Here is a set of plans for scratch building your own Lake Michigan style lighthouse. This one is actually the "Michigan City East Pierhead Light", is now completely automated, and is typical of many lighthouses all along Lake Michigan. Many fishing excursions had me walking the long pier to the light. On one trip I saw a sturgeon that was longer than I was tall (about 4 1/2 feet). And yes...that was a fish tale (but true). This was scaled from google images, but more information was gleaned from the "Old Lighthouse museum" in Michigan City. Footprint is 1 7/8 x 1 7/8. The hardest part of this build is beveling edges, but is made easier with a sanding jig.
Choice of materials is up to you. It can be done in wood but sketches are based on styrene thicknesses. If you use another material adjust dimensions accordingly. Paint parts before assembly, except where the edges glue to other parts.
The building directions and materials are in the sketches, and to make your build easier you can enlarge them to full size and print them out. Read directions in assembly sketches before cutting out parts as you may want to change some sizes or cut fewer, or additional, openings.
Included sketches are: Overview sketches, Parts templates, Assembly sketches, and PDF. Also included is a prototype pic.
To print the part template actual size, use the PDF. Select best printer quality, set PDF zoom to 100%, and page scaling to "none" or actual size. Check your printed page to see that 3" lines are exactly 3" long. Once you have template printed, you can cut with scissors (leave a 1/8" border) and arrange on your material for maximum sheet usage. Part templates for siding are a mirror image, when needed, so that you can cut walls with siding side down (easier to cut). Be sure siding grooves are oriented correctly. Use rubber cement or Krylon Easy Tack Repositionable Adhesive to glue paper templates to your material and then just cut on lines. No measuring ! Paper comes off easily.
Cut out parts carefully using a SERB and straight edge. The best way to cut out window openings is with a corner punch. It is important to follow assembly sketches IN SEQUENCE or some parts may not fit.
PDF links:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8jrqian6ge7ur3e/qmclhpt1pdf.pdfhttps://www.dropbox.com/s/45kpznf1jpi0bqn/qmclhpt2pdf.pdf
