Garage addition...with cars

by brae  

The garage is made from the Foxhall Conservatory kit by Real Good Toys.  I bought some 3/8" Baltic birch plywood to replace the two pre-cut walls that came with the kit.  I also lowered the whole structure by using the spacers included in the kit as the foundation.  A friend with a jig saw helped me cut the walls down from their original height of 12" to a new height of 10 15/16".  This height allowed for most of the original trim from the conservatory kit to still be used on the outside without the garage having too high of a ceiling on the inside.  It also accommodated the height of the doorway into the kitchen.  The stairs originally meant for the front porch of the conservatory will serve as the entry stairs to the kitchen from the garage.

Finding a Timberbrook garage door kit was an adventure.  The few places that had them online were sold out.  I called several local dollhouse shops and happened to find a store with one left in stock.  I heard from one shop owner that Timberbrook is either out of business or selling their business.  It's a shame, too, since it is a good quality kit.

I've tried three cars for this space during the building phase.  The first goes back to my original hobby of building model cars.  Instead of making them showroom new, I would beat them up and make them the type of cars that make you wonder how they are still running.  :D  One of the first ones I built was a Datsun 240Z.  So, when I happened upon a diecast metal 1970 Datsun 240Z in bright orange, I decided to go for it.

It is a beautiful model, but it is too small for the garage space.  Usually 1:18 scale cars can hold their own with a 1:12 scale house, but the Datsun is a small sportscar in real life making this particular car smaller than most 1:18 scale models.  Now the Datsun sits on a display shelf instead.

The second one I tried was a 1:14 scale remote control Audi TT.  I like this one better for size but mostly for the fact that it has working lights (though annoyingly only when in motion).  However, it's a cheap, plastic car lacking in detail when compared to the Datsun.  It is, after all, made to be driven fast and bumped into walls.  :]

Then it was on to the third car: a diecast metal Audi A8.  It is hampered by being 1:18 scale but it's larger than the Datsun and has finer detail than the RC car.

In the end, after I finish the garage and put in some filler (boxes, folding chairs, tools - basic garage stuff), I will decide which of the Audis will take a permanent place in the Newport.  The likely winner will be the RC car for its more accurate size proportion.  But, who knows?  My garage might get so crammed with junk that only the Datsun will fit, thus saving the day...as always.  ;]

3 comments

Comment from: Angie Martin Hall [Visitor]
I actually own one of the Timberbrook garages, which I bought in 2001. I had always wanted to purchase another one for the suburban home I've been kinda working on for years. I found out just last week that the company who made the garage is no more. I think that Houseworks has something similar. My dolls need a two car garage.
01/11/12 @ 17:52
Comment from: Jenna [Visitor]
My son loves garage doors and I would love to purchase a something like this for him to play with. Can I purchase?
09/17/13 @ 11:50
Comment from: brae [Member]
Houseworks makes a replacement garage door and a garage kit with the door. You can find it at miniatures.com. :yes:
09/18/13 @ 10:24


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