Cotswold Conservatory - help!

[st ives fan]

Hi, I had the Cotswold conservatory as a Xmas pressie and it has stayed in its box as I haven't had time to do anything with it. Anyway, I'm determined that my dolls house will have the addition of a conservatory (have run out of space in my house!) so today I opened the box thinking just how hard can it be to put together ... it looks terrifying!!

If anyone has not run away from the box and hidden in a darkened room I would really appreciate some advice please! What is the best way to paint it white as there are lots of fiddly small window panes. Please can you recommend the best product to use and do I need to prime the wood first?

Thanks - any help greatfully received.

[Ann of Boleyn]

`Hi St.ives fan

From what others have said on the forum, spraying with paint is the easiest option, but only if the 'glass' comes out. If it doesn't then hand painting is the only way to go. Masking tape over the acetate.

Good luck with that. Any specific questions, please ask away.

Ann

[st ives fan]

Hi Ann

Thanks for replying and for your welcome to the forum. The conservatory is a kit so in rather a lot of pieces at the moment, but thankfully no glass in place either.

What spray paint would you recommend in particular? Most of the structure is made of wood with the base panels made of MDF. If I used a spray paint would I need to prime it first?

Best wishes,
Karen.

[Ann of Boleyn]

Hi Karen,

I don't think you need a primer. I have never done primer first when I have painted. You can buy spray paint from B & Q, any DIY shop, or even Halfords, car spray paint, or Wilkinsons, if you have one near you. I haven't actually used one on windows but apparently some ot the other members swear by spraying rather than hand painting.

Yes, most of these kits are in hundreds (slight exageration) of pieces, but are quite easy to put together once you start to identify the pieces. Good luck with it.

Ann

[Winston's Mum]

Hi St Ivesfan i think i would spray it if you can much easier will pro take couple if not 3 coats do little bit at a time and out in open, cos of the fumes, i spray my windows if i want them white, if i want them coloured i use emulsion then a coat of clear varnish when they really dry, i did that on my pub and my war time cottage. Or stain or varnish if you want the wood look. Good luck.

[St.Vale]

I'm no good at spraying so I hand paint all mine, do what you feel comfortable doing as we all seem to do different but all get good results. I generally use an undercoat first, then once dry you can see what bits need sanding if any, then I use a satin finish paint!

[Hollyrafe]

I can't spray either, Val, I used a whole can trying to spray my stairs and they still arent white! So I gave up and I'm doing everything by hand same way as you do. Its slow going though with that acetate fixed in there! I've found a cotton bud with saliva is my best tool for cleaning up-how gross it that! lol

[st ives fan]

Hi everyone - thanks so much for your replies. I'm still looking at the rather large pile of pieces with a sense of terror!

St Vale - when you say you use an undercoat then satin finish paint do you mean vinyl silk or satinwood paint ... sorry if that's a dumb question, but I don't want to mess it up.

I'm not sure about spraying it as I would have to do this outside as we haven't got a garage or anywhere where it wouldn't matter if I was a bit too enthusiastic with the spray. If I wait for a dry warmish day to start then I will be waiting for rather a long time!

I don't mind hand painting fiddly bits - I get absorbed and find it relaxing in a strange kind of way. Any more hints on the best type of paint to use would be fab.

Thanks,
Karen.

[Amanda]

Hi St Ives fan

http://th265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/ludwig1963/poodleskirt/th_poodleskirt-welcome.jpg (http://media.photobucket.com/image/welcome/ludwig1963/poodleskirt/poodleskirt-welcome.jpg?o=77) to the forum, I would go with the advise already given either spray or hand paint, if there is no acetate already in place I would suggest spraying is faster and easier to do, you also get a very even finish, if hand painting I would use and undercoat then vinyl silk finish top coat, would love to see some pictures of your progress, you can add these to the Home Sweet Home thread

[wombat]

i just saw one of these for sale at the fair i went to...it looks really nice!!

[St.Vale]

I've found a cotton bud with saliva is my best tool for cleaning up-how gross it that!

Oh yuk Holly, I use a hell of a lot of cotton buds as my hands are very shaky but I am a bit more civilised I’m afraid and always have a small tub of warm water nearby!!! giggle

St Vale - when you say you use an undercoat then satin finish paint do you mean vinyl silk or satinwood paint ... sorry if that's a dumb question, but I don't want to mess it up.
I use a white Homebase ‘Flawless quick dry Satin’ Paint!!

[Hollyrafe]

I know Val, but I tried water and spit worked better! haha My hands shake too, I'm using alot of buds! I bought a giant tub of them in the discount store, lol By the way if anyone is curious, paint doesnt taste very good. Val is that paint the kind you use on skirting in the real house? Thats the sort I'm using too, but I've watered it down a bit as it seemed a bit thick.

[St.Vale]

Yes Holly, I did water down to do the Fairbanks windows but find it's ok on all the other bits!

mmmm we use gloss in the real house skirting!!!

[mad-on-miniatures]

Hi st ives fan,

Welcome to the forum.......I have tried painting my windows.....and it does take a while......I've not trtied spraying yet.....:rolleyes: ..but after talking to others on here .... I will be giving it a go.....it seems to gives a better finish.....and is quicker.....and anything that gives qicker results......is GOOD by me.......hehehe.:D

[st ives fan]

Thanks everyone for all your advice.

I've braved the spray and primed the conservatory - so far, so good. I had to do it inside as weather too windy so I covered everything (and I mean everything) in my kitchen with a huge plastic dustsheet and loads of newspapers. I also lined a big cardboard box with bin liners and propped up the larger pieces inside this to try and contain the spray! All went well and I thought the spray primer would be good practice before the paint.

The kids broke up for half term yesterday so it will probably be a while before I can get the next coat of paint on, but looking good so far! I'll try to post a photo but need hubby to show me how to resize it.

[Winston's Mum]

Hi St. Ives Fan glad your trying the spraying, sounds good, cant wait to see it when your done lol