Odin's Toy Factory: Etsy Listing 705872553 Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet

2019-05-15

Etsy Listing 705872553 Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet


Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Left Side Front View

I made a fleet of these trucks for my grandson. He has been playing with them for almost a year now. The photos are of a used truck because he grabbed them before I had a chance to take these photos.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet Etsy Listing 705872553

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Right Side

Except for the wheels, you can make all the parts for this truck from wood you can buy at a big box store. The body is cut with a scroll saw from a section of 2x4 although a piece of 2x6 would be easier. I had to reduce the size of the body to avoid the rounded corners on the 2x4. I had to adjust the sides of the bed to clear the wheels.

You could easily make this from MDF or any other wood you choose. I used pine because it was lighter than the other options and I like to keep the weight of my toy well under 16 ounces.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Right Side Front

You could drill a round hole for the window. It would be much easier but I think it completely changes the character of the design. If you don't have a scroll saw drilling the window might be your only option.


Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet -	Front

There isn't a lot of detail on the toy truck. The simple design is much easier to make than more complex toys. Plus, there are a lot fewer bits and pieces to make and get broken. I have considered adding some fenders.


Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Left Side

The sides are made from poplar hardwood and finished with amber shellac. I finished all of the parts before assembly masking the areas where the glue needs to be applied with blue painters tape. Getting the tape in the right place is always a bit of a trick.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Left Side Rear

The barrels are cut from a piece of 'closet pole' I had on hand. They did not fit the holes in the bead perfectly, so I had to drill the holes slightly tight and open them up with a sanding drum and a Dremel. Since then I have purchased a full set of forstner bits. The next time I make one of these I will have the proper size bits.


Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet -Right Side Rear

I recommend drilling the holes for the barrels after the body is completed. Paint and all. Use a very sharp Forstner bit or brad point bit and a drill press to drill the holes. Painters tape on the body will go a long way toward stopping tear out and chipping of the paint. Using this method to drilling the holes will help to ensure they are at right angles to the body. You could drill them in the block of wood before you cut the body but, getting the pattern mounted correctly and cutting it perfectly is more difficult to pull off. You also might want to consider drilling after the wheels are mounted. I make a T-Bucket Hot Rod that I drill with the wheels on. Its the only way I have found to get the hole for the peg doll centered and verticle.


Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - RightSide Front

I bought the wheels. I don't make wheels any more unless they are something special. It's faster and cheaper for me to buy them already made. The axles are 1/4-inch birch dowels. You could use axle pegs but, you need to be very careful to get the holes perfectly aligned, or you may wind up with a wheel not touching the ground. Using solid dowel axles makes repairs easier to make.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Left Side Front

The paint on this truck is Behr Oops paint from home depot applied by hand with a brush. I have had good results using these paints. I check in the paint section each time I go into the store and take home any bright colors I find there.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck & Tow Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet

The front of the truck is notched on the underside to work with the tow truck that is part of this series of five vehicles.

Handmade Wooden Toy Lorry Truck From The Quick N Easy 5 Truck Fleet - Right Side Top

These trucks are quite large:

Length: 9 inches
Height: 4 inches
Width: 3.5 inches

I would like to make smaller versions sometime in the future. More the size of the Play Pals and make some of the play pals with the notches for the tow hooks.