Although this is a half-scale version, it is assembled just like the one-inch scale model and can be customized in the same way. You can find some great DIY finishing tutorials, including a spiral staircase tutorial, for this lighthouse on Brae's Blog.
This kit includes clear instructional pictures, making assembly straightforward. I didn’t even read the instructions; I relied solely on the images and had no issues.
Start by assembling the base. The tabs and slots fit together perfectly due to the laser cutting. I had no trouble connecting the walls and floors; they fit seamlessly. Be sure to clamp tightly with tape to eliminate any gaps between the walls and floors. Assembling the roof can be a bit tricky, but I found an easy method.
First, lay the roof parts flat, face down, on your work surface and use tape (not glue) to hold them together at the seams. The taped side will be the interior of your roof, forming a flat circle. Continue this process for all parts until you reach the last piece. Shape the roof into a cone and use tape to secure this final piece, which will hold everything in place. Once all the tape is on the inside, apply glue to all exterior seams and let it dry. After it dries, carefully remove the tape and add glue to the interior seams.
I installed the exterior trim and door of the lighthouse and started painting it. I stained the floors a dark brown color. For the interior, I mixed spackle and paint to create a stucco effect. I also glued on the top ring that will hold the lightroom.
Assembling the top lightroom was easy. Thanks to laser cutting, everything was clean and ready for installation—no need to punch out windows or railings, which made a big difference. The parts fit together like a puzzle without gaps or seams, resulting in a clean finish. The roof of my lightroom is removable; I did not glue it permanently. You will need to sand and use spackle at each wall joint, especially around the trims, as gaps often appear there. Apply a small blob of spackle over these gaps, let it dry overnight, and sand it the next day for a smooth finish.
I added windows and window trim, brackets, and glued on the lightroom. I used sandpaper that came with the lighthouse to cover the roof; thankfully, it was gray and matched The Fairfield Dollhouse color scheme. Covering this cone-shaped roof with sandpaper can be tricky. I did it in two parts and joined them at the seam in the middle of the roof. To hide this seam, I positioned it at the back of the lighthouse. I prefer using sandpaper for this roof, so I'd rather conceal the seam than skip it. Hot melt glue works best for attaching sandpaper roofs because it's quick and less messy, plus it won't warp the sandpaper. Be cautious with anything that touches your sandpaper—paint or glue cannot be removed without ruining it.
I glued the finished roof onto its base but remember that I won’t be gluing this base to the lightroom; it will remain removable. When using masking tape to clamp the roof to its base, be careful as it can tear your sandpaper if removed carelessly.
I added finishing touches to the lighthouse by sanding and touching up paint. It’s now complete! You can see how easily I can access the lightroom since it's removable. The kit includes two side door trims that aren’t necessary, but since they were included, I used them on the interior sides of the front door. These angled trims help keep the door from falling back through due to slanted walls; however, I found that my door fits snugly enough without them, so you can skip them if you wish.
The last step is adding this little building to my Fairfield Dollhouse display. I had to buy a larger foam core base for fitting the lighthouse and covered it with grass sheet material. When using foam core, remember that its edges will be stark white under your grass sheet; paint them green or brown before adding your sheet to avoid an out-of-place look. I visited the floral department of a craft store and bought some river pebbles to place around the base of the lighthouse for a shore-like effect. I also picked up some small trees to enhance my Fairfield Dollhouse display.
