greetings to all...

i started this project before the holidays and am just about finished...i'll post the completed castle later...

the first photo is of the two castles i worked from to build my version...

the second photo is of my version in the raw cardboard state...it measures 7-inches tall and sits on a 6 1/2-inch x 4 3/4-inch base...i'll cover the priming and finishing details in a later post...

there won't be any patterns for the many cut to fit pieces other than the third photo of the major parts...these are shown on a 1-inch grid cutting board so you should be able to make your own pattern following the grid lines...

stay tuned...

my very best regards...

howard...

Whoa! Can't wait.

Wow!

Looking good so far.

So these were not light.
I did not spy a light hole in the back.

Steve

PutzinVT wrote:Looking good so far.

So these were not light.
I did not spy a light hole in the back.

Steve

According to Ted, from what I remember, castles he was aware of didn’t have light holes, so I didn’t put one in either.

Perhaps Pete, and/or some other forum members, can provide more info.

Howard

Looks great, Howard. Do you suppose the original was Czech?

paulrace wrote:Looks great, Howard. Do you suppose the original was Czech?

Paul...I think the vintage castle was made in Japan...and have some pretty substantial evidence which I’ll post later today or tomorrow...
Howard...

update...1-12-2020...

first photo below...
my castle repro with a coat of primer and a coat of anti-skid textured floor paint...it's still wet in this picture but will be a flat gray when dry...stay tuned for more about the final finishing techniques later...

second photo below...
paul and all...i believe the castles ted features as the january 2000 house of the month were made in Japan and not Czechoslovakia...
https://cardboardchristmas.com/papateds/Hom2000.html
i actually have a vintage castle that is almost identical to the one on the right...the photo of the base of mine clearly shows MADE IN JAPAN stamped on the bottom...since the finish on the two castles is practically identical this is pretty convincing proof as to their origin...i also see what looks like 79 cents marked on the base in black china marker...

my very best regards...

howard...

update...1-20-2020...

greetings to all...

my finished reproduction version of the vintage castle is shown below...now...about the finish...it's not that scientific...

first...primer and a coat of flat gray "anti-skid" textured floor paint...then a splotching on of rather thin coats of two different gray craft paints...with some medium green in a few selected areas...i tried to avoid any hard edges where the paints met and overlapped...i let dry thoroughly...then rubbed my fingers in black craft paint...blotted most of it off...then rubbed the surface of the castle in random patterns...

note...i tried the "yucky stuff" from the vacuum cleaner...but it was not as successful as i had wished...i don't think the surface texture was quite rough enough...perhaps next time i'll sprinkle it on and mist with some flat finish clear spray to hold the dirty particles in place...

the roofs tops and trim are another unscientific mix of gold metallic, terracotta, orange and a medium brown...also applied in random patterns...i let dry thoroughly...then followed with a light dry brushing of gold and silver metallic craft paint...

the second photo is of my repro castle on the left and the vintage castle i do own on the right for...i don't think my surface texture is a rough as the vintage one...and my application of colors is not as heavy handed...

the third photo is from Papa Ted's site...the January 2000 House of the Month...both originals of course...i've always liked castles...and this photo has been one of my favorites HOM subjects...but knew ownership of two originals was not going to happen...so i made my own...i hope Ted would approve of this project...

my very best regards...

howard...

This is wonderful Howard. I'm glad you skipped the "green" accents.