by Jim Hensley-Davidson
| One our objectives on this years (2002) visit to Scotland was to research how our ancestors lived in the highlands before electricity. More specifically what was living like in the Invernahaven area of Scotland in the 1400's. The final objective of this research was to produce this model, which we could put in our clan tent at the games. This we felt would help us explain better what highland life was like to our tent visitors. The majority of the material came from the Newtonmore museum and the book Highland Folk Ways. We also visited the Crofting museum on Skye and the companion Highland Folk Museum at Kingussie. The rocks used in the foundation were collected from the Invernahaven battlefield. The driving factor to the final size of this project was several things. First it had to be big enough to easily be seen at the games and still fit into a car. However, possibly the most important factor was the size of the miniature highland coos. Well detailed miniature coos are very hard to come by. Most are the cute stuffed fluffy type meant for small children. The completed size is approximately 2’ x 1’. The results seen here took about a month to complete. Next year Tulloch Castle!!! |
The
finished model
For the full image click on the small picture above. Caution it is very large.
It
always starts with a base. This one is made out of a picture frame and ¼ inch
plywood.
Four
main braces were carved from basswood. The cross members were glued then tied to
the brace with heavy string.
The
basic frame was then assembled using basswood strips to hold the braces up.
The
frame was glued to the base then small sticks from the backyard trees were used
to complete the basic superstructure.
A
door was built from basswood strips and hinges from a doll furniture company. A
frame was built and the door installed.
A
rear view of the installed door.
The
next step was to build the walls. I started with sheet styrene (plastic) to
build the shell.
Styrofoam
was used for additional thickening of the walls since it is light.
Actual
river
rocks collected from the site of the battle of Invernahaven near Newtonmore were used to
build the foundation.
The
house was wired for lights and a fire using dollhouse fixtures.
The
walls were then covered with plaster-impregnated cheesecloth to produced solid
looking walls. The sides of the base were covered in masking tape to protect it
for the next steps.
The
fireplace was added again using river rocks from Scotland and some of the
dividers were glued in. The animal pens can be seen at the bottom as can the
waste trough just in front of them.
Clay
was used to simulate the sod that the walls were made from and to show the
construction by not completing the two front walls.
The
walls were painted with acrylic paints to simulate sod.
The
rear of the roof was covered with short sticks found in the backyard. Also
notice the top of the sod has been given a coat of model railroad grass.
To
simulate sod modeling clay was used to make a thin layer over the branches.
The
thatching material used was broom weed, which is also one of the materials the
highlander’s used.
The
box beds and stools were made from basswood. The mattresses were made from linen
and filled with straw just like the real thing.
The food storage cabinet was made also from basswood and has working doors.
The
highland cattle are porcelain miniatures that were repainted black since most
highland cattle today are brown.
These
wicker walls were built to use in the interior. The frames were made from
basswood and the wicker part was from straw bought at an arts and craft store.
I took this typical spinning wheel on the left and converted it to a Saxonie style.
This cart was made from a small wicker basket and sticks.
The main living area with all the details including porridge in the pot over a flicker fire.
The animal pens including straw.
The storage room with the special bed.
