Capping and Balcony

THE CAPPING

There are a variety of styles of top cover on real windmills, such as an upside down boat shape, or, what at ground level might resemble a large  garden shed, but I had decided that a dome, with an extra bit at the top would look nice.

This extra bit would then serve to hold a (very low power) light bulb, but my fanciful idea for a possible light on top  meant that, for maximum effect, then at least the top-bit - if not the whole of the capping cover - should be translucent.

The answer, I felt, was to buy some ready made dome shaped artifacts which would meet my requirements, but this proved quite difficult, and it took a little while to find anything suitable. 

A Garden Centre finally came up with the right sized dome, in the shape of the upper part of a green plastic plant container (inverted) which was big enough to allow for trimming off most of a decorative lip, while leaving sufficient for attachment to the capping base.

The remaining problem was the 'top-bit' until, among all the junk we keep 'because it looks like it might be useful' I came across a small green plastic basin which had once contained an individual Christmas Pudding.

Success!

Having fastened the capping base, then sails and fantail, to the tower, I remembered that the balcony was still lying on a bench uncompleted, and that the capping base etc. would have to come off again until the balcony was completed and fitted. 

Oh dear!!

The actual walkway had already been cut out and fine adjustments made so that it would rest comfortably on its supports - shown opposite - and 12 railings and uprights were now prepared.

Uprights were cut from ¹/₂" by ³/₄" wood strip.

Railings were cut from ³/₁₆" square wood strip, slightly angled at each end so as to fit more snugly to each other.

The uprights were fastened to the balcony from below (very small nails, and glue) and the railings attached to the top of each post in similar fashion.

Finally the balcony was fastened with screws to three of the supports, spaced evenly around the body of the mill.