Bits and Pieces... (Part 4 of 4: Shingles)

So, at the request of a friend I took photos as we shingled the back of the Willoway because my friend believes hinges and shingles are a very intimidating combo.  (I don't blame her - hinges frighten me too).

The most important part of shingling with a hinge is planning.  We measure and mark our lines as least a few times before settling on the proper pattern.  A proper pattern?  Yes, a proper pattern (come on now, that's just fun to say over and over. Or maybe that's just the glue fumes talking).

You want the lines to end at the hinge with a large portion of the shingle showing (i.e. you don't want to be cutting your shingle in half right where the hinge break would be so space your lines accordingly.  Trimming a little off a shingle is okay, but cutting more than 1/4 of the shingle off will make the row look odd).  With this house, the entire shingle will be showing at the hinge row:

Proper Pattern in Pencil

Next you shingle as usual up to your hinge:

Next up: Hinge Row!

 Shingle up to your hinge (periodically remember to open your hinged panel to make sure it is still operational and the shingles aren't preventing it from opening; shouldn't be a problem but it's best to check and deal with any issues now as opposed to when it's all glued tight):

Then you dump on the glue (being careful to keep it out of the hinge mechanism because you don't want to prevent your hinge from doing its job):

 And keep shingling right along.  These shingles may take more time to hold down in place just to ensure that they are sticking well:

And keep shingling:

Next Up: Top Hinge Row!

Now the next row will need a bump at the bottom to give it the correct slant because this row will NOT be overlapping the row beneath it.  So, just like you do at the bottom of the roof, add a piece of strip wood to the roof:

Strip wood glued to edge where hinge break is in roof

Shingle up to hinge again (periodically remember to open your hinged panel to make sure it is still operational and the shingles aren't preventing it from opening; shouldn't be a problem but it's best to check and deal with any issues now as opposed to when it's all glued tight).  The shingle overlapping the hinge may need a cut out to fit around hinge (I use either an Exacto knife or the EZ Cutter):

Finish shingling the row:

Then finish shingling the house and top it off with a roof cap (or a Boston Lap pattern at the ridge).  Either glue fumes were getting to me or I just wanted an excuse to nap for a bit, but I needed some weight to hold down the roof cap while the glue dried: I only use the best tools here at work so I used myself!

Roof is all done and house is ready to be picked up!  The final recap of this Willoway Dollhouse will be published tomorrow or Friday . . . . in the meantime, can you quickly spot the hinge?

Hopefully the hinge blends in with the roof now.