I've always wanted one of these old 50's style air stations to put outside my shop. I'm trying to make the front of the shop resemble an old service station. The price how-ever, of one of these in working or even restorable condition run from $500 to $2500! Not in the budget. BUT the latest Winfield Collection catalog had a pattern and all the necessary parts to make a replica out o wood. I bought the pattern ($12.95) and the decal set ($7.95). The wood was all scraps from previous projects: 2x4's and 1x4's. I bought a lamp base for the inside light and a couple different wattage bulbs to try. All in all with the pattern, parts and paints, I probably have about $35 in total. A heckuva lot cheaper then $500-2500!!
One of the things the pattern used was 1/4" plywood for the trim pieces. I opted to use some solid cherry 1/4" stock i had left over because of the solid side and no plywood layers to deal with when painting. The chrome paint I found from DupliColor (Universal Chrome) is one of the best chrome paints I ever used I think. I also used their Flame Red paint for the rest of the body parts. Since it's wood I used ACE sandable primer. For the chrome I used black primer and for the red I used the redder primer for automotive use. I have more pics from the build but they're not available on the netbook I'm using right now. How-ever, I took the finished pics tonight on my digital and had them on an SD card so here they are.
I illuminated it with a 4 watt bulb but think I need soemthing brighter like a 7 watt. The quick release connecter in not functional right now because I need to pick up a short brass nipple to be able to connect it to the existing air manifold of the shop to make it 'functional'. The numbers won't be functional but the unit will be able to supply air to the hose I plan to put on it.
It a nice patter and I would recommend it for any other motor head / wood worker looking to have one for the same purpose as mine.
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