By: Sgt. Howard
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About a year ago I started cutting & framing this wall out of cast-off hardboard and fir. Just this last month I sliced up a softwood shipping pallet to create the window framing and wainscoating that you see. I bought the screws, glue, paint & contact paper- everything else was salvage... and yes, the windows will be glass and operational.
In doing my research on Brit hospitals of the late thirties/early fourties, I found a common phrase; "Ahead of schedule & under budget," meaning "Quick & dirty". Military engineers did the building while the finishing touches went to the lowest bidder... and often showed as such with the results. What I found out is that it is REMARKABLY hard to create a poorly done wall compared to the ease of doing it right- if you want it perfect, throw your chair rail first OVER the window openings, paint the contact (wall) paper area to the main tone of your contact paper, lay said paper to the chair rail, THEN cut out for your window framing and peal the cutouts. Next, score the paper every six inches to simulate the standard 3' sheet of paper properly aligned before you frame your windows. Even if you paper after the fact, by cutting across the width of your paper every six inches and keeping them in order (and taking care to ALIGN them properly) you can get excellent results. As you can see, TSGT. Howard (no relation to me)had to pop in and give his two cent's worth on the issue- arrogant jerk that he is- and I included his comentary as well. No special tools were used other than a table saw (I HIGHLY recomend such a purchase). The Contact paper was purchased at our favorite quartermaster, Wally World- as was the paint, glue and screws. I will gladly answere any and all questions in this matter so's to assist those equally loony... er... ambitiouse. the Old Sgt. |
| Very very cool looking so far my friend. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of this project as it moves forward. Excellent work all around. Special thanks for sending it in and sharing it with us. - GL |
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