Finishing and Installing the Chimney
I really love the chimney of this dollhouse and wanted to finish it just like the photo on the box. I chose a product called Magic Brick.
First, I assembled the chimney and painted the two backers and flues. All parts needed to be painted before assembly. To use Magic Brick, I painted the entire chimney assembly white, as I wanted the "mortar" to be that color. I couldn't take photos of the messy process, but here's how it works - you use a brick stencil sticker that wraps around the chimney. Then, you mix Magic Brick dust with water until it reaches an oatmeal-like consistency. You apply this mixture over the stencil to fill in the brick openings. Afterward, you remove the stencil, revealing raised "bricks." For more details, you can refer to these instructions.
The product creates realistic-looking bricks, and I was very impressed with the result. It looks as if I applied each brick individually, and while the texture is realistic, the chimney remains surprisingly lightweight. There are a few drawbacks to this process. It can be quite messy, and you must be careful not to add too much water to your mix; otherwise, the bricks won't hold together. The stencil is narrow, so you need to keep applying it as you work your way up, ensuring that you stagger the brick pattern.
After applying the bricks, you need to paint them by hand. Although using spray paint could speed things up, it's nearly impossible in such a confined space without making a mess.
For the top of the chimney, I used a mixture of paint and lightweight spackling compound to create texture similar to that on the porch roof. Once the bricks were dry, I applied the backings. It's important to wait 24 hours to avoid flattening your bricks when handling the chimney.
Finally, I installed the flues and positioned the chimney on the side of the roof above the bay walls, using a paint bottle and masking tape to hold it straight.
