Done! Turned out great......except for the stain job..... I could bore everyone with a lengthy explanation of what I did wrong. Another mistake I will never repeat again. The stain was supposed to be consistent, like the Ranger saddle. [below ],
but I did what I usually do and "try something" midstream. The result was it looks like it's been hanging on a bike in a barn [with a leaky roof] for the last 50 years. Ok, if one likes patina, but I wasn't trying for that.
OH, sorry.....that was our Thanksgiving turkey. How'd that get in here?
I used old Erector Set metal for the frame, as well as the old style slotted screws. Worked fantastic. It's very sturdy and the leather is hard, like cardboard. It's built to last and was supposed to hang from the lower top bar of the 46 Ranger. Might make another one.
If anyone wants to try this, here's what the frame looks like:
Very rigid. The inside dimensions are 3" X 3" x 13". Plenty of room inside. Going to take a break from leather and work on the Marx train layout. As always, Have fun!