Thursday, September 29, 2011

Colonial Dollhouse - new system

PART TWO:
DRAWING GUIDELINES FOR SIDING 
In a drawing program I create lined paper then print & slice the page into about 1" pieces. I tape them to both ends of the wall then draw connecting guide lines. Then I remove the paper.  The metal strip is a deck frame tie - they make nice straight edges - find at Home Depot etc. Ask for decking hardware. They come in different lengths & also 'L' & 'T' shapes.




SIDING
Added the casings & corner trim (all inserted or clamped, not glued.)  The 1st strip of siding is fitted at the bottom left then marked using a utility knife (the blade creates a fine, accurate mark & unlike a pencil does not leave any smudges.)  The siding piece is then cut with a miter saw / box.  The edge is block-sanded to remove any splinters & fine tune the fit.  I dry fit the piece then place a very thin bead of wood glue on the wall with tiny droplets of super glue about an inch apart along the bead to hold the siding in place while the wood glue sets (about 20 minutes.) Thanks to Rik Peirce for wood/super glue technique!)
I hold the siding in place for about 20 secs, then move to the right side of the wall and repeat - moving up the wall from left to right.  With the shorter pieces I sometimes cut & fit a group of pieces all at once, moving straight up & gluing that section one after another.
Notice that the siding lines up with the tops & bottoms of the windows, & door.)
After I finish gluing the siding on I'll pop out the trim & paint it, while thats drying I can stain the siding the same color as the portco shingles (both the siding & the shingles are made of poplar.) ...still need to do the window sashes & interior window & door trim/frames, door, threshold, also the windows will have drip caps & tiny moldings under the sills to cover the siding gaps.  Then I can paint the interior trim.  Also need to do the foundation...whew!  Then the front wall will be complete & I can move on to the side walls.
Finished & painted door casing/frame.  Door dry fit, not sure I'm going with this style door?   Also, wish I'd make the door wider.  Window casings/frames painted. Window sash, glazing & grille dry fit. (glazing made from old CD jewel cases, coated with Future alias Pledge Floor Finish.)