New Layout (updated)

edit--- The update is mostly complete, I'm going to be tweaking colors and things for the next few weeks.
-T

I'm editing some code for a new layout for this blog.
I haven't applied that code to this site because it involves some changes on the server side that will screw up the look, and because I suspect this may take more than a few days.
You can see the progress here.
It's very much a work in progress but it could use a crit big time.
I think I've got the header worked out, may need to make a few changes to the image.

*The sidebar is really giving me trouble....

Shop Shack Sketch Modeling- Digital

simple box with 2x4 studs and 2x4 offcuts.

It looks like this would give us an opportunity to incorporate signage as part of the design.

2x6 studs with 2x4 offcuts painted red.

By using larger studs it gives us a more textured feel. It also means that if the offcuts were used for signage or some sort of large grapic they would be significantly more visible.
I've been assuming that the 2x4 offcuts would be waste material from local building sites.
2x6 studs would need to be a type of wood that would take a stain and be very dimensionally stable (i.e. brand new), as well as able to stand up to the sun beating down on it through that window.

Shop Shack Sketch Modeling

So I've been playing around with the idea of the budget and the necessity for it to be something that we build that would still have a very professional look.
I like the idea of creating a box and then deforming that box from the inside.

Last night I made a quick model of a system that would use 8' or 10' 2x4's in a simple wood frame wall. If we used studs every 3" o.c. we could quickly build a screen facade that would give us a pretty cool look. By attaching off cuts to every stud with end up with a very filtered view as well as a spot to connect adjustable shelves.

built to scale using 8' 2x4's

A box the size of our maximum foot print at 10' tall, would be approx. $1000 for lumber.
That's assuming a higher than average number for lumber than the current market.

I'm also working on a "site" model for us to use.

Here's a look at another project I'm working on outside of this competition, but I figured it applied here as it's a chunk of a vehicle. It might be interesting to look at various vehicle components (something Detroit is known for) as building elements.