2020 MIK build of a Florida Cracker/shotgun house

[chocho willy]

  It all started with the 2020 Mik challenge that is held yearly by Large Scale Central in which a scratch build is started and has a theme  attached to it, last year it was build anything, once it was build with a 2x4 you just never know, only rule is spend no more than $30.00 and used stuff or on hand stuff doesn't count. Just a friendly competition with no prizes involved just fun and some if not all the builds are outstanding with some ranging into museum quality. This year we were given a brick chimney and had to build something to go with it and being as I have a bunch of old Playmobil walls and building materials I decided on a "cracker/shotgun" house which were very prominent in Florida and the south in the early 20th century.

   Started by making an inventory of available parts and selecting a design which wasn't hard because I lived in one till I was in the first grade. Assembled the chimney which was in 4 side walls and unpainted. Decided on new old brick and that was done using acrylic paints one brick at a time. Made a base for the house to sit on using leftover 1/4" PVC board, concrete blocks for the house to sit on I used 1/2" PVC board and when cut reveals a porous surface and when painted looks like concrete block. Between the block and the base I cut squares of thin styrene to simulate termite shields, heated with a heat gun to form the rounded edges and secured to the base using screws.

    Then washed all the plastic Playmobil parts to remove dirt and mold wax used during the manufacturing process in preparation of painting as Playmobil holds up well outside if protected from UV rays. Decided on white with a sort of a mint green trim as I had both in rattle cans and figured the white would be easy to weather. Found a great figure on EBay for the front porch which I will reveal on the last post also found a chicken in the Playmobil stuff and think it will also see the porch. Turned my attention to the roof and being as the playmobil parts are modular the roofs have seams hence I decided on a tin roof like the one I grew up in, nothing like a rain storm in the middle of the night especially when looking up you saw rafters and metal roof it was at that time I discovered home grown sign language. Decided on adding strips in-between the rafter beams to change the look of the to more look like a metal roof. Will add pictures as the build goes along but have to be done by Feb 10th, Bill

[chocho willy]

Little more done today, got the strips on the roof done and painted along with the rear porch cover, + got the termite shields painted also fitted the chimney as to location and correct height, funny thing found the inside size of it is exactly the same size + 1/64" as my outdoor solar panels, so that is where the panel is going. About time to start some weathering , More to come

[PVT Kanaka]

Looks great, Bill! My schedule cleared up, so I am going to make a push on my own project this weekend.

[chocho willy]

Yea not many more days left, you off night duty?

[PVT Kanaka]

Yep. It's going to be tough to get caught up...

[chocho willy]

Buttoning up the project, weathered along with window shades, furniture, window glazing + front a rear steps, got a dog and chicken on the front porch and will have some folks as well when finished, think I've made the deadline, will post final pictures on Sunday, Bill

[chocho willy]

  Finally finished up my 2020 MIK build, everything use in the build was from left overs except the figure so I wound up spending $12.95. Love the lady barefoot with 3 young ones and 1 in the oven, I guess the old adage of barefoot and pregnant didn't work. Been a fun build and found stuff I didn't even know that I had, Bill.

  

[PVT Kanaka]

Bill, This came out great. Our own build is on the Triple O. We have to stage some scenes tomorrow, and then we'll post up the finished project, to include an abbreviated build log here. Oh, the figurines are great! Eric

[PVT Kanaka]

Bill,

This came out great.  Our own build is on the Triple O.   We have to stage some scenes tomorrow, and then we'll post up the finished project, to include an abbreviated build log here.

Oh, the figurines are great!

Eric

[vsmith]

I need to post my... ummm....entry???

[PVT Kanaka]

There was a chimney in there somewhere, Vic!