Wooden toy car
Brief
We were asked to design a toy car made of solid wood. There were restrictions given about the size of the car that were the following: Length of 200mm. Width of 120mm. Height of 120mm. We were only allowed to use wood and glue, and then finish it off with sandpaper to give it a professional and smooth finish. The wheels have to be able to turn, and we could use the grain of the wood to make unique patterns.
Research
Ideation
My initial idea was to make a flying, racer car, but after some critical thinking I decided to go with a car more on the vintage side. I also liked the idea of my car having an educational aspect to it, and that is why I put the idea in of putting shapes at the back.
Development
I liked my truck idea and also the educational aspect of it, so I decided to expand on that. I build it in a form of a truck with a back that can remove. At the back there is dowels coming out of it where the child can learn to put the right shapes on the right spots, as indicated by the decals I would make.
Manufacture
I am so in love with the design I have made. It is a fun toy but also has a learning aspect to it. While working with wood I learnt that I had some ideas that would be really hard to accomplish. I did my best with the number of tools and time I had and think the end result is nicely done. With the removable back you can decide what you want you truck to look like and how you want to play with it. The difficulties I had was when I was busy sanding one of my main parts broke of and I had to try and fix it. It was hard seeing that the way it broke the way I had to clamp it was reasonably hard, but I managed to fix it.
Decal Design
The decals I have chosen is too corporate the educational aspect of the toy car, where I chose 3 different shapes, in 3 different colours so the child playing with the toy can know where the place each of the chosen shapes. The other decal I chose was just a fun, decorative one to make the toy more unique.
Outcome
Through the process of making my wooden toy car, I learnt that I really enjoy working with wood, and would not mind becoming a carpenter. This was one of my favourite mediums I have worked with. My car gave me some issues especially when one of my parts broke of and I struggled to clamp it back together, but after I got it right, all was right in the world again. I really wanted to put a window in but with the difficulties that came with the wood, it was not possible for me to achieve. Through poking one of the dowels straight through the wood I made it possible for the back of the truck to come off. The decals I chose will be put at the back of the truck, in front of each dowel to show where each shape should be placed.
