OK Bruce, you asked for it!
Here is the complete shop, or rather the shop with all the units that I planned and placed. Of course, there will be other things in the shop but I haven't the time (nor the skill) to model them all.
Just a point or two if I may:

1. The wood is to be a dark stained Oak in a semi gloss finish.
2. the floor is a light beige matte tile 50cm x 50cm.
3. The walls are a grayish stucco.
4. The marble work top on the unit behind the glass partition is a slab of white Travertine marble with delicate gray veins.
5. The temperature is kept to a constant 64.5degs Faranheit, though how you can render the temperature is beyond me.

It's all yours.
(I can't wait!)

Bruce hi, I should have all the pieces ready in a few days. It's an on-going process as the client had only a general idea of what he wants and we're basically making it up as we go along. But it's getting there.
I can't wait to see what you'll do with it (drooooool!!)

@unknownuser said:

That's a "pun upon a pun..."

Excellent!!!

Bruce, that's beautiful. A couple of things I should mention:

1. The finish on the piece will be semi-gloss so it's surfaces wont be as reflective as those in the picture.
2. The floor is Travertine marble, also semi gloss and less reflective.

This is in no way a reflection on your excelent rendering work.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun )

Modelhead, the material is a photo of Wenge wood, I got from google images. It's just to give an idea of what the grain and hue of Wenge looks like. I wouldn't want you to go to too much trouble with trying to get it exactly like the grain in the photo. I'm sure you've got better things to do. As to how the scene is to be set up, well it's a work in progress. There a a couple of pieces that I still have to model for the client and then we will be moving them around and playing with the shop lay-out. As soon as we're satisfied with the picture as a whole I'll post it.
I showed the client the renderings that have been posted and I think he may have to have stiches on his chin from the way his jaw dropped in disbelief when he saw them.
Thanks guys!

@gaieus said:

But now let's go back to "on-topic" and talk about Gidon's ornithopter!

OK, here's an update.
I built a very rough version of the drive mechanism and found that because the configuration utilises the pulling power of the rubber band rather than twisting the rubber band it was much more powerfull. Much more. This of course means that this configuration, while not being any larger than the twist configuration, can flap much larger wings and in a larger motion. It also means that I can make the body longer to accomodate more stretching of the band because the larger wings would have more lifting power.
At least, that's the theory

Modelhead, I'm attaching a picture of Wenge wood. The finish is to be semi-gloss (50/50 gloss to matt).
Sorry if all the nested groups are a problem. When I was just starting out in SU I was traumatised by things sticking to one another and distorting etc. and I read Ross's artical about grouping everything and it became second nature. Normally the abundance of groups makes my life easier rather than more difficult. I find it makes my models extremely managable. Not using rendering software I had no Idea it would cause problems.
Sorry

You guys can't even begin to imagine how much I'm enjoying this! You really bring the unit to life. It's unbelievable!
By the way, the wood has to be stained a rich brown, almost Wenge.
Can you change the color of the wood when you do the renderings or do I have to do that on the model and re-post?

Gaieus, I'm half Hungarian. My mother is from Budapest. Is that near to where you live? You should taste her silvas gombots!

@unknownuser said:

Eric that's so funny I spit my milk.....but you better say your sorry for messin up that fine model....put it back now ...come on, make it snappy.

and a fine model indeed ..I would love to render it and see that wood shine.

Go for it Modelhead!
I don't use (or indeed know how to use) any rendering software and only use SU textures so I'd love to see what you can do with this model.
I'm my client will be pretty thrilled as well!
Oh, and while you're at it, could you do the attached store front as well?
BTW, the display cabinet goes along the left wall as you walk in.
Thanks
Download Model

Alan hi,
Actualy I don't do any of the fabrication anymore. I used to, for about 25 years. Today I am more of a consultant slash designer slash project manager. I'm the guy the architect or interior designer or client comes to to look over the concept and plans, then find the right workshop for the job and then make sure they do the job correctly and according to specs.
I'm so glad you like the piece.
That's a beautiful box, by the way. Did you model it in SU first?

Hi y'all,
Here's a display cabinet I'm building for a client who has a gourmet chocolate shop. The unit will be made from Oak and will be stained a dark rich brown to go with the chocolates. The model is a tad heavy because the doors can open and the drawers slide in and out etc. I always build my models that way so that I can demonstrate the functionality of the unit to the client.
If it were at all possible I would gladly post some of his chocolates but I'm afraid you'll have to make do with the cabinet.
I hope someone finds this useful.
Download Model

Marleus and Archrag,
Thanks for sharing.

That's plywood?!?
It looks like Oak.
Or is it plywood with Oak veneer?
They're lovely anyway.

I modeled this table to explain how wedges are used.
It's modeled with just about all the joinery.

I hope you guys find it usefull.

Trestle table.skp

Oh! Alans barrel is a lot nicer than mine. I just eye-balled the curve and the dimensions. Alan's barrel looks like it's accurately modeled after the real thing. I like the texture too.

The problem with the way he wanted to cut the barrel was that he wanted it cut in half length-wise, thereby cutting the hoops as well.

I told him it's possible only if he first screwed each stave to the hoops before cutting and that he'd need to make wooden semi circles for the ends to maintain the shape as the hoops were of very thin metal and when cut would not retain their shape.
I got an e-mail from him saying that the operation was a success.

Glad to have you aboard

@woodjoint said:

I'm really a rank beginner with SU but I'll be trying my luck soon.

Any questions you may have don't hesitate to bring them here. You will be hard put to find a friendlier or more generous bunch than the people on this forum. Everything I know about SU I learned from them.

Looking forward to seeing more from you.

Cheers

@joe wood said:

I HATE "gazebos"

Y'know, for some-one who hates gazebos you sure design and build beautiful ones.

I'd love to see your designs for stuff you like

I love that tool box.
That's definately going to be one of our projects.
Thanks.

I hope I understood correctly what you're trying to achieve.
Have a look at the attached file and tell me if it helps.

random clones.skp
Cheers,

Gidon