Project Merlin

[Pinch]

The Guy that made this is a superb model maker – often railway related, I’m sure he won’t mind me sharing his skill.....

That's a building from the west of Britain, with it's widely spaced studs and half-storey-height horizontals. East Anglia has close-studding, without the horizontal members, giving a very different look. The two styles were never mixed up in one building.

Indeed, interesting info Mike - thanks for sharing.

 

[Pinch]

For possible miniature lighting supplies try here
https://www.smallscalelights.co.uk/
Jennifer Smith is a friend of mine who runs this site also trades as
JS miniatures that started by providing all sorts of dolls house fittings and expanded into led lighting.
Feel free to mention my name.
Bob

Ah thanks Bob. That's great! I shall bookmark her site.

In fact, I'll go and have a good browse now.

 

[Pinch]

Hello Folks,

I am now ready to start making this beautifully exciting and splendid model.

I've been undecided about various elements of the build and after much dithering, I have made some very important decisions.

I wasn't sure whether to make the main frames using a hardwood or softwood. I have now decided on a softwood - a premium Scandinavian Redwood. I am also making the model to a scale of 1:15 instead of 1:12, purely for working space and where the model is going to live once she's complete. This means the actual finished size will be approximately 1150 long (gable-to-gable), 700 wide (fascia-to-fascia) and 650 high (base-to-ridge).

Another part of my dithering was construction; whether to craft traditional joints or not. I have now decided to craft most of the joints using traditional methods - albeit on a much smaller scale - indeed, very fiddly. Most of the structural joints will be a variety from the draw/bore mortice & tenon family. I was also undecided with the King Post arrangement. I have now changed this slightly too. In all, there are approximately 173 traditional joints to make in the 5 frames with several other joints to follow. I shall be more detailed on these as and when I get going.

I have also found several suppliers I didn't think existed! One in particular, is a company who make all the masonry components required in a scaled model build - from the common house brick to a ridge tile - astonishing! The bricks are actual bricks, made from brick material - clay, sand, lime etc. The same applies to other materials as well - flag stones, roofing tiles, ceramics and so the list goes on. I was blown away by what these guys make. I will however, still make the roofing tiles from 2.4mm oak construction veneer I already have in stock. This might be as a shingled roof or I might paint them to replicate a tiled roof - dunno.

Anyway, not much to see right now, but here are a few photos including the hobby 'shop, which I know I've shared on here before, but here we go again.












Here is the footprint base cut from 18mm plywood.


And the 25x25 PSE Scandinavian Redwood. Finished size - 20.5x20.5mm - replicating 300mm sq oak posts etc.


The workshop drawings.








And the Workshop Rod drawn onto the wall for marking-up all the components. Photo not very clear.


I have also bought a new backdrop (dark olive - I do like an olive - tasty!) for when I start taking WIP and finished photos. I stupidly left my previous backdrop in the old workshop down in carrot crunching Darset.

Anyway, that's my update for now. Not much I know, but it is a start!

Cheers.

 

[Malc2098]

Cheers, Paul. Can't wait to see them joints take shape!

 

[NickM]

This is going to be really interesting to follow. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Pinch]

Cheers, Paul. Can't wait to see them joints take shape!

Thanks Malc. Indeed - plenty of them.

But, I am now officially retired from the professional world of working for a living - at 56. :shock:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

 

[Pinch]

This is going to be really interesting to follow. Thanks for posting it.

Thanks Nick - tis a pleasure.

I can't wait to get going with it.

 

[Malc2098]

Cheers, Paul. Can't wait to see them joints take shape!

Thanks Malc. Indeed - plenty of them.

But, I am now officially retired from the professional world of working for a living - at 56. :shock:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

Go, Pinch! :text-bravo:

 

[DaveL]

Cheers, Paul. Can't wait to see them joints take shape!

Thanks Malc. Indeed - plenty of them.

But, I am now officially retired from the professional world of working for a living - at 56. :shock:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

Oh well done!

 

[Pinch]

Cheers, Paul. Can't wait to see them joints take shape!

Thanks Malc. Indeed - plenty of them.

But, I am now officially retired from the professional world of working for a living - at 56. :shock:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

Oh well done!

Thanks Dave.

:text-bravo:

 

[sunnybob]

I retired at 59 from the professional world. before 6 months went by I was full time again till my 65th. :shock:
Dont smile too much, people will think youre enjoying yourself. :lol:

 

[Pinch]

Hello Chaps,

An update on progress.

The front and rear frames have had their dry assembly trial run and all is good for glue assembly. Please note; the joints will look much neater after glue assembly and cleaned up to a 400g finish.

Here are all 5 frames pretty much marked up, excluding the braces and narrow studs.


This photo shows 4 splayed posts with a painted black joint divider which is 2.4mm oak construction veneer - the two with mortices are for the rear frame and the other two are for the porch.


There are almost 200 mortice & tenon joints in just the 5 frames, with others to follow throughout the project. I shall also be using a 2mm hardwood dowel to replicate the draw-bore pins, although they will be more authentic than structural.


