hot wheels garage with motorized elevator?

[allen levine]

is it wise to make a 2-3 level hotwheels garage out of 1/2 ply and solid wood? will it be too heavy?
and does anyone know a site (Ive been looking iwth no success) that offers the kind of small motor with lifting mechanism I can incorporate into an elevator system....remember, these are hot wheels...so it doesnt have to be very strong...just go up and down a foot and a half.....

my main concern is the weight of the entire toy.....they are made out of plastic .......wood might make it just too heavy....any opinions, ideas, or pictures? of previous builds like this?

 

[Don Baer]

allen, my boys collected hot wheels so I am very familiar with them. 1/2 " is way to thick. I would use 1/8 Baltic birch. Somewhere around here we have a garage with an elevator, ill see if I can find it and post some pictures to see if it will be of any use to you.

 

[allen levine]

1/8 will not work too thin and flimsly
I might have to go with purchasing a garage/set and call it a day

 

[Rennie Heuer]

1/8 will not work too thin and flimsly
I might have to go with purchasing a garage/set and call it a day

You might be surprised at how strong it can be if it is captured and supported on all four edges in a groove. I carry my breakfast out to the Livingroom every morning on a tray made with 1/8" material and it is a large tray, about 12 x 20". Never had any fear of dropping my tea.

 

[Jim DeLaney]

I agree with Rennie. The 1/8" BB ply is stronger than you'd think. If it's supported on its edges, or made into a half-lap grid (like cubby holes for displaying the cars) it'd be both light and strong.

 

[Ted Calver]

Maybe a little wooden hand crank mechanism to raise and lower the elevator?

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Maybe a little wooden hand crank mechanism to raise and lower the elevator?

I like that suggestion! Even put in a car lift with the same idea. Mechanical contraptions are always cool!

 

[Brent Dowell]

I mean, as a guy that loves to play with motors and electronics, I think the simplicity of a hand crank has a lot going for it.
1) No batteries
2) No Plug
3) No Wires

Makes it a lot simpler for a little kid.

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Otherwise, my thoughts go directly to equipment from an old erector set.

 

[allen levine]

After years I finally gave my grandson his hotwheels garage
He hasn't mastered the hand crank elevator but is close

 

[Charles Lent]

If you decide to upgrade the lift with a motor, a gearmotor from this source might be what you need. Battery operated is available too.

https://www.jameco.com/c/DC-Motors-Gearhead.html

I buy from Jameco (not often recently) and they have been great to deal with.

Charley

 

[Darren Wright]

It’s got the best motor available already, a tricycle motor!

 

[Rennie Heuer]

Fantastical!