Hardwick Hall Trims....

All Those Little Pieces.....

I may have mentioned, Dear Readers, that I am trying to complete all the Exterior Trims on Hardwick Hall (also known as The Willowcrest) before I continue with the attic and interior spaces. This is at least partly because I just want to see what the exterior will look like... (!) but more importantly because I am afraid all the tiny pieces will go astray if I don't get them attached! It has already been nearly two years since I began working on this kit.... and at the speed I go... it might be two or more years yet before I have "finished"! So I have been diligently working away at following those endless-seeming Instructions... "removing and preparing" dozens of little pieces, carefully labeling them on the back of each tiny piece (yes, you really do want to do this step!) and then sanding and painting each piece with the four coats of paint on all the necessary sides and edges and then fitting them into their designated places, making adjustments where necessary. I last mentioned the disappointment of discovering that the "foundation trim" pieces did not fit properly... one long piece being notably short... and decided to move on with the next step while I tried to decide how to fix the foundation trim. The next step was to make all those Ornamental Brackets that support the roof eaves on the porch and the mansard roof! Thirty-four little pieces!

Here you can see them all punched out 

and being painted with the undercoat of grey paint 

that I use with the silver on all the trims.

It is probably not clear from this picture 

that the quality of the wood that many of these trims are made from 

was very poor!

The bottom end of almost all the brackets where it tapers 

to a narrow point did not punch out well, 

leaving a "snaggle-toothed" effect on many of the brackets.

You can see on this close-up of the porch trims,

 that I decided not to replace all those trims!

Lazy? 

Perhaps.... but I can tell you 

that I have lived in many old Victorian houses... 

and the wood trims Always suffer from the elements!

So I am "writing it in to the story"....

 this old house has seen wear and tear 

and has Not always been well tended!

I completed all the porch brackets 

before moving up to the Mansard roof brackets...

Which you can see in this picture, 

still have not been added....

And while I was working on all those Brackets, 

I was also taking another serious look at the exterior as a whole..... 

and having some serious misgivings!

In particular, I am not happy with the number of "tabs" 

(those pieces that stick through the slots in the walls 

to hold the floors and walls in place)

that remain visible even when all the decorative trim has been finished!

 

 

The picture on the outside of the box shows the house

"finished" with clapboard siding, 

which is not included in the kit 

(and is clearly stated as not included)

but which leaves you unaware 

of these"raw points" in the finished kit... 

until you have it nearly all assembled.

 

 

Hmmmm.... 

I am going to want to make an exterior "siding" 

that will cover all those "raw points"....!

* Sigh*

That was Not part of the original plan.

So I am re-considering the siding...

And meanwhile I decided to go ahead and attach the Foundation Trims....

Because most of the pieces did fit just right!

But it left me even more aware that the foundation itself 

was going to have all those raw edges at the untrimmed corners.....

I suppose I am going to be making a lovely 

egg-carton-bricks foundation to cover all these lapses!

Meanwhile I did attach all those imperfect brackets to the Mansard Roof eaves.....

And Oh!, Dear Readers.....

They really are the Crowning Glory of this decorative trim!

I find that I really can forgive them their imperfections!

Aren't they just fantastic?

Like Antique Lace... a Tiny bit shabby... but so Elegant!

And as I was contemplating the siding... 

I am also trying to decide on the base....

And just how much "land" will be necessary....

Because I have always thought this house needed to have a small yard, 

enclosed by an old wrought iron fence....

And the house sits up on a small rise...

(a little more intimidating and spooky that way...)

which means more steps.... 

and more "land".....

(Hmmmm.... haven't we discovered this exact same problem

 with the Conservatory? And The Folly?)

But still.... I really think it improves the appearance

 if it is elevated that little bit!

So I've cut a piece of builders foam insulation 

that I will carve into a sloping yard.....

But meanwhile I still need to complete the last pieces 

of the Trims that come with the kit...

The base of the porch posts and the 

porch foundation trim will be the last pieces of the kit!

But I know Dear Readers, that even when those pieces are done... 

there will still be all the clapboards and all the roof shingles 

and all the foundation bricks... 

not to mention all the rest of the Window muntins....

and that is just the Exterior Trims!

And I thought I was almost Done with 

All those little pieces!