LOG CABIN PROJECT - DAY ONE, PART 1

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:  THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS, PHOTOS, AND THE DESIGN ITSELF IS MY OWN PERSONAL WORK AND PROPERTY. IT IS PRESENTED HERE FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD FOR PROFIT, NOR MAY IT BE PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR. PLEASE RESPECT THE PERSONAL AND CREATIVE RIGHTS OF OTHERS.

INTRODUCTION:

I"m using matchsticks, which are not smooth or even, and sometimes vary a bit in thickness but that's OK. This is a pioneer style, single room cabin with a loft, made from local materials using only an axe and a saw, not a Chippendale chair. So leave the wood just as it is, flaws and all, for a more realistic look.

Before I forget, the following items are helpful but not necessary: 

-some Lego blocks to help make corners square, and walls upright.

-small clamps or clothespins

-a scrap of wood that can be used to ensure end the of the logs line up

   inside the door and window openings and along back ends of the     

   side walls

GENERAL MEASUREMENT HINT: Always use the exact same ruler for every measurement you make on a given project, especially in 144th. Two corkbacked 6" green metal rulers from the local office supply store may look identical, both made in China and bearing the store's logo, but depending on the location of the factory that actually made each one, you may find you have two different rulers. I have 3 such rulers and all are different with only one being accurate when tested against my digital callipers.

THE BASE ROWS - Making the foundation

 

Step One - Make a template

Decide whether you want to build your cabin directly onto a larger  base or make it free-standing and then mount it on a base. I'm doing mine free-standing for now because the base I will attach it to will depend on how much or little landscaping I am willing to do and how big the plexiglass box I still have to buy will be.

For a free-standing cabin, draw a perfect rectangle measuring 1 1/2" by 2" on a small piece of plain paper. Label one long edge "Back". This will be your template for the walls so make sure it is accurate! For a direct mounted cabin, draw the shape directly on the base where you want the cabin to sit. Don't forget to plan for a path, woodpile,water barrel etc..... and label one long edge "Back". 

Step Two - Preparing the Ends of the Foundation Row

Using your tool of choice remove the business end of 6 matches clipping as close to the coating as possible without setting yourself on fire. The pieces left should be 1.75" long, so trim or file them if needed. Dispose of the business ends. Take one of the sticks, and using a craft knife make a shallow cut across one end going just halfway through the wood, at a distance of one matchstick thickness from the end. Repeat for the other end. Now turn the matchstick on it's side, and carefully slice up from the end to the cut you just made, removing a chunk of wood and forming a little step. Trim the step if needed to make it exactly half the thickness of the toothpick. Repeat for the other end. These 2 logs will form the 2 ends of the base layer. Set aside. (continued in Part 2)