Old Stone Lighthouse

[rockpaperscissor]

I have a bunch of lighthouse models, and have never built one. Last weekend was nothing but rain here in the NE USA, and this vintage lighthouse model seemed to be a good match for the weather. It's a very quick build, and for a hand drawn vintage kit, it really builds up into an attractive model. I built mine "straight from the box", but if someone took the time to layer the doors, windows, etc, and put it on a base with some "water" it could be a real standout. It can be found at Toto's site here: Il favoloso mondo di carta di Totò: Lighthouses

To improve the look of the railings, I cut away all the open spaces. I also removed the sawtooth glue tabs from the tower pieces, and used cardboard discs cut to size to keep everything circular. I glued a piece of cardboard inside the base to stiffen before gluing on the cottage and tower.

There is a big hole in the roof over the light source. At first I thought a piece was missing, but the small illustration of the finished model clearly shows the hole. I know this is supposed to be a very old lighthouse, so perhaps the light source was a wood fire?

Anyway, here are a few photos of my latest project.

[KCStephens]

Beautifully constructed, Don, I can almost smell the salt in the air.
If your theory is correct, I would,nt want to be the guy to carry all that fire wood up the steps.

[musicman]

I Agree,,,
A beautiful build.
I really like the matching base that comes with it too.
The hole on the top bothers me though.
Is there supposed to be a ball with lightning rod on it there?
A lot of lighthouses have them.
I have all the lighthouse models from Fiddlersgreen and quite a few of them
have this on top.
Thanks for sharing your pictures.

[Vermin_King]

If from before electricity, the light would have been from flame. Not sure of the age of this lighthouse, but could they have burned oil and needed a vent?

You did this model proud.

[rockpaperscissor]

Thanks fellas. It is a very atmospheric model. I might yet mount it on a base surrounded by bleak, gray water. I think you're right, VK. Oil of some sort makes more sense than wood. That would help explain the big hole in the roof, too. I thought a part might be missing, musicman, but there was a small drawing of the finished model on the parts page that shows the round hole in the roof, so I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be that way.

[Mr Marbles]

You did a great job on the railing.

[Darwin]

Good job. I showed this to my wife, who has a real thing for lighthouses, and she is now demanding I build one for her....all I need, more distractions.

[rockpaperscissor]

Thanks, Mr M. Luckily the rails weren't too thin. I'm thinking that cutting away all the open spaces in lighthouse railings might have had a part to play in my never building one before. Well, at least this is a really quick and enjoyable build, Darwin. So easy in fact, if the paper bug hasn't bitten the wife yet, it might be a good introductory model for her .

[themainecooncat]

It is definitely a N.E. lighthouse and reminds me of the Lighthouse in Narragansett Bay, RI. You did a wonderful job and I glad you put yourself (your talent) into by making slight changes in the model. I can smell the salt air now and it also reminds me how I miss that scent. Thank you for the memory. themainecooncat

[spaceagent-9]

kerosene oil light houses, and before that whale oil.
so primitive, yet so unbelievably well done.
nice job on the model... would want a rhedrosaurus climbing mine.