Painting (B) page 7
Instructions for Kit #B 1925
J
A: Getting Started:
Do these things before the house assembly
Stain the Shingles:
Our pro uses Real Good Toys’ Shingle Dye
(available at www.realgoodtoys.com or through your Real Good
Toys miniature dealer) when dying the shingles for this house.
Batch dye or stain the shingles several days ahead of time so they
will be dry when the time comes to use them (instructions are
with the shingle dye).
Square the corners
of the window, door, and stair holes with a utility knife - each
cutout has a rounded corner left over from the tool that made it. Make two cuts
in each corner from the outside (one from each direction), then cut from each
direction on the inside to cut away the rounding in the corner so the window,
door, or stairs will fit.
A Double-Cut Coarse file (item
#5408-10 at reagoodtoys.com)
is easier for many people to
use when squaring the corners.
Make several strokes from each
direction in each corner and test
the Window or Door to see how
it fits.
Demos and slideshows are at: www.realgoodtoys.help
Can I do it differently?
Yes you can - but:
The information on these pages is offered as “best practices” advice, and it is what we do when we build this house.
But if you are customizing or have something else in mind, go ahead!... just test-ahead to make sure your planning
includes
everything
!
Masking tape is a great universal puller for dollhouse assembly
, here’s how to get the best out of it:
a.
Use a sticky yellow tape
, not the easy-to-remove painter’s tape. Look for “high tack” on the label.
b.
Use enough tape
so you can start a distance from the joint and rub down several inches on the end, then...
c.
Stretch
the tape as you pull it across the joint.
Rub
the tape down so it will remain tight while the glue dries.
d.
For more pull
, put on two thicknesses at the same time, or even three.
Wood always reacts to uneven moisture from paint or from having one surface exposed to the open air and the other
facing a table top. It is part of the dollhouse builder’s art to straighten reactive wood as you are building, and masking
tape is your first and best tool. Many layers of tape will tighten or flatten even the most misbehaving panel, and it’s
normal to stretch bands of tape all the way around the house to hold the joints tight as the glue dries.
Don’t be shy when using masking tape!
Stretch
3-way tape on the corners