.

I will go into more detail in later posts when I start them. However, to give you an idea: Opus 2 will be a fictitious "rock organ" for my dad. I spoke of this in a previous post. However, the design has completely changed. Opus 3 is a large chapel organ around 10in wide and 18in tall with 51 pipes. To put that into perspective, Opus 1 has a total of 171 pipes. Pictures and my usual rants about the history and designs of both will come in time. Until then, I thank you for checking out my organ blog and seeing the fruits of my labour.

Until next time...

A Secure Foundation

Let's asses the situation. This weekends goals:

1. Finish Ruckpositiv (glue skin, touch up paint, etc...)
2. Cut shelf to size
3. Cut choir loft molding to size
4. Experiment and different color stains for choir loft molding and corbels.
5. Stain shelf

For this week, I certainly got more of the set goals accomplished as compared to last week. All but number 5 has been done plus a little more. Let's take a look...

One thing I've forgotten to mention in the last few blogs concerns the base and the Oberwerk. Initially, I was going to use a latch to secure these two "modules" of Opus 1. However, after some thought, I've decided to glue the Oberwerk to the base/keydesk area. Before this is done, a few things need to be accomplished.

I cut up a piece of 2x4 and placed them in each corner of the base. I also threw in some of the wood left over in there as well, making the base "a secure foundation." When the shelf is made, this base will be screwed into the shelf. The screws will be screwed into these four corner blocks. After this is done, I will then permanently glue the Oberwerk to the base/keydesk module.

The four blocks will be used to mount this base to the shelf.

The finished Ruckpositiv (L), Oberwerk (C) and Hauptwerk (R)

Now that the Ruckpositiv is finished, this means that the organ as a whole is now 100% complete. What remains is all that needs to be done to the shelf and mount all the pieces together. Let's start with the preparations for the shelf.

I went ahead and cut the shelf to size, that being 24 inches long. Next came the preparations to cutting the 1.5 inch deep notch for the Ruckpositiv to fit into. After taking the appropriate measurements, out came the jig saw. With some instruction from my dad and practice on a test piece, the notch was cut out successfully and no blood was shed or finger lost! (I still cannot believe this!)

After some sanding, pilot holes will marked and drilled for the two corbels, the mounting brace for the Ruckpositiv as well as the four holes for the base/keydesk.

Ready...aim...FIRE!

Great Shot!

In the midst of all this, I went ahead and started staining some test pieces. With same strips of pine as the shelf, I stained one of them the pewter color that will be used predominately on the shelf. However, on another strip, I primed it with polycrylic first before using the pewter. As for the molding, I stained one the pewter color and the other "outside white." Next week, I will continue working with various staining methods until I have what I want for the "choir loft." The three solid stain colors I will be utilizing are the two just mentioned, pewter and outside white, along with ivory.

At the end of the day, I went ahead and dry-fitted everything together. I leave you with a montage of photos. Next week will be strictly devoted to figuring out my staining methods for the choir loft and applying those methods to the actual pieces.

Until next time...

Getting Closer...

First thing's first...let's see how well I've stuck to this weekend's goals:

1. Finish all molding detail.
2. Create, paint and glue skins where needed.
3. Experiment with different staining techniques on a scrap piece of wood.
4. Cut shelf to size.

The result if a BIG FAT F! That is to say I've done 50% of the above, the first two to be specific. Still, don't need to panic just yet.

I did run into some more snags when I was piecing together the large molding. Needed to create another small filler piece or that "key stone" piece was not going to fit. Plus, I also made the necessary shortening to one of the small molding pieces that fit around the right "pointed pipe" section. With this, all the molding was painted and glued to the model. Next came the touch up process, which has not been finished.

After putting some home made putty in a few of the cracks, I sanded the molding, trying my best to make it look like a unified whole. I've said it before and I'll say it again...the molding is a pain...but a necessary pain. I've certainly impressed myself with my "molding skills." However, it's not perfect. I guess all the imperfections and learning curves with this model will add to its character.

Once the molding was in place, I went ahead and traced the patterns for the skins. There were four to be made. The top left, the top right, the very top and the back skin. I wouldn't normally need a back skin. However, with the Ruckpositiv's unique position in this model, it needed the magic of a skin.

Molding all attached, sanded and ready to be touched up. Very top skin being glued.

Back Skin Cutout

At the present, all three top skins have been glued on. The back skin has been painted, but is not affixed to the model yet. A few more coats of touch-up paint still need to be applied to all the molding as well the skins. After all this is done, I will be able to call Opus 1 complete! The only thing left would be the shelf.

