Creating a half scale working Grandfather Clock

So I thought I would try my hand at creating a half scale working, yes I said working Grandfather Clock! This project has been a great challenge. I started by looking for clock kits as my thought was that I could do some modifications to make it 1/2 inch scale. In my hunt I came across the House of Miniatures Grandmother Clock. This clock is less than half the size of a 1 inch scale clock so its perfect.

House of Miniatures Grandmother Clock

The next step was to find a small working clock that I could take apart. I found a cheap one that I didn't mind disassembling. I had to be very careful removing the hands as they were extremely fragile. I wasn't sure at this point if I was even going to be able to get it back together.

Disassembled Working Clock

All the parts and pieces

I then had to drill a small hole through the face of the metal piece of the clock. I replaced the original clock face with the face that came with the House of Miniatures kit. The clock hands were the next challenge. I wanted to use the clock hands that came with the kit but the holes in the hands are slightly different sizes than then original ones. My solution for this was trim the holes off of the kit hands and then glue these ones to the original hands. This worked well but was a bit tricky.

New clock face that came with the kit

Assembled new working face!

Next I started to glue some of the pieces of the kit together. Being careful to follow the steps in the kit.

Assembled pieces

Next I started the staining process. I started by carefully sanding the pieces as smooth as possible. Then I did a coat of stain. Once it was completely dry I lightly sanded again and did another coat of stain.

First coat of stain

Now that that is drying I have started to put some of the interior hardware pieces together. The kit includes a pendulum that has to be assembled and 2 chains with weights that also have to be assembled. This is as far as I have gotten for today. I am patiently waiting for the finial coat of stain to dry so that I can assemble the clock. Final pictures to come soon!

Interior clock pieces (non working decorative only)

A little of this, a little of that

I was able to spend a lot of time on the Fairfield today. I worked on all sorts of different areas. I started by putting together a House of Miniatures mirror kit. The kit is actually 1" scale. These kits are not made anymore. You can find a lot available on ebay. They're really easy to put together and finish nicely.

House of Miniatures Kit

The mirror seemed a bit big in its original configuration so I turned it on its side. I changed were the trim pieces went. Now it fits nicely above my fireplace in the parlor. It does look quite grand!

I used the same stain and mantel so that it matches

Today I also worked on painting the embossed plastic ceiling sheet for the kitchen. I first cut the pieces to size.

Main kitchen piece and bay window piece

Next I painted the pieces with a copper leaf paint. The paint went on really easily. To protect the paint since I was concerned with chipping I put on a coat of mod podge to seal it.

I love how this turned out. It really makes it look like an authentic tin ceiling. Next in the kitchen I have to decide what I'm going to do with the walls. Most of the wall space is going to be covered with my cabinets.

I also finished wallpapering the master bedroom and installed the hardwood flooring.

To finish off the day I spent sometime working on the upstairs hallway and bathroom. I figured out how I'm going to do the railings at the top of the stairs. The below picture is just a dry fit. I still need to paint and stain the balusters. After staring at the picture below for a while I'm not sure that I need the set of railings that go against the wall. It looks like its too much. What do you think?

I also cut the hardwood flooring for the hallway and the "tile" bathroom flooring. I feel very accomplish today with everything that I got done. It was great to have an all out mini day!

Bead board in Fairfield Library

In an earlier post about the Fairfield Library I had mentioned that I was considering adding bead board to the walls. Well I decided to go for it. It has really dressed it up and added even more interest.

Stained Pieces

I started by prepping the pieces. I used the same walnut stain that I had used to make the walnut mantels. I used two coats of stain.

Bead board is in place and I've started adding the molding.

The pieces around the fireplace were a bit difficult so I decided to cut them and then glue these pieces together before installing them. It made the process a lot easier. No matter how hard you try it seems that the rooms are never perfectly square. You just have to find a happy medium.

Completed Molding

Fireplace

 

The fireplace is taking shape. I still need to do some touch up and to add the hearth. I have to paint the pieces and decide if I'm going to do a brick hearth on leave the wood showing.

Feels great to make more progress on this house. I can't wait to get everything finished. Who am I kidding we are never truly finished! LOL

Parlor Ceiling

Its been a while since I've posted an update on my Fairfield. Summer is always busy and since its so short in New Hampshire I do everything I can to get out and enjoy it. What I have had time to do is to work a bit on the parlor ceiling. In the parlor I decided to paper the ceiling. I then added extra details by cutting some other papers to create an edge and four squares in the corners.

Parlor Ceiling

I also added trim to create some depth to the ceiling. I'm debating whether it needs just a little bit more detail. I haven't decided what that might be yet.

Trim added

The baseboard is also almost all done in the parlor. Next I will have to finalize the fireplace mantel and glue it in place.

Look the light works! Thank goodness!

Lots of finish work still to do to cover the edges!

Bespaq Piano

 I love the picture above! The Bespaq Piano looks great in this parlor. I'm going to be making curtains for the windows. They will be rich, elegant and totally Victorian. Still tons to do! I love this little house!