Unfortunately my idea of the lino roller didn't work out. It's quite a stiff roller and you need to push down firmly to get it to roll. So it either gripped the clay and lifted it, sticking to roller, or, after I had put some lubricating cream on the roller, it just slid over the surface without rolling.
So I just resorted to firmly pressing it down with my fingers, having first teased the clay out into small pieces as thin as I could manage. Then just rubbed it down smooth with wet fingers, with a small bowl of water to the side as I worked. I used a small scultping tool to scrape the excess away from the window and door frames.
So the clay layer is probably only a few mm's thick, and adhered easily to the MDF surface. So long as you keep your fingers wet as you work it doesn't stick to you too much.
So this should be good and dry when I get in tonight to etch in the brick pattern.
Good grief! The work involved is mind numbing (for me anyway!). Can't wait to see what it looks like when finished!
ReplyDeleteSounds good, some nice tips. Bad luck with the roller perhaps this would of worked before assembling the sides when it was still flat pack?
ReplyDeleteIt was actually done flat-packed Simon, it would have been too much a strain on the structure otherwise I think, and would have collapsed as I pressed the clay on. I have just blu-tac-ed the panels together for the pictures.
DeleteLikewise I'll do all the window internal detail work before sticking all together...
I must be getting confused. I meant as in the four sides separated and lying on a flat surface.
DeleteLooks good Scott!
ReplyDelete"So this should be good and dry when I get in tonight to etch in the brick pattern"...he says it so casually, more good work Scott.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Thanks Fran...that's the bit I am dreading - the brick pattern etching as it will probably take bloody ages ! ;-). The horizontal levels will be fairly easy to score in along the steel rule, but then the vertical strokes that define each brick will no doubt drive me mad! ;-)
DeleteThe Pendon book on model cottage building book I mentioned in your last posting suggests using a pin to prick a series of pinholes along the top, bottom and side edges at the right distances apart for the dimensions of the bricks. Then you can use those pin holes as a guide to line up your steel rule, both horizontally and vertically (for the latter, of course, you have to lift your scoring tool every second line).
DeleteI'd also first score in some decorative bricks above the windows and doors, such as the triangular designs on the Victorian cottages in the Pendon posting on my blog. I think these give some real Victorian character: http://arteis.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/pendon-museum-the-ultimate-in-scenery/
Thank Roly, yep I'm onto that.
DeleteI liked the little stone plaque effect too, marking the date of construction, I may have a go at that too.
This is an area of the hobby where I lack the patience and the attention to detail that you possess. Etching each of the bricks on by hand is going to be quite an effort.
ReplyDeleteI do have an idea of how to get the clay on quickly. If you can do it like you do dry walling, you can use a trowel to put it on and get perfectly even layers. I don't know the type of clay you are using though, so it might not work.
How do you prevent cracking when the clay dries?
That's a good point about cracking, Anne. You've just reminded me of the couple of occasions I used Das for base work, and it cracked. However, in my case it was quite thick, but it looks like Scott has used a very thin layer. So cracking may not be an issue.
DeleteHi Anne, the putty is rather firm, and I am not sure a trowel would do the trick, but thanks for the thought anyway :-)
DeleteI have only used it a few times in the past and have not experienced any cracking, though for the most part, as Roly has pointed out my uses have been small items or thin layers. That may be the trick.
It is air drying, so presume it must be designed to dry naturally this way, and hopefully not crack!?
Sounds like a lot of hard work there Scott. Good luck with marking in the bricks!
ReplyDeleteNow that's impressive, wouldn't have thought of using clay to clad the wall; curious to see how this works out.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing the finished project.
ReplyDelete