Update on the dormers

After making the first slate tiles I painted three more sheets of (wall) paper (50x30 cm) and cut them in 3 cm width strips. Cut each strip in 12 squares, so that made about 800 slate tiles (3 x 2,5 cm). It looked like I was working in a slate factory :)

Next I cut the openings for the windows in the plywood and painted the roof with acrylic black. Just in case there would be tiny gaps between the tiles.

It already looked very different with the dormers and windows finished even though they were not stuck to the roof.

The inside window frames will have to wait until I get to decorating those rooms.

Although I am going to make beams as a support for the piano hinges I realised I still needed shorter screws for the other half of the hinges because I couldn't use beams on that side. Fortunately my dad came to the rescue. He did have cutters/pliers and was so kind cut the screws. And so, I could secure the first hinges.

Next  thing I should so was connect the dormers to the roof but instead I started with glueing the tiles. I could tell you I was curious how the tiles would look but the truth was I was avoiding doing the dormers lol

Another thing I needed to figure out was how to make the lead slab. My idea was to make it from aluminium tea light cups but that turned out looking too bright and shiny.

I asked the FB group advise on how to get the aluminium matt/dull and got multiple reactions. Some gave tips about painting the aluminium, others suggested thin strips of clay or offered me information on where to buy real lead (strips). I started with the first tip (because buying something is always a possibility).
I sanded the strips lightly and then drybrushed it with a mixture of black, grey and blue acrylic paint. It doesn't look too bad, though still a bit too light imo. 

While I was thinking about those lead slabs, I finally attached the dormers :') They didn't fit perfectly, so I lined masking tape along all the crevices and gaps, on both sides and also on the outside.

I filled up the gaps carefully using the glue gun and smoothed it out with a cocktail stick while the glue was still warm,  When the glue was hard I removed the tape and some bits of the excessive glue. 

Thankfully the masking tape on the front had kept the glue from leaking.
It is not the most attractive solution but everything will be covered either by tiles or wall paper anyway :')

I spilled a drop of glue from the glue gun on one of the glass windows, so I will need to replace that unfortunately :') Or I could place an owl on top of the dormer and blame it for dirtying the glass (a)

Though still lots to do, I was starting feeling more confident about the roof (a)

For the sides of the dormers I made a template first.

Of course I needed to make four different templates because none of them is exactly the same, even though they differ just a few millimetres :')

I've finished all four parts but the edges are clearly visible so I'm thinking about painting them (carefully) or put a thin strip of black paper on it before they got stuck to the dormers.

Next will be tiling the gabled roofs of the dormers and the rest of the roof and making the lead slabs but I'm very happy about the progress I made over the last three weeks :)

Building a gabled dormer

The previous weeks I've been working on the exterior of the cottage and made some real progress.
I started by measuring and cutting the wood for the roof and front.

I've kept the roof (panel) a bit longer because first I wanted to know how everything would fit with the piano hinges attached.

I used 4 mm plywood (poplar) for the roof and front just like I did for the rest of the cottage walls.

I had ordered piano hinges and Connie's husband was kind enough to saw them for me.
Then I drilled the holes for the screws, and that's when I faced a new dilemma :')
Dolls house walls are normally a bit thicker than mine; approx. 8 mm instead of 4 mm. So the screws for the piano hinges were too long but smaller (4 mm) screws would just disappear through the holes of the hinges. 

After much deliberation with and advice from Thea (Minidoor), Connie and my dad I decided adding beams to support the screws would be the best solution.
Despite not being very sturdy I choose Balsa wood so I can carve and age the beams to fit the ones in the living room :)

Since I wasn't sure what to do next - put the beams in place and then the screws or finish the upstair rooms first - I started planning and drawing the dormers. That took quite some time :')
On the next photo you can see the first paper version (both windows will be gabled like the left one). Doing a gabled dormer in the middle (the attic landing) might be a bit to fancy for a simple cottage though, so I'll probably just put a window to let in some light. 

I kept making adjustments to the drawings of the dormers, but when I started cutting the wood, the gabled roof still didn't fit. 

Then finally when I had the right plan for the dormers, I cut the wood and put it together with masking tape.
Can you see all the paper templates on the table and all the pieces of Balsa I've cut wrong? :')

Glueing the pieces together was a tenatious work because Balsa (2 mm) is so fragile. But I still love working with it.

While the glue was drying I drilled holes in the roof (panel), painted it with Gesso ánd I did some woodworking on the first three beams to give them that rustic look.
I also made the openings for the windows a bit bigger.

I built the sash (notched) frames. Similarly built as the windows I'd already done.

I was relieved I still got some gelatin sheets for the glass effect :')

After I cut the wood strips for the outer frames it was decision time again :')

1. Should I stain them to match the windows on the sides of the cottage or

2. Should I match them with the slate tiles I'd been planning?

I needed to decide before I could put the dormer together.

After giving it a lot of thought, I have decided on option 2.  I like the dormers matching the tiles as well and I think it would be better to match the whole front together, because that's the first view you get.

Once I'd made up my mind, I glued the Balsa pieces at the front (moldings?), sanded both dormers and  put Gesso on the inside and outside.

The outside of the dormers got a coat of black acryl paint and only the front of the dormers got a second coating (since there will be tiles covering the roof and sides ^^).

After adding varnish on the front I could put the windowframes together.
When I was looking for egg carton to make slate tiles for the roof I came across some nice grey wall paper. Maybe if I painted it a bit more black and grey-ish and cut it in even tiles it would look nice?

I decided to give it a go and I love the result! <3 So, the next couple of weeks I'll have my work cut out for me ^^
First painting three more sheets of wall paper, cut them in 3 x 3 cm squares, finish the second dormer and then I should be ready to start glueing all the tiles to the roof :')

A little Christmas scene, part 2

Here's the next part of this years Christmas scene.

A sheet of Balsa 1,5 cm, carved with cocktail picks,
because I was lazy ;)

Painted it dark at first, hoping that would show the 'nails'
better after painting it white. 

It didn't (a)

I removed some bristles at the bottom and the wooden
stand and bend the wire to get a smaller tree.

I thought wrapping bark around the wire at the bottom of
the tree ould look more realistic. It was an annoyance
to glue them however because the bark would fall
to pieces as soon as I tried to bend it :')

Tutorial for the stand by AkameruKawaii.

I've painted the trunk to cover the excess of glue
and to fill all the gaps ^^

And of course I've painted the tree to
get rid of the 'snow'. It's still nearly
hits the invisible ceiling but it fits ;)

I used this idea by Elizabeth to make stocking.

I didn't have stickers, so I used a linoleum floor tile I had
and printed some templates.

I cut the top part and didn't glue that onto the fabric,
though I wrapped the fabric around it at first ...

... to keep the right shape.

Covering them with fabric was a meticulous job :)

Decorating them was fun though.

As was putting some decorations
in place.

Next will probably be
decorating the tree.