'Round The Bunkhouse Stove

Just finished this first character for my Bunkhouse Stove scene. Had the wife come down and model her longjohns so I could get the folds right. I had some worries about the face and whether I could capture a yawn correctly but it turned out just right. There's lots of fine detail in that mouth but it should turn out okay once it's painted.

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I think there will be one more figure to go on the other side of the stove. I'm thinking a fella pouring himself a cup of coffee. I even have a thought of maybe dog laying on the floor. Will have to wait and see about that one.

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That's not the base I will use just a piece of scrap to take the photos. As always your comments are welcome and appreciated. Lots of photos in the Gallery and please, no comments about my wife in her underwear!!

Making A Bunkhouse Stove

I came across this photo the other day while looking for Bunkhouse reference material. While I've made potbelly stoves in the past I'd never considered a box style. It's clear that the fellas gathered around this heater are not Cowboys but it would be an easy matter to make some substitutions and come up with a real interesting western scene.

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When making a scene I almost always start with the main detail and then work in the other parts and characters. In the associated photos with this post you will find the measurements of my stove along with pictures of the raw blank and the finished product. In sawing out the blank I left the overall block square and cut out the shapes of the legs first. Next I sawed off the bottom of the stove with the legs attached. This left the stove in two pieces. I did this so I could make an ash pan openin

g at the front of the bottom which extended back underneath the box. It also makes it much easier to carve.

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Once the bottom was complete I whittled out the top and then the box shape and finally the details. I didn't concentrate too much on the outside stove ornamentation as it just isn't necessary. What little I did will be enough. To make the circular lid opening I used two forstner bits: a larger one to make the retaining ring and a smaller one to make the actual opening. I then cut a thin wooden circle for the lid to match the larger hole and then made a metal handle out of some steel rod.

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To finish it up I made the front latch out of a piece of coathanger wire and a piece of wooden dowel. The stove pipe is just some scrap wooden dowel from what I have no idea but it works.

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With the stove complete I'll now just set and wait until some character or characters show up to tell me what to do next.

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More photos in the Gallery and your comments are always welcome.