Floor and foundation plan for the deck extension

For the Warming Hut front deck extension, I glued two pieces of illustration board together with wood glue to make a 1/8-inch (3 mm) thick subfloor. I let it dry thoroughly, then sanded the edges smooth and even.

You can also see one of my preferred pencils, the Palomino Blackwing 602. (“It’s not just a pencil, it’s an experience.”) If you like pencils like I do, it lives up to the hype.

Deck extension plan v2

For various reasons, including some mistakes aberrations with the front wall alignments,  I decided to switch the deck extension to the right side of the Hut, and inset the foundation so the deck overhangs consistently with the base kit. I remeasured and cut the pieces from 5/8-in poplar (which is what I had on hand).

Gluing up the deck extension foundation

Of course I forgot to flip the plan back over to account for building it upside down, but the glue had not yet set and it was easy scrape it off and reconfigure the layout.

Adding the support posts to the rest of the Warming Hut

While that was drying, I measured for placement and glued the main structure posts to the foundation.

After the glue set, I flipped the hut back over onto the project board, and set the extension foundation in place. Most of the posts will be obscured by the boulders and bedrock of the site, and for now I’m leaving the build loose from the board. I plan to model and mold the boulders with air dry clay, which worked so well — and are so fun to make! — for the Sea House Pavilion. After the clay dries and shrinks in place, which seems to take several days, I’ll glue the posts to the project board.

Sea House Warming Hut deck extension, vision in progress

Here’s the kit deck and my illustration board extension subfloor. I’m glad it’s still March and the contest deadline is not ’til December 16.

Which also reminds me: I have the whole beautiful unopened base kit HBS/miniatures.com sent me, which I’d like to pass on to one who wants to join in the miniature madhouse of real imaginary world building. Just leave a comment, and I’ll randomly select from the respondents on 31 March, 2015. Please! Thank you!