Gable Decorations :

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This guide follows the construction of the gable decoration used on Plan 1290 from scalemodelbuildings.co – the Covered Bridge.

You could use pre-cut 1/16" x 1/16" balsa strips, but I chose to cut strips from thin veneer using a Micro Mark strip cutter. You could also use the strip cutting technique shown on our "Corner Boards" tutorial.

Veneer is available at some hobby shops as well as building supply stores.

The initial cost of the crimping tool can be offset after your first scale model project but if you plan on doing several sheet metal roofs or walls, it might be worth it.

Cut strips of veneer longer than you need them so they are easier to handle.

Plan 1290 includes a few extra templates for the gable decoration. Cut them out leaving an extra margin of paper around the pattern. You will be gluing the strips onto the paper.

Refer to the Links page for additional help and hints.

Place a sheet of wax paper over your work surface.

Run a bead of super glue along the part of each strip that will be contacting the paper. Do not worry about trimming to length at this stage.

Once the glue sets up you can trim the veneer strips with a razor blade.

Once assembled, flip the gable trim over and saturate the backside of the paper with super glue.

This is a competed gable trim in HO scale. For smaller scales you can initially build the trim excessively larger than necessary, for handling, then trim down to the correct size once the glue has set. The technique of using a paper backing can be used to create other types of architectural gingerbread trim as well.

The finished gable decoration on Plan 1290.