Above 1200 Sq/FT Abandoned Heliport | Studio + Garage

[shortykorte]

Cool. I like architectural models. What are the plans for the model?


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

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[speedminded]

Cool. I like architectural models. What are the plans for the model?


Shorty Korte
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Long term plan is to replace the semi-trailer shed thing with a hybrid modular house using a combination of shipping containers and pre-fab. Sometimes Sketch-up isn’t enough so having a model may help visualize it. Besides, all the greatest projects seem to have a model lol! I’ll probably build a frame around it and put glass on top for a coffee table.




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[drivesitfar]

if making models helps your vision that's great. I remember seeing some cool stuff at the architects offices in my past and once it was built and became real having it under glass or on a shelf was pretty cool too.

hope you and your friend have fully recovered from your accident.

 

[speedminded]

if making models helps your vision that's great. I remember seeing some cool stuff at the architects offices in my past and once it was built and became real having it under glass or on a shelf was pretty cool too.



hope you and your friend have fully recovered from your accident.

I did drafting and architectural design for several years so it’s only natural to make one of my own project!

The foam structures didn’t turn out the way I wanted so I redid them with styrene. Them dug up some scale corrugated sheets I’ve had in a box for 15 years!















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[shortykorte]

Nice start. I see where the styrene could be a better choice. Where are you getting the contour/elevation info for your land?


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

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[speedminded]

Nice start. I see where the styrene could be a better choice. Where are you getting the contour/elevation info for your land?


Shorty Korte
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It’s a relatively simple slope so probably just wing it. It’s so minimal that the 10’ USGS Topo doesn’t even have a contour line through it (I did land surveying and civil drafting & design in a previous life).

My #1 issue with the property is 1/3 of it is so flat that there is no drainage at the back of the buildings. Installing gutters and collecting water would help but I still need to push some dirt around and cut in a long swale to help it move.

I’m literally the highest point within 1000’ yet still have run-off issues lol!

 

[PhantomEB]

Man.... that kinda roof square footage is just begging for rainwater harvesting. Release when it’s dry if not needed!

 

[Growlertdi]

This thread gets better and better. Nice work on the scale model.

Glad you and your friend are on the mend. Keep up the good work.

 

[joneschase]

I second the rainwater collection. Dig a big cistern and run all of the gutters to it. Use it for car washing, irrigation for garden/lawn, etc.


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[Swanny1953]

I just finished reading this thread over the last 2 days. I have to say your scavenging skills are just epic - I have to applaud your efforts!! I'm subscribing to follow your efforts from here on out - hopefully, you'll be back to implementing your vision shortly. You truly have made a lot of progress from where you started.
Like you, I was involved in a big wreck on 8/1/19 that put my life on hold for 5+ months. It totaled 3 vehicles (2 full size pickups and a Tahoe) because someone didn't want to stop at a stop sign and I was approaching at 75 MPH. Glad to hear you and GF are doing OK, but know that is probably an overstatement as healing from that kind of trauma takes a while.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Good to see more progress pics after not being on here in a while!

 

[speedminded]

A slight distraction from the current events. They say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure right?

I honestly don’t know where or how I’ll use them but a local climbing gym was changing up their climbing walls and had these available to anyone that could haul them.



Thought about doing one wall in the hangar. Not necessarily to climb on but simply as an interesting accent and texture—a literal man cave! [emoji23]

...or I could build a tower around an unused power pole in the back corner of the property and have an outdoor climbing wall.



Another idea is to put them on a fence. Mounting them a foot off the ground would make it about 4 feet tall giving me an 80+ foot run of a one of a kind fence.



The options are endless. Feel free to throw out any ideas yourself!


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[Bib Overalls]

Be careful about using in service power poles as a part of anything constructed.

 

[Oldsklrolla]

I like the idea of a literal mancave , like in a corner say under a mezzanine so you get 2 walls and a ceiling, do a few rock paintings, maybe hang a big screen in there

 

[shortykorte]

Get a hot tub and make a grotto. They would make for a cool accent wall or interesting ceiling.


Shorty Korte
Always remember quality in QST

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[sean Buick 76]

Amazing!

 

[thetastelingers]

Sorry to hear that you sent the Copperheads on their way. Beautiful Snakes!

Those climbing walls are awesome! If you don't use all of them, I would be interested in a couple for the climbing wall in my garage.

Sorry to hear about your accident. It's unfortunate that people have to suffer from others not paying attention. Hope you don't have any long lasting injuries from it.

 

[Dru]

great thread, subscribed

 

[Pressingonward]

I'm guessing those climbing walls are either fiberglass or plastic? You might want to see if they are UV stable before storing or using them outside. If they're not designed for outdoor use they may degrade (become brittle) over a period of a few months or a year and turn into junk. Just something to look into.

 

[Azmule71]

Any new updates??

 

[youinreverse]

Just read through this whole thread. Excellent work! Can't wait to see more.

 

[cgv]

Any updates? We all wait for them

 

[Metallitubby]

Great progress. It's cool to see a local doing things a little less... ummm... boring.

 

[aj2four0]

One of my favorite threads - hoping for an update.. can't imagine what work may have been completed in the past 6mo's... don't leave us hanging :-D

 

[Sham]

Love this thread - subbed!
Man, an helicopter hangar, what a fantastic space! Can't wait to see how it's turn out!

