Newberg Dollhouse build - Phase One

I was initially apprehensive of getting an old dollhouse kit that had been opened, but to my delight every single piece was present and well packed.

So here are the updates over the last week or so with progress up to this morning :-)

Phase one begins with putting the floor and the floor splice together with a brace that goes underneath. High-tech weight systems in place

Next comes the base. Anyone who has built this kit before will recognize that I have the right front bay corner put together incorrectly in this photo. I had to take it apart and fix it.

The next photo shows the inside of the bay window, without foam core. Dura-craft kits are notorious for having large gaps in between the pieces, and though I didn't have to put the individual wall pieces together like is required for some kits (the San Franciscan, for instance), it's still pretty rickety and unstable.

So I cut thin foam core pieces to line the inside walls. 

This not only adds stability, but it gives a smooth surface for wallpapering, and with a little spackling, takes care of the uneven support post joins in the corners that aren't a realistic part of an interior of a house.

                                      


I chose a bright yellow wallpaper for the inside of the bay window, largely because I don't plan to wire this house since I'm giving it to my four-year-old. The yellow should keep the far recessed parts a little more easy to see as the second floor and surrounding walls are added.

The green was chosen just for fun, shown here freshly pasted before I trim the edges and cut around the window.

This one shows the inside walls without the second floor or windows added in yet.

As of the time of writing, the far right side wall is in place, but not completed. There's a window box as part of the kit but I don't like it much so I'm debating how to replace it with something better. 

New Additions

I acquired a Dura-Craft Newberg for a steal this week that I plan to put together for my girls. If you've been keeping track, I now have the Newberg, the San Franciscan, the Worthington, and the HBS Garage Kit. I missed the deadline for the garage kit by... oh, the project isn't even half finished.

I worked on it a bit this week as it's been promised to a forever home upon completion, and I cleaned my dollhouse table over this week and hung a new supply shelf.

Truthfully, I hung two shelves but since I can't reach the higher one without a step ladder, I put all the collectibles from a studio bookcase up there to make space for all my paints and varnish and things I need easy access to, but don't use often. 

So as soon as I finish a beading project I need to get done in the next few days, I'll be back to my houses with lots of time.