So, this will be the proposed goals for next week:

1. Finish Ruckpositiv (glue skin, touch up paint, etc...)
2. Cut shelf to size
3. Cut choir loft molding to size
4. Experiment and different color stains for choir loft molding and corbels.
5. Stain shelf

Good things are on the horizon. Until next time...

Determined

Certainly, I am determined as Opus 1 comes to a close. Let's go to the calendar to see how this weekend compares to it's set goals:

1. Purchase all that is required for constructing and staining the loft.
2. Glue the remaining pipe shades in place
3. Cut all molding, large and small.
4. Paint and affix all molding. (time permitting)

I can say that I have met my expectations and have completed all four tasks at hand, including the time permitting number four. Let me start from the top!

All the materials for the shelf/loft have been purchased. This consists of the two corbels, the shelf itself and the stains that I will use to decorate the loft.

One of two corbels that the shelf will be mounted to.

1.00 x 12.00 x 48.00 pine board to be used as the shelf.

Of course, the shelf will need to be cut to size as well as the slot for the Ruckpositiv will need to be created. I didn't bother taking a picture of the stains. I will write more about that in the coming weeks. Like many aspects of this project, using the stains to make this shelf similar to a choir loft will be a challenge in and of itself!

I will combine numbers 2, 3, and 4 all into one. Yes, the remaining pipe shades were glued onto the Ruckpositiv. As this was done, I started to cut the large molding followed by the small molding. I forgot how much I hate molding but the feeling came back very quick. The smaller molding, which there is much more of on this division as compared to the large molding, was particularly painful to be it kindly.

Top right molding

Bottom molding

First, I was able to make use of some of the scrap pieces from previous sessions within this model. By the time I was done, I just had enough to complete all the small molding. Everything in between was the usual nightmare that comes with this feature of the model. It adds a nice touch. However, it is a serious pain creating every piece!

By the end of the day, I managed to paint all the molding, including the large molding (not shown). As far as affixing them to the Ruckpositiv, I'm about 80% done. I ran into some snags with the bottom molding. Plus, once everything's on, I will certainly need to putty some areas, sand and touch-up the paint.

I thought I would have the entire division done today. Still, I'm happy with the overall progress made. As for next weekend, I propose the following goals:

1. Finish all molding detail.
2. Create, paint and glue skins where needed.
3. Experiment with different staining techniques on a scrap piece of wood.
4. Cut shelf to size.

I think the above four goals are do-able for next weekend. We're in the final stretch. The pain of anticipation has crept in but the finish line is in sight.

Until next time...

Ludicrous Speed

According to my itinerary, today should have been as follows:

1. Fit and glue flat and pointed pipes of Ruckpositiv
2. Finish pipe shades for at least the center pipes of the Ruckpositiv.
3. Start to cut the small molding.

Well, I completed number one. As for number two, not only did I finish the pipe shades for the Ruckpositiv center, but I've finished ALL the pipe shades!!! As for number three...no, not today. Either way, the Ruckpositiv is really coming together and Opus 1 is that much closer to completion.

I first situated all the flat pipes into their respect holes. After dry fitting them in, I went ahead and glued them in place. Afterwards, I was able to glue the "pointed pipes" in place. Thanks to the triangular brace that I glued at the bottom, these pipes were able to hold their shape.

As always, I was multitasking. After creating a pipe shade template for the flat pipes, I started to cut them out. Also, at the same time, I put the final touches of paint on the center shades.

Things then started to come together. Once all the other pipes were in place, the center pipes were glued into place. After drying, both grills were clamped and glued around the pipe guide. While this was going on, the pipe shades for the flat pipes were getting sealed, primed and painted. Afterward, you guessed it, they were glued into place. By the end of the day, I was able to finish the painting process for the other pipe shades, those associated with the pointed pipes. However, I did not have time to glue them in place.

Indeed, many items have been accomplished today. Instead of creating a new itinerary, I shall list next weekends goals:

1. Purchase all that is required for constructing and staining the loft.
2. Glue the remaining pipe shades in place
3. Cut all molding, large and small.
4. Paint and affix all molding. (time permitting)

I'd like to turn our attention to the shelf / loft and shed a little more light on what I'm thinking for the last stage of Opus 1. Like I've stated in the last post, I was going to wrap the large molding around the shelf to make it look like a choir loft. I ordered another 8ft of this molding and when I opened the box, a gift (of sorts) was inside. Attached to the molding I ordered was a larger, a little more elaborate and sealed molding. It's 1.5in tall and 3/4in at its widest. This will make a perfect ledge for the choir loft. (O felix culpa!)

Surprise Molding

Projected "Loft"

The subject of this post sums up the progress made this weekend...Ludicrous Speed. The term comes from the Mel Brooks film Space Balls. I'll let the clip do the explaining. Until next time...