Updated Illustrated Atrium Build

This Post is VERY old and has been superceeded.  Please refer back to our newer posts on the assembly of the new Atrium kit.

We are currently in the process of developing a video series demonstrating the ease and speed of the assembly of our full mansion kit, but we realized that we never updated our illustrated Atrium build blog post.  So until the Video series is complete - here are some instructions for the Atrium:

Please refer to this blog post: http://adventhouseplans.blogspot.com/2016/10/updated-structure-and-framing.html for information on the individual parts and how the layout together.  Specifically, look at the Atrium layout.

First, Put the Atrium back, top and bottom together.  The back is Parts #43 & 44.  The top is parts 47 & 48 and the bottom is parts 45 & 46.  Use the tabs to align the parts and glue.  Allow to dry.

The Back piece sits on top of the bottom frame, and the top frame sits on top of the back piece.  Each should be centered on the others.  Glue these three parts well.

** Keep in mind that it doesn't have to be pretty when it comes to the gluing.  Note that these parts won't ever be seen when the Advent House is on display.  Further, you can paint the structure to help cover some of the gluing blemishes.

(Back, Top, Bottom with vertical braces in place)

(Front Bottom Tab glued with vertical brace in place)

Once the Top, Bottom and Back are assembled, you can add the vertical braces.  Make note in the pictures below that you want to place the vertical braces where the Atrium Faces do not have openings.

** One note regarding the vertical braces.  When a vertical brace is in place, at the top of the brace, the vertical face, on the backside of the brace, should be flush with the back side of the top frame.  It's hard to tell in these pictures, but aligning that vertical brace this way ensures the top and bottom atrium frames are parallel and will align the atrium faces properly.

The center/front vertical brace goes right in the middle.  Place the front Atrium face where it will glue up (centered on the very front face), and center the vertical brace on the center of the Atrium Face.  The goal here is to place the vertical braces so they do not block any light coming from within the Atrium.

In the image below, you can see we've placed a vertical brace right next to the horizontal brace.  We are looking at the Atrium structure from the back side, near the center. In this image we also have the Atrium faced laid in (but not yet glued) where it will glue up so that we can be sure the Vertical brace is not blocking the 'glass' area of the Atrium.

(vertical brace next to horizontal brace)

We do the same thing on the ends of the Atrium frame.  In the image below, you can see the side Atrium face in place (but not yet glued) and the vertical brace is (mostly) centered on the 'non-glass' area of the side atrium face.

 (Side vertical brace glued in)

(FrontSide Vertical Brace aligned with Atrium Face)

And in the image below, you can see that the 2 end/corner vertical braces are glued in.  By using the Atrium Faces as a references you can find the best place to glue in the vertical braces.

Once all the vertical braces are aligned and glued in - add a little more glue to the joints.  Allow to dry, then it's time to glue on the Atrium Faces (assuming you have them painted and vellumed)

**  **  Please be careful when gluing the Atrium Faces to the Atrium Frame.  DO NOT - let CA glue run down the face of the Atrium 'glass'.  There's no recovery from that. ** **


Please let us know if you have any questions about this process.  We'll continue to work towards getting the Video series released to make it even easier to assemble.