 

[elguappo]

Did a snake get him?

 

[Balor]

Social distancing

 

[speedminded]

Long awaited update! Lots of little projects have been accomplished the past year but no major changes due to personal circumstances and building material prices. The original plan with the property was using the hangar as a photo/film rental studio and the garages for projects. Due to the residential zoning of the abandoned heliport I've since decided to turn the hangar into a house and the main garage a home office & place to play with cars.

Then Airbnb announced a grant/contest for Unique Spaces and that got my wheels turning—who wouldn't want to stay in an aircraft hangar with a glass walled bedroom overlooking a modern space?! I've had the idea of a helicopter shell since day 1 but couldn't really justify it as a "yard ornament" BUTTT what if I parked it inside and put a couple race seats in it with a video game system and kid's bed in the back? Now it's a bedroom AND gaming sim! Justification unlocked.

Well, after relentless searching and a little luck the hangar officially has a new addition! I found this 1982 Aérospatiale AS355 completely disassembled just a few miles away and made a deal. This is easily the most ridiculous thing I've ever acquired lol! New was about $1.5m nearly 40 years ago and air worthy ones of this generation still fetch $750,00-900,000 today depending on history and maintenance. I received a pile of parts in the driveway for $4k and spent a couple days assembling it. The only tools needed were a flat-head screwdriver, 10mm box-end, and a 7mm socket w/ ratchet. Voilà! It's like the French version of Ikea furniture.












This is the latest site plan and interior elevation of the living area:

 

[jollygreengiant]

This is going to be very cool to see once it is done. Looking forward to progress pics!

Also, $1.5m for a helicopter 40 years ago??
I figured they were expensive but never would have guessed that.

 

[Homebody]

Now THAT is freakin awesome! You'd do well with an Airbnb done just like the drawing with the chopper in the hangar!
Do you have the rotors or just gonna make some simulated ones?

 

[ZRX61]

Last year that bird was registered in Palmer Alaska.

 

[rvieceli]

WOW. Fantastic. I have always been jealous of your space now I am over the top,

Ron

 

[speedminded]

This is going to be very cool to see once it is done. Looking forward to progress pics!

Also, $1.5m for a helicopter 40 years ago??
I figured they were expensive but never would have guessed that.

That equates to $4.1m today and the current successor of this model starts at $3.9m. It's mind boggling!

Now THAT is freakin awesome! You'd do well with an Airbnb done just like the drawing with the chopper in the hangar!
Do you have the rotors or just gonna make some simulated ones?

No rotors and debating how or if I should mock up a rotor assembly. One option is to hang a 'Big ***' fan from the ceiling directly over it. Obviously not to scale and the fan would still cost more than the helicopter lol!

Last year that bird was registered in Palmer Alaska.

It's been registered in Alaska for many years but spent time in Hawaii. I don't have the exact timeline of when or where but being red that's more common for glacier tours than island hopping. I have tags showing it was in Hawaii when it was grounded and condemned and I picked it up from an aviation parts supplier in Atlanta.

Note: The only FAA report I have found on it was in '99 when one of the cowls opened and damaged all 3 rotor blades. The tail number has changed since but registration was always kept up to date.

 

[Toolfool]

Awesome !! You should hang some framed history documents of the chopper on the walls, and blown up photos of similar machines.

 

[speedminded]

Awesome !! You should hang some framed history documents of the chopper on the walls, and blown up photos of similar machines.

I currently have one photo of the property from the late 80's with a couple helicopters out front and I've found 2 small pieces from old military helicopters—I plan on mounting them with the photo on a a sheet of aluminum as a plaque.

I do regularly talk to the builder/owner of the hangar. He owned the property from 1963 until 1997 and hasn't been back since but he might be stopping by in a couple weeks!

 

[shortykorte]

Fantastic idea! When can I make my reservations?

I assume you will stay elsewhere when rented?

 

[speedminded]

Fantastic idea! When can I make my reservations?

I assume you will stay elsewhere when rented?

I have 2 goals: to be mobile with some type of expedition vehicle and build a secondary "tiny house" on the property. Maybe even elevated and wrapped in windows. I've been obsessed with fire towers as long as I can remember but a local ATC tower recently sold on govdeals giving me the idea.

 

[MrPink]

This is a cool property.

 

[sbosecker]

...Also, $1.5m for a helicopter 40 years ago??
I figured they were expensive but never would have guessed that...

I was on a layover in Honolulu in 1994. While sitting in Delta Operations waiting for our aircraft to arrive from the mainland, I was looking at the bulletin board and on it was a newspaper clipping of an article regarding an Airbus A340 that had burned up in Paris while undergoing maintenance.

"12 Million Dollar Airplane Burns To The Ground" was the story's headline. This value was an order of magnitude too low and many comments had been penciled in around the clipping regarding the incorrect price.

I figured what had happened was the Editor was looking at the story, saw a value of $120 million and struck the zero off the end thinking, "$120 million for an airplane - that's the dumbest mistake I've ever had a reporter make. How could an airline ever make money if it had to spend $120 million on just one airplane. "

HA!

SPEEDMINDED, you're my hero! Now anytime my wife gives me the stinkeye when I bring something home I can show her your helicopter. I'm sure that will save me ...not.

Best regards,

Scott

 

[fnlow]

Great to see an update here @speedminded . your plans are a source of inspiration