Part II - Preparing To Start The Build

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.  As previously mentioned, I am making the model to a scale of 1:15 - this is purely for working space and where the model is going to live once it's completed.  

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 over 180 traditional joints to make in the five frames with many 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 know existed!  One in particular, is a company who make all the masonry components required in a scale model build, from the common house brick to a ridge tile - truly astonishing!   The bricks are actual bricks, made from brick material - clay, sand, lime etc.  The same applies to other materials including flag stones, roofing tiles, ceramics and the list goes on.  I was blown away by what these guys make.   I will however, 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.  I might make the bricks and stone floor coverings as well.

Anyway, not much to see in this post, but here are a few photos including the small hobby workshop which I fitted out during April 2020.  It is now good-to-go with the start of making this wonderful model build.