Problem 2: Deck Plan

stringer staircase

3/1/16

Problem 2: Deck Plan

The problem for my group was to use up all the stock platforms and use the scenery crew to minimize the cost of materials and time. I understood the problem on our first try. My group members and I went to the scene shop to check how many platform stocks we can use until we discovered there were no platform stock in the shop. Luckily, we found approximately 29- 32in. x 32in. stock triscuits and 6 stock half triscuits. An issue that we came across was how many studwalls we needed and laying out the triscuits. We ended up using 8 studwalls and had to make a few custom pieces. We also had to think about the timing and when the scenery crew would be available to work on building triscuits, stud walls, and staircases, as well as the load in. Andrew was in charge of the drawings for the front stair cases and the stud walls, I was in charge of the back stair case, and Catarina was in charge of the triscuit layouts and paint surface of Masonite.  Working together on our drawings was not so hard since we communicated with each other and showed each other the drawings to get approved or advice to improve. Adreen was in charge of most of the paperwork besides the calendar. I think it all came out pretty well, but of course not perfect. I decided to make the back staircase a stringer staircase in order to use less material. I had done a reading on how to make a stringer staircase and what material to use. The only material I read was 2×10 or 2×12 pine. Therefore, I decided to make the materials for carriages, risers, and treads 2×12 pine. I incorporated some 2×4 legging and cross bracing. In addition 2×6 notch in order to screw the stairs into the stage. I showed my group my drawing and they each gave me some areas to improve such as making my isometric view of the stairs look more relatable to my orthographic view of the stairs. For example, my first draft of the isometric view of the stairs did not include the 2×6 notch and the legging. I was also advised to use line weight to show what parts were what in the rear view drawing of the stairs; I had to make the back drawing look a little more simple so that others who have not taken drafting can understand it too. I also forgot to multiple the dimensions for my isometric view since I did an isometric cabinet view, which divides any diagonal line in the drawing by 2. I ended up having to write on the paper copy of my drawing “multiply dimensions by 2.”

Many times in the real world, you are expected to do a lot within a small amount of time and you are expected to do it well. My group and I were unsure if we were going to be ready to present everything when it was due, but thankfully we made it work and did whatever we can with the skills we had. Real world situations for drafting problems, there are times when a designer’s drawings are not understandable or even the measurements are off and that has to be communicated. I’m glad I went to my group to ask for advice before assuming I was finished with my part of the project.

I learned that I need to think about all the possibilities that can be done to approach a problem and think about how much time will it take to build whatever platform, flat, stair, chair, and etc. that needs to be built for the performance. I also learned to actually use the experience I have had to help me make better choices in who should be building, who have the experience to do a certain job, and who needs the experience to do a certain job. In the real world, as well as in school, not everyone is at the same level of skill and knowledge and sometimes there are people who know so much and other times there are people who have no idea what to do even if you have shown them already. I don’t what would be the next real world experience I will have that might be related to this activity because I don’t have a job yet or internship that is in this industry.

Growth Never Stops, I Shouldn't Either