Building a Bay Window |
by Grace Shaw |
|
What you need:
1) 3 windows – one center and two sides (directions are for N-scale
but they work for any scale, just adjust for your scale).
2) Wood sheathing 4 inches square – I like to use 1/32 scribed wood
.025 SRC 1/32; 1/32 SRC 1/32; or .040 SRC 1/32; (SRC is scribed wood)
3) Wood strip 2” -3” long x 1/32” thickness. You can use quarter
round, square, or double bead. Even a toothpick if it is thin enough.
4) Plastic roofing – if desired. 8030 Grandt-line roof sheets. I use
the sheathing and then use fine sandpaper for shingles.
5) Glue – I use the gel instant glue. The glue must hold plastic to
wood. If you have a favorite, by all means use it. Cut the wood strips to the height of your windows, and then glue a strip between the edge of the center window and the edge of the side window. Make sure that the side window is at an angle that will allow it to fit onto the side of your house. Repeat with the other side window. \__/ Your windows should be this shape. Let them dry thoroughly. A bay window has a base and a top that are the same shape. The shape is determined by the windows you use. The beginning of the shape is the width of your center window plus the width of the wood strips. The depth of the base/top is the depth of the side windows. |
|
I like to use the scribed wood for making these parts because, when stained, it makes the base/top look like they’re made from wood strips. It gives a nice finished appearance. Cut out and fit the top/base in the \___/ shape. Dry fit them to your windows. Make sure that your windows are nice and even. Specially from the front view. The base is more important than the top because the top won’t show. It’s just there to stabilize the window. Once you’ve made sure that the shape of the base/top are correct, glue them between the windows. Do the base first. Let it dry, and then glue in the top. It’s very important that you let everything dry as you go or the whole operation becomes impossible to do because the pieces are so tiny. The roof is the hardest part. Again, you will need to fit the roof to the windows that you have choosen. The easiest way to do the roof is to lay out the shape, for the front and both sides. Cut out the shape but keep everything in one piece. Score the bend lines and bend the wood to fit over the top of the window. Than angle of the side pieces should be the same angle you used for the base. The shape of the roof is __________ If you’ve used the roofing sheet, you are now finished. If you used sheathing, you need to make tiny shingles for your roof. Cut very fine sand paper into 1/16” strips, and then cut the strip 2/3 of the way through for individual shingles. Don’t forget to stagger the strips so that your roof shingles do not line up in straight lines. |
|
If you have any problems, please e-mail me. |
Back to Virtual Dollhouse
These pages are not abandoned. They are historical pages that do not change.