Windmill

Let me explain straight-away that this is not about the famous old London Theatre, dancing girls, or show-biz gossip.

Neither is it some sort of artistic interpretation of Don Quixote's most quoted adventure.

My 'story' is about building a model windmill, to replace an earlier model, built a few years back, which had succumbed to the ravages of wind and weather in our rear garden.

Those who are still reading on may be asking "Why pick on a windmill to build?" and I suppose it was partly because a model windmill can have moving parts, providing additional interest. (There cannot be many garden gnomes about with that sort of feature). Another reason was the idea of getting something free - wind power! Those with much wetter gardens than ours could, I suppose, consider building a waterwheel instead. But I digress............

The original windmill, as shown here, was based on a specific plan which came with a detailed list of the materials needed.

The old 'mill' incorporated moving sails, fantail and turntable, but I decided that the new project would be more interesting if the  replacement could be bigger, with a somewhat different design which,  with any luck, might also be stronger and longer lasting.

Of course one must avoid going over the top having regard to the weight and size of the finished model, unless it is to be built in situ, as there is the danger, with really grandiose schemes, of becoming extremely upset and emotional, when it dawns that your completed masterpiece will not possibly squeeze through the doorway and out into the garden.

One other potential hazard is the sails - obviously these need to be as big as practicable to catch any wind, but not so big as to be a threat to prized garden plants, visitors, dogs and children - a pile of bodies on the patio is not the best way to end the barbecue!

Above right is a sketch depicting the proposed new structure, which as you will see differs somewhat from the original.

The following nine pages chronicle the blood sweat and tears involved.

Building a Model Windmill
Body Building
More Body Building
The Sails
The Fantail
The Bits on the Top
Securing the Sails
Capping and Balcony
The Last Lap

If anyone has queries or comments, please drop me a line at stanley.lawson@ukonline.co.uk