Intro to Fab - Flashlight
Initial Idea
I began thinking of what I wanted my flashlight to look like. To do that, I brainstormed objects and scenes that lit up. The first thing that came to mind was a view of a house with light emanating from its windows. I then thought about its features. Should it be on a keychain? Should the light turn on when I turn a key?
I ended up with the idea of creating an apartment with its windows cut out. The model will be fabricated with balsa wood, an easy-to-use thin but non-bendable material. I will then paint the exterior to add more details.
Reference
I used these images as a reference for my model.
Materials
Through my concise research, I learned that many miniature models are made with Balso wood. Therefore, I chose this material as it is a thin material that I can easily cut with knives and woodshop tools.
I also utilized a spare coin battery that had a diameter of 1 inch, a spring, and copper tape.
Process
Here are my initial sketches on how I should proceed to fabricate my flashlight.
I bought a 6 x 12 balsa wood board from Michaels. I first marked my balsa wood to create 2 x 4 rectangles and then used the band saw to cut them out. The rest of the woodwork was done with a utility or exacto knife.
The internet recommends that I use CA glue to bond balsa wood together. However, I opted to use regular superglue. As it came with a brush applicator, it was easier for me to apply to the tiny pieces.
