The Art of Architectural Modelling in Paper

by T. A. Richardson

This paper being ready for use, take one of the pieces cut from the windows, and mark by it the size of the window-opening, then lightly draw the frames in and cut them out, if the white paper of the under sheets should show where cut through sectionally, touch it along with a little burnt sienna or brown colour. You must now tint another sheet of the same description of paper blue or neutral, not in an even tint, but carelessly and artistically leaving bright lights; this when pasted as for the oak-paper two or three thicknesses, will form the backing to the frames. Then place the frames face down, on them gummed a sheet of mica; on that again the blue backing; the whole then to be put in the press, care being taken not exhibit too much pressure, otherwise you will have the backing bulge out. It may, perhaps, be thought that these thicknesses of paper for the frames and backing are unnecessary, and that one might serve as well; but from experience I can assert, that unless this method be adopted, that flatness the work should have, will not be obtained. It may also be as well here to caution the reader against pressing with too great a degree upon the cardboard when it is under the action of the press. If too great a pressure is given, the cardboard will become so hard as to resist all efforts of the knife to cut through it. The paper usually presses to a little less than an inch, to a scale of one-eighth of an inch to the foot; so that six thicknesses or sheets of paper will answer for four and a half of brickwork or stonework. The doors will be formed first from two thicknesses[^[1]] and backed with the same. This is for plainest description, but if mouldings are inserted in the panels, adopt the following:—

[1]. One thickness, two thicknesses, three thicknesses, and so forth, will be used throughout, to express the number of sheets to be pasted together.

DETAILS No. 1.
ELEVATION OF ENTRANCE DOOR.

PLAN OF ENTRANCE DOOR.

First draw the door with the extreme size of the opening of each panel, on a two-thickness sheet; on another two-thickness sheet, draw the same panels a size smaller; on a third two-thickness sheet, draw them a size smaller still; these being cut out and placed behind one another, and finally the backing; will admirably represent mouldings: by producing three separate lines round the inside of each panel. For work to ⅛ scale no further trouble will be necessary; but if larger, the mouldings must be formed before the door is gummed together, as hereafter described for the formation of mouldings in general. The doors, windows, and backs to all openings are now ready, but cannot be yet fixed till all the necessary mitreing is completed, which mitres will be wherever an outside angle occurs thus, fig. 1. (See page [53], figs. 1 and 2.)

Fig. 1.
OUTSIDE ANGLE.