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1/2 inch Scale Wood Thickness and where to find supplies in New Zealand


Amiee

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Hi everyone. My name is Amiee and I'm new to dollhouses. I have been wanting to get started for years but somehow it never happened. I really love the 1:24 scale and I have a few questions about wood.

I'm looking to make my own siding for the outside and came across the strips on the website I will link to. Would any of these two be suitable? I'm not sure about keeping it in scale and how thick would be too thick etc. They seem really thin so I was thinking about going with the 1mm? 

 I also have a furniture question. Im building my own and have seen people use from 1mm to 5mm depending on the piece. I don't want it looking bulky and out of place so would that be a good range to stick to? They have quite a lot of options on the website so I was wondering what the best selection would be to start with. 

 Thank you and I'm excited to be a part of this forum!

 

https://www.modelcraftsandhobbies.co.nz/products.cfm/category/balsa-wood

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Welcome, Aimee, to the little family.  I made almost all of the furniture for my 1:24 Fairfields:  http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/forum/?app=gallery&module=gallery&controller=browse&album=3404

I used a lot of 1mm & 5mm basswood to build my furniture.  The 1/16" is what I'd go with for siding; actually I think I'd go with a nice, sturdy card, since once it's on & painted, who will know?

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Thank you. It's great to have found a place that's so inspirational!  Your work looks fantastic! :)

 So maybe I should pick up some 1mm - 5mm basswood and then 1/16 for the siding if I was going for wood. Im going to make some wooden floors from popsicle sticks as well, I've seen some amazing examples. 

Edited by Amiee
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It depends on what kind of furniture you're making, but 1/16" or 3/32" are good sizes in half scale. Here are a few half scale tutorials I've posted, you can check out the supply lists to get an idea of the wood sizes that work well in this scale:

http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=7314
http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=10418

I haven't used siding strips in half scale but I think 1/16" might be a bit too thick. The siding strips Greenleaf makes (which are 1:12 scale) are thinner than that. Sometimes people cut strips out of thin cardboard, like a cereal box. I always use the Houseworks siding pieces (https://www.miniatures.com/14-Lap-Width-x-12L-Clapboard-Siding--P17157.aspx or https://www.miniatures.com/14-Lap-Width-x-24L-Clapboard-Siding--P17159.aspx). They're more expensive than siding strips but you don't have to worry about making straight lines, which I would be horrible at!

Whether you use the Houseworks siding or do it with strips, a 1/4" lap is appropriate for half scale.

Hope that helps!

ps - We posted at the same time. Popsicle sticks might be too fat for half scale floors. Try skinny sticks (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0033F2HPU/ref=asc_df_B0033F2HPU5336659) or wooden coffee stirrers, or cut your own out of micro veneer (available on eBay). Some reference photos:

Skinny stick floor: http://www.emilymorganti.com/dollhouse/fairfield/windowseat-done.jpg
Coffee stirrer floor: http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=2074
Micro veneer floor: http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=8018

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Thank you for your reply fov. That was extremely helpful. Those tutorials are fantastic, Ive actually been looking for a lounge like that! :)

Coffee stirrers would probably be the better option. As far as siding goes, it's quite difficult trying to track stuff down here in NZ. I've been trying to find a thin enough wood to make it out of. I might have to go with card instead. Is there any wood options on the website I linked to that could possibly work? 

 Sorry for all of the questions. It's always the same when you first start something it all seems quite confusing until you get a hang of it. :)

Edited by Amiee
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None of that wood jumps out at me as siding. Also keep in mind that balsa is very soft - it's okay for some things (I used it for the cushions in my sofa) but it's not really nice enough for wood furniture. Basswood is better for furniture. (Or other types of wood - walnut, cherry, etc. - but those are much harder to find as strip wood.)

Maybe Samusa or shannonc60 can suggest other stores, they're both in Australia. I've edited your thread title so they (or others in NZ) are more likely to notice it and pop in.

 

 

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Hi Amiee, welcome to the forum! I agree - don’t use balsa. That link you posted, scroll right to the bottom and you’ll see 1/32” thick basswood. That would be your best option. I know there are some stores in NZ. Check out NZAME:

http://nzame.org/

There are some really funny and awesome miniaturists in NZ so I imagine it is a fun group.

In Australia, I buy a lot from Fairy Meadow Miniatures: http://fairymeadowminiatures.com.au/ (she also has basswood).

I myself have an Etsy store where I sell 1:24 laser cut furniture kits: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/RedCottageMiniatures

And lastly, I very often buy wood supplies from here: http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/

Although they are in the UK, shipping is quick and cheap and the price of the sticks makes it very enticing, rather than cutting up your own. Go for the lime or obechi.

