Gentlemen, start cutting!

Step One -- Measure and cut out the end and sidewall pieces from the heavy card(board) that you have hoarded and transported from one residence to the next for 20 years. An analyst would very likely have lots to say about that, but I digress! Anyway, take care to get your angles correct on the gabled end pieces and make sure your pieces are cut square. This is where the small carpenter’s square and steel edged ruler come in handy. If cutting out any curves or arches, keep your fingers out of the way, cutting slowly and carefully, so you are pleased with the results. If all goes well, you should have the four basic walls and the base of your model cut out in 15-20 minutes.

The dimensions of the pieces shown above are:

End Walls – 2 ¼” x 5"
Side Walls – 1 3/8” x 3"
Base – 3 ¼” x 3"
Cutout for Archway – 1 3/8” x 1"

Although I based my various building models on the features of actual structures, I did not copy any one building exactly. Instead, go for the general look and feel of the place and period in question. And it’s ok to make your structures slightly underscale. That way, they don’t take up unnecessary space on the table top. But take care to design your houses and other buildings, so that they are taller than the figures with which you plan to use them. After all, it would look silly to construct houses that are 1” tall if your figures measure 30mm or more from base to eye. In the next post, we'll talk about gluing these walls together and adding a roof to the basic structure.