I have added baseboard registers to a couple of my room boxes and I think they add to the realism of the scene. Now, if you are a real stickler for realism these only go on the inside walls. Sometime after WW II they started putting the heat registers on the outside walls but back when this style was used they were put on the inside walls. But you will notice that I put one of mine on the outside wall. I wanted one in the room and all I had was the outside wall, so it went on the outside wall.
I am going to use mat board for this, but you can use 1/16" basswood or glue up piece of poster board to 1/16" thick. I use plastic needlepoint canvas, 7 holes to the inch for the grille and have a small amount of card stock, too. I used tacky glue and Elmer's
Cut out a rectangle of plastic canvas, 5 holes by 7 holes.
On the mat board draw a rectangle 1 1/8 " by 13/16". Around this rectangle draw a border 1/8" on 3 sides.
Cut out the center piece and discard.
Glue the plastic canvas into the rectangle using tacky glue. Set aside and let dry.
At the top of the blog is a diagram for the sides. Draw the sides onto the mat board and cut out.
Glue the sides onto the grille assembly. I used Elmer's for this and the rest of the gluing.
From mat board cut out a bottom front 3/16" by 1 3/8". Glue this to the bottom front of the register.
Cut from card stock a top 1/16" by 1 3/8" and glue to the top of the register.
Cut the inside flap from card stock, 1 1/4" by 1", dry fit, you made need to trim a little from the sides.
With the back of the Exacto knife, score a line 1/8" down from the top.
This 1/8" space will be glued inside at the top of the register, not now, though.
Paint everything black. I used Delta's Perm Enamel, I wanted a little shine to it.
After the first coat I sanded a little to smooth things out and painted again.
To hold the pieces I put adhesive wax on toothpicks and then press the wax onto the register parts.
Let everything dry.
We need to make a lever to open and close the flap. This is card stock. Cut a strip a little wider than 1/16" and cut it for now about an inch long.
Round one end.
Glue the flap into the inside of the register.
Measure from the rounded end of the lever 1/4" and 1/8" more. Cut the lever off at 3/8".
Bend the lever at the 1/4" line.
Use tacky glue to glue the lever to the flap at the second row form the top and in the center.
When the glue is dry, paint the lever and install the heat register so your people don't get cold in the winter!
Next time we are going to make a flower arrangement with daisies.
Got to get the third half scale chair done, I off to the workroom!! Kris