Giant Victorian Brown Roof Coco December 2K HOM

Post by **BrianB** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 4:23 pm

Good Afternoon,

Just got the main construction done on this Giant Coco. The construction wasn't as bad as I initially thought it was going be thank goodness, but the roof was a little tricky.
I'm excited to start coating this one. It will be my first time making brown coconut, which should be a fun experiment.
I'm also going to resculpt the little boy figure I have to be about a 1/4 inch smaller and more to scale. There are 2 variations of this house that I know of. One that was the HOM on Papa Teds and one that is featured on Pete's website and in his Collectors guide.
I will be making the cardboard car like the one on Pete's site, but I love Luffa trees, so I will be doing two luffas like the HOM house. However at some point I really want to try my hand at making sisal trees like the one on Pete's site....So I may have to make another one of these at some point.

Below are links to the originals and a pic on my construction.
I haven't glued down the fence posts yet because they will be getting a dark stain instead of a layer of primer.

Thanks
-Brian

It was featured at House of the month on Papa Ted's site back in December of 2000.
http://www.cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/Hom2000.html

Pete's website (scroll down to bottom of the page.
http://www.cardboardputzhouses.com/

Post by **paulrace** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 5:45 pm

GREAT START, Brian!

Post by **Howard** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:38 pm

brian...

i can see lots and lots of chopping, sifting, dyeing and drying...you are going to be busy...

this really is a huge house...i had forgotten just how big...until i looked at the measurements again just now...

the base alone must be about an inch thick...

and i always thought the house and roof were covered with some kind of glitter...

looking forward to seeing the brown and light blue coconut up close...and the finished house of course...

my very best regards...howard...

Post by **BrianB** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:00 pm

Paul, Howard, Thank you!

Howard, you are right on the house finish, it is a pale blue mica/sand finish. I'm fortunate enough to have awesome details from Pete's collectors guide. It says it is pale blue paint with the sand finish on top. The roof is brown coco and the base is white and green coco.
You are correct about the base just over an inch tall...definitely a big one. I think in Pete's book it says there are 4 or 5 of these monsters! I think this is the 3rd one I have repro'd

I'll probably tint some of my white sand to give it the slightly blue hue and add mica powder after it has dried.

The roof was really scaring me on this one so I kept putting off making it, but I figured what the heck, and once I dove in it wasn't too bad.

My hand is sore from cutting all the little slots in the fence, I really need a punch for those. I don't know how may more houses I'll do with that fence style but I am going to be on the look out for something else to pop those out with...

Probably start the Coconut regime over the weekend...i'm super curious as to how the brown will turn out...crossing fingers....
-Brian

Post by **Janet** » Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:57 pm

Wonderful house to reproduce and I know you are making it for ME……..Can't wait to see the next step in this project!

Post by **maria** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 4:07 am

Brian a ribbon slot paper punch might be helpful in the future.

Lots of different sizes available and spaces between holes vary; here's one example http://www.amazon.com/Studios-877-Ribbo ... B001QWUG4Q

Post by **Lynn** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:50 am

Hi Brian,

What a beauty!! That roof would scare me, but you have done a great job. I love the fence, there is a house in my future that has a similar fence, is bending this into a curve a bit tricky? I can’t wait to see more pics!!

Post by **BrianB** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 8:10 pm

Thank You so much!!

Janet, if your still interested after I finish it all up I'll send you an email.

Also for anybody else that may be interested in other houses I have done, I have about 15 I need to clear off my desk to make room for more.

, I will be adding them to my Etsy shop once I find some time. I may also have a couple of original MIJ houses for sale too...nothing too fancy, but possibly a neat little purple church with a Padre and tin cross....if I can bring myself to part with it...

Maria, that ribbon slotter looks great, I will need to investigate the sizes! I always say Im going to get something before I start another house...and then I never do and then of course my fingers are sore for a couple days.

Lynn, the fence isn't too bad, you just have to be careful not to crease it. Don't worry too much if it does get creased a little the coco is pretty good at covering minor things up. I usually warm the cardboard up in my hands a bit and slowly work it with my fingers or roll it around my wrist or bend around a finger depending on the degree of the curve. One thing I ALWAYS do is make the section of the fence about 4-5 inches longer than I need and cut off the extra after I have it curved and figure the right size.

I got the house primed and drying and will post pics after it has sat for a bit. I also made a car with my pattern I did finally. It came out pretty good, I will post pics. But I think I am going to make another one for this house instead of the one I just did. After I finished I noticed the one in Petes picture has a tiny bit smaller engine compartment, and isn't quite as tall. I think I just need to trim a little off my pattern. I will post pics of the cars too.

Hope everybody is having a great Saturday. I just mowed my lawn for the first time this year and am going to grill out tonight! Cant wait!!!
-Brian