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Thanks everyone for the help and information and thanks shannonc60 for all of the links, I've been trying to track good sites down for a while now. I've seen fairy meadows site before too and they have a huge range of stuff, I'm actually looking at getting my wallpaper there. Such a good site.

 I'll be picking up a good selection of basswood shortly and seeing how I go :)

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Hi Amiee

I am also new to dolls house building and also live in NZ. I recently purchased a Fairfield kit. I purchased the siding from Greenleaf when I bought my dollhouse. You can set up a YOUSHOP account at NZ Post so you can order stuff from the US that doesn’t ship to NZ. 

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Thank you Shaz that is fantastic to know! A lot of amazing stuff is in the US and it was a bummer that they couldn't post. Thanks for the tip :)

 I plan on converting a lot of the 1/12 furniture patterns. Is there a good method for that?

 

 

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6 hours ago, Amiee said:

Thank you Shaz that is fantastic to know! A lot of amazing stuff is in the US and it was a bummer that they couldn't post. Thanks for the tip :)

 I plan on converting a lot of the 1/12 furniture patterns. Is there a good method for that?

US postage rates to ship overseas are obscene.

I traced or measured & copied the 1:12 patterns onto the 1/4" grid paper and then redrew them half the dimensions using the grids.  I found this gave me more accurate measurements than doing the maths.

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I just reduce each of the measurements by 50%. Don't forget to reduce the wood thickness as well as the length and width - but you don't need to be faithful to this if you feel like the wood will get too thin to assemble. Use your judgment!

Here's a half scale bed and trundle bed I built using 1:12 plans: http://www.emilymorganti.com/blog/?p=4948

 

 

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Hi Aimee I live in NZ too. I have found the best place to get bass wood is model shops. The one that seems to have the biggest range is https://www.acornmodels.co.nz/ I have bought from them a number of times and they are really good to deal with and super quick with dispatching orders. Also I discovered by chance that our local demolition store (demolition traders in Hamilton) sell really thin plywood- I think some of it is seconds but is really cheap. 

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Hi Amiee, I'm also in Auckland!  Please message me and I can share some info if you need.  There is a lovely lady in Hamilton who has a dollhouse shop, plus one on the Shore.  Welcome!!

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2 hours ago, Amiee said:

Hey again everyone. Finally had the time to order my basswood and looking forward to it getting here. I don't know why I never noticed that Acorn Models have siding! Its 1/16 with a 1/4 overlap. 

https://www.acornmodels.co.nz/products/general-modelling-materials/strip-woods-excl-balsa/5648/

1/4 will be good for 1/24 scale siding. I like to have a good asortment of basswood trims to try several designs, and you can use larger scale trims too for diferent effects. For example, I like to cut 1:24 brackets out of 1:12 cornice trims :) 

As people mentioned above veneer is great for flooring, lasts a while and the thickness is perfect for smaller scales.

 

On 15/01/2018, 21:27:09, havanaholly said:

Isn't obeche like basswood?

Obeche is tropical wood, the color looks similar but they stain and behave diferently. The grain is a lot more noticeable on obeche (stained or painted), I like it for some effects.

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Hi Aimee

I live in NZ as well and find it difficult to get most of what I need within NZ. I tend to use the online suppliers in the USA and UK. But basswood is available here from Acorn models (Google it) and possible a couple of other places as well. I use this a lot for flooring and whenever I need straight lumber. But for mouldings, cornice, skirting boards etc I usually source from overseas. The hobby suppliers here tend to cater for model aircraft builders and model railway enthusiasts, not for dollhouse so choice is limited.

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On ‎1‎/‎02‎/‎2018‎ ‎9‎:‎24‎:‎02‎, Annagr said:

Hi Aimee

I live in NZ as well and find it difficult to get most of what I need within NZ. I tend to use the online suppliers in the USA and UK. But basswood is available here from Acorn models (Google it) and possible a couple of other places as well. I use this a lot for flooring and whenever I need straight lumber. But for mouldings, cornice, skirting boards etc I usually source from overseas. The hobby suppliers here tend to cater for model aircraft builders and model railway enthusiasts, not for dollhouse so choice is limited.

Hi Anna - I'm in Auckland.  I tend to use three online NZ dollhouse/miniature shops.  I mostly shop with Jo Wells - http://www.in-miniature.co.nz/

She's in Hamilton - I've visited her a few times but have also ordered online many times.

zoombox.co.nz - the lady is on the North Shore of Auckland.  I've been once and have ordered online.

minis4u.co.nz - Rosemary in Papatoetoe Auckland.  Never visited but have bought online.

Plus one I haven't bought from before is hathawayminiatures.co.nz

If you didn't know there is also the NZAME - NZ Association of Miniature Enthusiasts.  You can get Rimu through them for furniture building etc.

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