I am seeing that building this is a great excuse to get some new tools. Knowing that the cab build was coming, I asked for and received a router for Christmas. I got to use it for the first time today. What a great tool. I started by doing a rough cut of the second side with the jig saw. Then I used a laminate bit on the router and just traced the first side. It mowed through the second side MDF like butter. I thought that there might be marks or divots. It was just as smooth as the first side. It was too easy.
With the confidence I just gained, I went on to cut the slots for the t-molding. T-molding is a plastic decorative trim that will be added at the very end of the build. The slot was just as easy. My only gripe is that one has to love the taste of MDF if he/she undertakes this hobby. That stuff went everywhere. Soon grabbed a face mask and continued.
After much procrastination (read… fear) I decided to try routing the first channel for the base plate. It needed to be 1/4 in deep and 3/4 in wide. I clamped a board to the surface to act as a guide. It was actually easy. The line was perfectly straight minus a couple of dings where I stopped paying attention (Note to self part II…). But It was very near perfect. I set the wheel base in the channel and it fit great. I then did the other cab side and it went well just as well. Later I cut the channel for the top boards on the first side. At this point it was getting dark and a little cold, so I called it a day. This is so much fun.
