I've made a start on my little doll's house shop kit and this is my progress so far. Not much to show for two x three hour sessions is it?
For those of you who have thrown caution to the winds and bought your own kit, I hope my initial findings will prevent you making some of the mistakes I've already made, although they were all able to be remedied, thank goodness.
I decided to build the shop structure first, so that I can add contents as I go along.
So, remember I was waxing lyrical about how amazing the instructions look? Well I take it ALL back. Yes they look amazing but there is an almost complete lack of written text as everything is in the form of photos or diagrams. While this might sound fine and dandy, I'm finding it difficult to understand some of the assembly details.
Also, despite there being a comprehensive parts list, it's almost impossible to find some parts, with separate elements for the same thing spread across several of the multitude of little bags. As a result, a large proportion of the six hours I spent getting to this stage, involved long searches for specific parts. I still haven't tracked down the door handle so I'm hoping it will turn up further along the line.
That said, when I finally found the relevant bits, and puzzled out what to do with them, the resulting shop front is coming along nicely.
Top tips so far.....
- Glue. There are two types of paper elements but most have a satin finish. I strongly suggest that if you're glueing those onto any wooden parts, that you use a solid glue stick, like Pritt Stick or similar. I used PVA glue on some of the satin finish paper and it bubbled alarmingly when applied to the wood. Of course it didn't bubble immediately, otherwise I'd have whipped them off straight away. No, they went on completely flat so I then set them aside to dry while I worked on another section. However after a few minutes, when I checked them again, I was horrified to see they were all wrinkled. Now, I will say that they have gradually flattened, but not completely and there are still a few rippless, unlike the ones on which I used the solid glue stick, which are completely flat.
- Make sure you understand the construction of each element before you start as they're not always obvious or inuitive. As a veteran of literally hundreds of kits, I just jumped straight in, but several times I'd already applied glue to parts only to discover I'd glued the wrong edge, or didn't know what to do with them, or that I'd glued the wrong side to the wrong piece etc. Luckily I discovered my mistakes in time to rectify them. So far I've found that the laser cut pieces are very accurate, and that if the instructions show one side shorter than the other, it's not a mistake and you can't just wing it. I strongly recommend doing dry fits for every section before going anywhere near glue.
If you're doing this kit, and have any questions so far, do feel free to contact me and I'll help if I can. I'll also post further as I go along.
Current status.... so far so good.
6 comments:
Dear Sandra, like you, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out "where everything was"! I also noticed there was no "glazing" for the windows themselves.... which led me to my fist "revision" before I had even embarked! Must have "glass" ... even if only plastic glass! So I am gluing it over the outside of the windows (some things are perched on the inner sills) before gluing the paper on. For the most part the trim is on the outside to cover the "slight" irregularity of the wall.... and besides there will be so many things "On" the walls... who's to notice a little bump ere or there? Yes, onward with the adventure! :):)
PS I am also starting by assembling the wall pieces first.... but started with the back and sides not the front! The front has too many oddities....
Ooooh... you've started too!!! Exciting times. Yes the omission of glazing for the windows flummoxed me too. I'm also going to add thin acetate sheet to the inside of the windows which I don't think will interfere with the shelving etc. Time will tell. I've added all the internal and external papers to the walls and floor and might try to assemble the them tomorrow. I note that the front is hinged :O but thankfully the door hinges were glued in place with wooden strips over the top. So far my door and windows on the left actually open, which wasn't a given.
Hi Sandra,
I found the "start" on pg. 6 "Exterior parts.... follow the fat beige arrows.... continues on pg.7. Then skip all the "littles" and go to pg. 17 to assemble the chandeliers.... must be done before the wall papering!!!...continue onward through pgs18 -26 with "overall assembly to get the pieces in place in the "right order".... I have already found a few spots where you really have to do it in the right order..... good luck!!!!!
Was just going into panic mode there until I realised that I hadn't decorated either side of the wall with the routing for the lighting wires.... phew! Probably more luck than judgement though. So yes, I've done the main construction in the right order, skipping past all the contents. The lighting palaver is mostly why I started the front first. So have you decorated the wall (B4) with the lighting runs?
I started by assembling the chandeliers and measuring the lengths for the "bends" according to the diagram at the top of pg18.... then did the twisting of all the lengths of the light string... then measured the distance from bulb 12 and the top of the wall... 6cm... marked all the wall top spots and then glued them all into the slots last night. I let it sit overnight at glued the paper over it this morning.... BTW I did glue the outside paper on before the inside paper... easier done before all the wires are dangling....! But I think I am almost ready to glue side wall B7 to the base..... they show completely "outfitting the studio before doing anything else.... we'll see how that goes!!!
I haven't really thought about the lighting yet but thanks for the tips. I'll have a go at sorting the lights tomorrow. Good luck with yours!
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