Here is the front frame ready for dry assembly.


Roof truss.


And here is the complete frame excluding the braces and narrow studs.


Stood in position on its base.


And now the rear frame.


Ground floor framing.


Ground & first floor.


I'm using a king post and split collar arrangement. In a full size project, this joint would normally include a loose spline connecting the split collar through the mortice of the king post with a series of draw-bore pins, but I am opting for a slightly easier method by using stub tenons on the connection of the king post and split collar.


Dry assembled.


And here is the complete frame excluding the braces and narrow studs.


Amazingly, the frame stood unaided as a dry assembly.


I am also pleased to share the installation of a new back drop for better photos during the various stages of the build, and of course, the final photos of Project Merlin standing in all its spendour.

The plan was to suspend the back drop from the beams of the dining room ceiling as and when I need it - and this is exactly what I've done. Here is the dining room with the adjoining workshop door of hats - The Man Cave.


Here is one hook screwed into a beam.


And the other.


And here is the back drop in place, ready to pull down and dress over the dining table to form a photography studio.


And finally, this is (more than likely) going to be the revised staircase instead of carving a naked lady with pert boobies - (I might put her somewhere else in the project). I have already bought the hand blown glass spheres for the light shades, and the column is going to be cocobolo.


That's it folks!

Report back soon with the outline of the build and some decent photos from the new photography studio.

:text-bravo:

Cheers,

 

[Pinch]

I retired at 59 from the professional world. before 6 months went by I was full time again till my 65th. :shock:
Dont smile too much, people will think youre enjoying yourself. :lol:

Haha cheers Bob - oh, I hate being retired. :| :eusa-liar: :lol:

:eusa-dance: :eusa-dance:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

 

[Malc2098]

Wow, Paul!

Loving that roof truss especially!

Great job!

Did someone mention boobies?!

 

[Pinch]

Wow, Paul!

Loving that roof truss especially!

Great job!

Did someone mention boobies?!

Thanks Malc.

Boobies? Did I mention boobies?

bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[fiveeyes]

Paul..with your skills as a woodworker..top man..and now a photo studio, to boot, I might as well hang up my projects.
You do set a lofty goal. Wish that I could see this in person. I shall carry on.
bill

 

[Pinch]

Paul..with your skills as a woodworker..top man..and now a photo studio, to boot, I might as well hang up my projects.
You do set a lofty goal. Wish that I could see this in person. I shall carry on.
bill

Haha thanks Bill.

As Winston Churchill once said, "We will never.... ever.... hang up our projects." :eusa-naughty:

As you mentioned "I shall carry on" - good chap.

My everyday drinking vessel is a great inspiration.



bscene-drinkingcheers:

:text-bravo:

 

[AndyP]

brilliant as always Pinch.

How will the inside of the house be visible when complete? Will one of the sides be hinged? Or will visibility only be through the windows?

 

[Pinch]

brilliant as always Pinch.

How will the inside of the house be visible when complete? Will one of the sides be hinged? Or will visibility only be through the windows?

Thanks Andy - how are things dear fellow? How's the settle doing - it's 4 years this year?

Each side of the roof will be removable, depending on where the model is on display. I might make a perspex cover for when a side of the roof is off. It will also be fully wired up with lighting as well.

 

[AndyP]

Rather than disrupt this thread I sent you a Pm

My daughters think this will be the grandest dolls house ever

 

[Pinch]

Rather than disrupt this thread I sent you a Pm

My daughters think this will be the grandest dolls house ever

:text-bravo:

I found a small figure of an old chap with a beard and smoking a pipe - looking like my future self. He just needs a jug of ale. I might make him a fiddle and sit him on the roof. :eusa-violin:

 

[Pinch]

Hey up guys. It's been a while - approximately 5-years since the last installment.

Is the model complete? Of course it isn't. But, I did make some progress a few years back and I have just stumbled across this photo to share with you fine fellows.

We've moved again and I'm in part-time work, so who knows, I might sharpen up those old irons again.

I hope all is well.

 

[AndyT]

Welcome back!

 

[AndyP]

Good to see you posting again Paul. Has the new place got a workshop?

 

[TrimTheKing]

Yay, nice to see you Pinch! Glad you're well.

 

[RogerS]

Hey up guys. It's been a while - approximately 5-years since the last installment.

Is the model complete? Of course it isn't. But, I did make some progress a few years back and I have just stumbled across this photo to share with you fine fellows.

We've moved again and I'm in part-time work, so who knows, I might sharpen up those old irons again.

I hope all is well.

Hey man! Great to hear from you

 

[Malc2098]

Wotcher. Missed yer!

 

[Lons]

Welcome back.

Life gets in the way unfortunately, I have a part built sailing ship I haven't touched for two years.

 

[Woodbloke]

Good to hear from you again Pinch. Welcome back - Rob

 

[Jonathan]

Was thinking about you recently….. people as gifted as you should not be allowed to stop woodworking, think they should make it a crime
Glad your back !