Sunday, April 8, 2018

Windows, windows, windows

This weekend has been all about windows.  I realized that all the nice little frames I'd made by cutting down the kit windows would work for the inside of the cottage but that Tudor styles don't have 'trim' as such on the outside.

So I had a bit more work in store for me.  But before I got started with that I did a test of my aluminum mesh.  I bought some Aluminum black from Amazon and tried it out.


That's just one coat.  It works pretty well I think.  I cut out the shapes I'd need for all my planned windows and blackened them.  Woo... windows had to be opened because that puts off fumes when you do it in quantity. 


There are still a few bits that gleam silver but I honestly like how everything looks so far.

That problem off my mind I started to make the frames for the casement windows.


They're basically little boxes to hold the mesh and 'glass'.

I stained them with a Dark Walnut before I added the mesh and glass and put another strip of wood around the back edges to hold everything in place.  Then I coated the mesh and glass with Americana Triple Thick Gloss Glaze.  It takes a day to dry completely so we'll see how it looks afterwards.


The windows here will go into the bay window at the front of the house.  I got it all glued together and stained.  Once the glaze dries I'll put the pins in for the casement windows and add the interior trim and 'floor' of the window.  I think what I'll end up doing is a small band of wood above and below the windows to add some interest and make it look like an addition to the cottage rather than something that is original.

Here's my bay window so far.


I also made up the windows for the tower stairs.  I had the shape I wanted already, but I knew if I used wood cutting it would be tricky.  So I traced it onto cardboard and made window sandwiches.  I'll layer more cardboard on top to add some thickness to the frames and when I add brick to the tower I'll surround the windows with stone which will give them more depth.


My last step was making frames for the casement windows to sit in.  I tried to make them look less like machined lumber and more like axe cut wood.


Hard to see here but I used my dremel to roughen up the edges and round them a bit.  I got that done for all of the side windows and that was it for my weekend.  It doesn't feel like a lot of progress but it was a ton of work.

I have the mesh cut for the Houseworks Casement windows which I'm planning to use for the second floor windows and the tower.

I haven't figured out what sort of windows I'm going to have for the dormer yet.  I might end up making more casement windows.  At least I have a process now.

We're chilly down here, seesaw temperatures, up to seventy one day down to low thirties the next.  So we're on the lookout for tornados.  We don't have snow, though we've gotten some lovely thunderstorms.

I hope everyone else is having a good weekend and making progress on your various projects.

30 comments:

  1. I was skeptical about the aluminum but the windows turned out great!

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    1. The fumes were awful though. I need open windows.

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  2. The windows look great and very realistic. I admire your commitment to stay true to the time. You are working very hard and it is paying off :)

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    1. Thanks! So far so good. Here's hoping they all open and close like I want them to.

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  3. I like your idea for placing a bay window, Sheila, it looks great, as the windows for the tower stairs are. And adding brick, to surround the windows with stone, will surely give them more depth and roughen up the edges and around the casement windows is another excellent idea. It adds so much more realism, you're so right about that!
    I hope there will be no tornados, seems frighten to me. But hey, I'm just an ordinary old Dutch girl, who doesn't know anything about tornados.......thankfully, phew ;O!
    And yes, thank you, I had a very good weekend, it was filled well with birthdays and family meetings, so there was no moment free for working at miniatures ;)!
    Have a nice week!
    Kind regards, Ilona

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    1. Thank you! Everything I've seen with Tudor period cottages shows the windows set back from the edge of the wall so I'm trying to mimic that as much as possible.

      So far no tornados! We're used to the possibility but you're right, it can be a bit scary, especially since most houses here don't have cellars.

      Glad you had a good weekend even if you couldn't work with minis.

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  4. You are genius! These windows look perfect :-)

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    1. Thanks! I'm hoping they look just as good from the inside!

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  5. What a lot of work! Your results look splendid. Love all the research you're doing, and learning about Tudor architecture.

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    1. Lots of work! Thank you. I always learn a ton when I take on a new project and this seems to be no exception. My husband calls it being thorough. I'm pretty sure a shrink would call it OCD.

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  6. Geniales y muy acorde con el estilo Tudor.Feliz semana:-)

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  7. These windows are just perfect!!! I hope the fumes are gone by now!

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    1. Fumes gone thankfully. Glad you like the windows.

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  8. Oh how I LOVE those windows! The leading and ageing looks marvelous. The shape for the tower windows is wonderful, too. What a great idea to use the cardboard!
    It was a big job to get them all done - and to have confirmation that your ideas work perfect is a big fat cherry on top!
    Stay safe and warm!

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    1. Thank you! I'm excited to see how they look when the glaze is completely dry. I figure another day just to be safe. Then I'll see if I want to do the mesh on the inside as well. I'm still debating that.

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  9. The windows are wow! I love the amount of detail that you are putting into your project. It's also nice to read about your workarounds, cutting from card when wood is not feasible, then improvising with stone to make the visual effect realistic. I really look forward to seeing the windows installed.

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    1. Thank you! I'm going to check them tonight and see how they look with the glaze dried. Then I might add more mesh to the interior side depending on whether I like it or not.

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  10. The windows turned out superb!! :D

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    1. Thank you! A lot of work, and it's not over yet, but i think its worth it.

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  11. Wow! Sheila, you have been busy! Those windows look amazing.. I'm going to go back through your blog to see what this aluminium is because I think you have had a stroke of genius with it. Now I want to build a tudor cottage.. lol

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    1. Thank you! I think I might put a layer of mesh on the inner window pane as well but I'm pleased with how they look so far.

      I took a picture of the wire mesh in this post:

      http://shenandoahandstuff.blogspot.com/2018/02/wgr-cottage.html

      You can get it from an art supply store, it's used to strengthen sculpture among other things.

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    2. Thanks Sheila.. I knew I'd seen it on the blog! Definitely trying this.

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    3. When you try to blacken it make sure you do it outside or with a lot of good ventilation, like a fan in the window sucking the air away from you because those fumes are bad.

      Hope you have fun with this! It seems to work really well.

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  12. Hi Sheila! You have made wonderful progress with the windows!!! They look Fantastic! I love the Gothic ones you are making for the Tower! That wire mesh looks like such a great idea! It makes the "leaded" windows look almost easy to do! LOL! I really look forward to the development of this Build! Keep up the wonderful inspiring work!

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    1. Thanks! I'd suggest doing the aluminum blackening outdoors with a strong breeze and letting it dry out there because wooo... yeesh. Smell. Fumes. Bad.

      Working on the mesh for the inner windows now because I don't like how the windows look with the mesh only on one side.

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  13. Hi Shelia, So great to see the aluminium mesh worked out! I can’t wait to see the glaze all set and dried. I had been wondering how you were going to fit in the aluminium mesh and I can’t get over how good it looks in the photos, the glaze was such a smart idea! Those tower windows are going to be fantastic. :) Roughing the trim up will add a lot of realism! Oh this build is going to be so good!

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    1. I wish I could take credit for the glaze but that goes to Glorious Twelfth, though that tutorial uses lead tape strips rather than the mesh.

      I'm really excited though. I spent last night putting the mesh and glaze on the interior of the windows and I think that'll make it look even more real.

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  14. The windows are stunning. It's wonderful to follow your work on this project.
    Hugs, Drora

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