For June, I’d hoped to finish the house I started for the Cricut clinic back in May. However, the wall technique, with which I’d hoped to replicate something like novelty siding was an utter disaster.
At the clinic, I demonstrated a technique that Greg Kenelly thought looked promising for replicating N scale novelty siding. Our approach was to cut slots in a piece of paper where the recesses are in the siding, and glue the paper onto a layer of card. When the glue dries, cut the edges off the paper to leave only the raised ridges on the card. On the tiny test patch we produced, it seemed to work. Returning home, I tried it with the small HO scale house. Unfortunately, the technique is more trouble than it’s worth.
The trouble is glue. You need to be able to make the paper stick reliably to the card without making it so wet it loses its shape. My first thought was spray adhesive, but this was too wet, and the paper turned into a sticky ball before I got it near the card.
The second attempt was with a glue stick, even though I’ve never believed in them. With the glue stick, the paper almost retained its shape. However many shorter boards, like the peak of the gable, and those between windows were infidels like me, and they gleefully demonstrated it by popping off when I trimmed the paper edges. While I was able to bring them back into the fold by gluing them individually to the card, the efficiency of the technique was lost.
Now, maybe it would be worth the trouble if the results were outstanding, and there was subtle variation from one board to the next. However, it was too difficult to match the card colour with the paper when they were painted separately, and the wall sections came out looking like zebras. If I’m to colour the wall after assembly, I may as well use Mt Albert or Evergreen sheet material.
Finally, I’m not happy with the reference material I have for this little house. Sure, it is in the right area, but I wound up guessing at the colour. It’s conceivable that it was painted in 1905, but if it was not painted, then I’m sure I got the colours wrong. I’ve not binned the wall sections yet, but if they stay, the whole house is getting a coat of paint.
Pembroke:87 
That’s the point where you have to remind yourself that learning what doesn’t work is still knowledge gained.
Yes, channelling my inner Edison, as usual: “I have not failed 10,000 times! I have successfully found 10,000 ways that won’t work!”
You may have something useful here, even if not what was intended. In some ways, this produces a bit of a wavy board edge which reminds me of more rough cut planks (where the outer profile of the trunk shapes the visible edge of the board). With your Cricut, you could be more deliberate with that. So maybe this is not the technique for novelty siding, but for other siding? I would be curious to see how a good coat of primer would affect the way light and shadow falls over it.
You might be right, Rob. I wonder if I have a need for such a building?
Rene – Have you ever tried transfer tape? It’s ultra thing and a double sided tape that comes in rolls of various widths. Each layer is separated by a layer of wax paper. I use it for applying strips of shingles on roofs. It’s used for photo or picture mounting. you can get it at art stores. I got mine at Opus art in Kelowna.
Dang you for coming up with another idea I’ll have to try, Jim! Thanks