Chimney build - and another dry fit....

Tuesday, 1^st January 2013

The Fairfield – Construction day 3

Peter worked again last night, and I ended up staying up late to ring him and wish him ‘Happy New Year’ then staying up even later to finish what I was doing, which was more sanding then doing another dry fit - this time it was a bit more stable and I was able to get a better idea of what the layout is in more detail.  It is disappointing that the tower actually has a wall that shuts off the entrance behind the front door, so when mini people enter the door they have a small vestibule then have to go upstairs.  If they want to go into the ground floor rooms, they need to enter through the kitchen door.  This isn't very satisfactory, and is rather claustrophobic though it is a nice area in which to put a chest and a floral display, with a chair or something beside it.  However I prefer the open look.  The problem is that the rear of the staircase is behind part of that wall, so even if I cut a doorway or arch in the wall, or cut it off completely, it will be blocked by the staircase and my mini people might still have trouble getting through!

I did construct the chimney as well, though.  It went together really well, taking it step by step through the instructions.  I've taken step-by-step photos in case anyone wants them for reference:

Step 1:
Slide the left side onto the fireplace centre piece, with the long slot on the left side facing up.

Step 2:

Next, the fireplace right side, with the long slot facing down, slides onto the tab on the right side bottom of the centre wall and the short slot aligns with the top.  Allow the glue to dry a bit here.

Step 3:

Lay the the assembly on a flat surface. The two second floor hearth walls can now be slid into the slots in the first floor position (for US readers, the 2nd floor position). Adjust the hearth walls so that they extend the same distance on each side of the centre wall and glue into position.  I used a fine-tip glue bottle to put wood glue between the hearth walls and the centre wall, and it worked extremely well

Step 4:

Now do the same with the ground floor hearth wall.  After this photo was taken I noticed that mine was not quite up far enough and not level with the bottom of the centre wall so had to adjust it.

Step 5:
Take the fireplace front

Place it on top of the assembly, aligning the lower edge of the sides with the lower edges of the front.  Note that there is a tab that will secure the assembly into the floor later on.

Step 6

Repeat for the back wall of the fireplace, once the glue on the front has dried enough to move the assembly.  Keep the chimney pieces aligned.  Leave to dry

Step 7

Align chimney top left side between the fire place front and back walls; keep top edges and outside edges flush.

Side view with left top chimney added

Front view

View from opposite side 

  Step 8

Align chimney top right side between the fire place front and back walls; keep top edges and outside edges flush.  Note that this does not extend all the way to the bottom of the chimney.  This lower section is where the bookcase shelves will go later on.

Hope this has been of some help if you are doing a Fairfield!