DPM Wall Sections: Big Walls

[P5se Camelback]

First, The mortar on the walls looks fine! All it needs is a very light wash of alcohol/india ink to tone down/weather the surface and it will look great!

On the subject of bonding walls at 90°, I will agree with Reinhard.

Lay on wall flat on the table (I usually have a sheet of wax paper underneath) and then using such things a a combination square (or two or three) snuggled up to the outside of the vertical wall, holding it vertical (and therefore at 90°) I then gather the interior bracing that I have fabricated in advance, generally a "fat" vertical auxiliary gluing surface and several triangular gussets (notched to accept the "fat" vertical auxiliary gluing surface.)

The "fat" vertical auxiliary bonding surface more often than not is a styrene strip at least 1/8"x1/8" and sometimes 1/4"x1/4". The strengthening gussets are usually cut from 0.060" or 0.080" sheet styrene. The corner of the gusset must be at 90°. Except for the top and bottom gussets which can be located above and below the vertical stiffener, all other intermediate gussets must be notched to span the corner stiffener strip.

[The pieces ready for bonding into the corner …]

[... my gussets have holes drilled in them to accept screws to mount the structure to the layout]

In prep for assembly, I generally “paint” one or two applications of lacquer thinner to the mating surfaces of both wall sections as well as the vertical stiffener to “soften” them in preparation to bonding.

The next steps happen quickly!

Now bring the wall sections together, using the combo squares and any 90° fixtures you may have fabricated and place the stiffener in the corner with a little pressure. Using a dime store “model” paint brush, paint lacquer thinner along both sides of the stiffener, and allow the liquid to “wick” in between the surfaces. Be fairly generous with the application of solvent. Press lightly along the length of the stiffener, insuring it is “seated.

Next, soften the mating surface (edges) of the gussets as you did the walls and stiffener and then place them equally spaced along the stiffener, again wicking solvent into the joint with the paint brush. Apply light pressure to each one, insuring that each is truly mating up to the interior corner.

[Corner stiffener and gussets bonded in place …]


It all sounds like a complicated process but if you follow the “mise en place” (pronounced Meez ahn plahs) routine used in the kitchen when preparing food for dinner, i.e., getting all the ingredients (parts) in place before beginning the project, there should be no need to panic and everything should take place in a progression of orderly steps.

Best of luck … it gets easier every time you do it!