Pirate ship treehouse

I am starting a rebuild project on the Buttonwood Bonsai Club's Facebook page:
Buttonwood Bonsai Club - Inverness, FL

I will be posting it for the members much like I do a WIP here. I did the first one on a Ficus bonsai tree after I seen  model that was built on a piece of deadwood.



Here is my first one , built in 2013



And this was it when I started to work on it Friday. Time and the elements had taken their toll on it. It stay out in all of the weather and daily watering as it is on a living bonsai tree.

Over the weekend, I pruned it and cleaned off all of the remnants of the previous build. I made a new platform that will be attached to the tree with 3 brass screws.

This is very cool Clay. I'll be following, looking forward to progress updates.

There's a rare skill, professional tree house builder for bonsais!

Very interesting!

Have the bow framed. When I took it out to fit it, I discovered I had to remove the small branch  just below the keel. Knowing this species of ficus, there will be new growth at the edge of the cut.

The lower part of the bow (prow?) has been covered. I am using Gorilla Glue and craft (pop sickle) sticks profusely throughout this construction. Hope it will stand up to the elements, But, whatever will happen, will happen as  it ages.

Cool.

Quad polyurethane from Home Depot will work great for this project Clay. This is actually industrial adhesive now sold by Henkel/Loctite as weather caulking/stripping. They used to only sell it in large quantities to the commercially. This stuff is super tough, skins up real fast, is paintable, and super flexible. My buddy glued 800sq ft of Brazilian hardwood ($28/sqft)to a concrete with this stuff, hasn't broken loose yet, that was 10yrs ago. He was a salesman for Henkel back then. I use it to glue hardwood to stair tread/risers. The Gorilla glue is stiff stuff, it will sheer off eventually.

I will look into that, Curt.
This will be out in all the weather and daily waterings. Have little hope (or care) for extended longevity.   Meanwhhile, Been working on the cabin portions.
This is how most of it will be constructed before attaching it to the tree.

Loving this!! I'm a fan of bonsai as well as scale modelling and this really puts a grin on my face. Looking forward to watching this one grow, lol.

KatsZenJammer wrote:Loving this!!  I'm a fan of bonsai as well as scale modelling and this really puts a grin on my face.  Looking forward to watching this one grow, lol.

Thanks, Katz.
I have been i the bonsai hobby since 1979. Started in a Michigan club, relocated  to Indiana, and for the last 20 years, in Florida.

One of my small ficus

This is really shipping, erm I mean shaping up nicely Clay.

Have the cabin and deck pretty much under way. Odds and ends coming together. I had tried textured coffee can sealer for roofing, adhered with Gorilla glue. 1st half set overnight then I discovered it was offset too much. Gentle prying and the Gorilla glue gave it up easily. So A trip to Home Depot soon to get the Locktite stuff to see how much better it works.
Get the roofing on, and a few of the 'accessories, then it will be ready to attach it to the tree.

Great project.

I think I have this finished as much as it will get. Most of the incidentals are on. Just have to get it photographed.