jaxenro Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 So I am looking to make a small dollhouse loosely based on the outbuildings at Berry Hill and Uncle Sam plantations. These buildings were set up for various purposes, kitchens, offices, guest housing, etc. Mine will be an office and library and double as a guest bedroom by swapping in and out furnishings. I want the walls to be 3/4" thick and stucco inside and out but am unsure what to make them from. Cast plaster seems to be really heavy even at this small size (about 12" by 19" walls - rough size about 19" square not counting the porch) so what would you recommend? I am open to all options including making a wood frame and skinning it inside and out and applying stucco over that. The photo's below are from Berry Hill but I have the plans from Uncle Sam - just an amazing set of buildings I can't believe they tore it down it was almost criminal. At least the Historic Building Survey documented it first https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/la0030/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 For smooth stucco you can use drywall compound. For sandy stucco I use premixed sanded grout which comes in small tubs from Home Depot. Wear gloves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxenro Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 What's would you make the walls out of? I have used ready mix drywall compound before on sheetrock joints I assume you mean that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 23 minutes ago, Miniatures in Marble said: What's would you make the walls out of? I have used ready mix drywall compound before on sheetrock joints I assume you mean that? You could use builder's foam sheets for the walls to keep the weight down. I use spackle or joint compound over primed plywood to simulate stucco, among other things, all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 1/4” birch plywood, primed on both sides. Yes, regular drywall compound. It comes in small tubs, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Why do you want 3/4" thick walls? That seems really bulky. For stucco I use watered down wood filler, applied with a sponge brush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxenro Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 48 minutes ago, fov said: Why do you want 3/4" thick walls? That seems really bulky. For stucco I use watered down wood filler, applied with a sponge brush. The originals were 15” so actually they should be 1 1/4” to be scale I am thinning them down. It is part of the Greek revival design of these outbuildings to be bulky. If I understand it all 18” interior plus two 3/4” walls is 19 1/2”. Divide that by 13 and you get exactly 1 1/2” which works for the column diameter with 3 diameter spacing (4 1/2”). I was planning 12” tall columns which is tall for Tuscan (8 x diameter) but I think works. They are a little more slender than a squat Doric but I think a touch more elegant A lot of these plantations weren’t designed by professionals so much as pulled from pattern books and simplified. I am trying to do the same in my own small way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxenro Posted September 27, 2019 Author Share Posted September 27, 2019 This is Uncle Sam notice the columns are a little more slender i think the spacing also impacts it I like the 3 column spacing for Tuscan so you have 1-3-1-3-1-3-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 I made columns like those. I narrowed dowels by hand using sandpaper. I know there is an easier way but that’s one tool I don’t have. The capital and pedestal are from columns for tiered cakes. http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/?app=gallery&module=gallery&controller=view&id=115377 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grazhina Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 I've been working on a 1:24 masonry house using 1" styrofoam sheets painted with gesso, then covered with a thin layer of drywall compound. So far so good. I wanted to use some of the pile of styrofoam packing materials I saved from my bathroom remodel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxenro Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 Those look great I was wondering where to get columns and you nailed it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 21 hours ago, jaxenro said: Those look great I was wondering where to get columns and you nailed it Thanks- necessity is truly the mother of invention. Since the pillars were not tall enough I used my mini table saw to cut the capitals and pedestals off. You have to give them a few coats of paint to eliminate the plastic look. I traced the cutoff top of the column onto the top of the dowel to assist with narrowing it. https://www.hobbylobby.com/Party-Baking/Baking-Supplies/Decorating-Tools/White-Grecian-Cake-Pillars---5%22/p/45355 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smjsome Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 I just started a Nebraska State day project, brought it home and got to work, it’s a Tuscan Garden and has stuccoed walls. Red Devil Lightweight spalls is what they gave us - at true value I found a Dap version it is super light weight and I didn’t even need to sand it. I’ve used joint compound in the past and had to sand it and it was a mess, so I think I’ll use the light weight sparkle from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Sharon, all of my stucco and stonework is the Dap lightweight spackle until the Washington farmhouse, which is joint compound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smjsome Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Holly - that’s a lot of houses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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