back to the Dollhouse Workshop
  • Becomming familiar with the parts and how they work will pay you back in saved time all along the assembly process. The builder is reading the instructions and seeing with his eyes and hands how the parts fit
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  • Knowing where you are headed will pay you back again in having parts assembled and painted when you need them and in fewer mistakes. After this step, each "skip ahead" opportunity becomes a chance to get ahead in building and painting small parts.
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  • "Square the corners" of the cutouts - each cutout has a rounded corner left over from the tool that made it. Two cuts in each corner (one from each direction) from the outside, then two cuts from each direction on the inside will cut away the rounding in the corner so the window or stairs will fit.
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  • The first coat of paint. Avoid getting paint drips on the edges of the walls
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  • Use plenty of paint - the milled surface is hungry for that first coat
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  • Fold a piece of 320 grit sandpaper and, holding the sandpaper at the angle of the clapboard face, sand each clapboard surface with a smooth back-and-forth motion. Second-coat after sanding.
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  • Assemble the Foundation - plenty of glue
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  • I'll tape around the end and across the top and bottom too - I don't want the parts to slip
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  • I've spaced the Foundations about 11" on center
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  • Stretch the tape for a tight joint
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  • I am holding the Foundation square as the glue dries with a divider - I'd use the base floor (bigger is better when it comes to squares) but I'm about to mark it for painting
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