Building the Beacon Hill: A. Foundation and B. Walls & Floors

23 August 2007
There were three steps to making the foundation. Step 1 was removing the first floor, foundation back and bottom support pieces from the pre-cut wood sheets numbered 1 & 27. Step 2 was gluing the foundation back against the back edge of the first floor. In Step 3 the bottom support was glued centrally underneath the first floor and butted against the foundation back. Sorry I never took a photo of this first sub-assembly.

B. Walls & Floors

26 August 2007
Step 1
Last night I removed the second and third floors from their respective pre-cut wood sheets. I stained all three floors with a new product that is a water-based stain gel. I was a bit worried that this would encourage the wood to warp but it seems not. I didn’t wear gloves either and my hands are just fine. Oh yes the stain didn’t smell like oil-based stain does.

This morning I removed the right wall, front wall/right, front wall/left, left wall, right partition wall and the hall/living room partition from sheets 8, 6, 5, 9, and 7. I was stabbed twice by splinters and I have a lovely set of scratches on my left leg from sliding a sheet down the front of my leg. Silly girl! So up to this point I have punched out 11 pieces of wood from the sheets.

Step 2
Then I began the second sub-assembly by interlocking the long slot in the second floor with the long slot in the right partition wall.

Step 3
The front wall/right is slotted in to the second floor. The glue is left to dry.

27 August 2007
Steps 4, 5 & 6
This morning I completed steps 4, 5 and 6. The slots and tabs are, so far, fitting together really well. I’m using white glue so it is slow going while each new addition dries. My helper at the moment is a white bear. He’s holding the end of the second floor up so it doesn’t warp. These two photos show steps 1 - 5 from the front and back.