Thank you!
Friday I spent rebuilding two brass porch lamps. They were 23 years old and the candelabra sockets were completely deteriorated. We were about to buy new ones (over $400), and I thought about seeing if I could find these sockets on line. I found them for less than 3 bucks a piece. There were two per fixture so for less than $15 I bought sockets for both lamps. Replacement required complete disassembly, and while I gave it a good try, I could not really bring the brass back to life, but we'll live with it. What I did do was get two fixtures working perfectly for less than 15 dollars.
But I did work on the building today, although didn't get started until 3:30. I did two things: epoxied the pins to the Widow's Walk laser cut details and masked and painted the Mansard trim.
I had bought some 6 minute 2-part epoxy and that too, like the last batch I had to throw out, the resin had kicked as was almost a useless solid. So I dug out some that was at least 20 years old, but had not solidified. The pins are .021" phosphor bronze wire. When it cures tomorrow, I will airbrush them semi-gloss black.
Masking the Mansard was simple to do.
Air brushed it with the detail air brush Tamiya flat white. When it was dry enough to handle I pulled off the tape. I looks just the way I wanted it to. I want to paint the rain trough in front of the Mansard a darker color since I doubt that it would be bright white. Before gluing any other roof detail in, I really need to decide on and then build whatever form of exterior lighting I'm going to use. I need to do this now since I will be turning the building upside down and would damage the roof it was all installed.
There's another trim panel on the front left next to the smaller door that I need to build. After this is done, it will be time to glue the Mansard down and get the gables installed. Some final roof detailing is in order. I need to create and access door to the roof area (or not).
