The Architectural trim on the front of the Outback was designed to unite it with the main building, so the frieze and dentils were made to wrap around seamlessly. The brackets echo those on the main building, but at about three-quarters scale.
The trim consists of a frieze board above the windows, topped by a fascia, bed mould and dentils. This runs between the brackets.
The Outback has “Pork Chop” gables. There’s no return, so the trim will not wrap around the corners, but will terminate at the corner.
The bracket assembly has top and back plates to match the width of the fascia and bed mould. The back plate provides a surface for the clapboards to meet.
Brackets on houses of this era are typically built in two pieces. One is attached to the wall, the top piece hangs from the soffitt. The Outback’s soffitt is lightweight perforated metal, it can’t have heavy material hanging from it. The new brackets needed to be one piece and be at least self-supporting.
To make the brackets, two pieces of 4×4 stock are fitted at right angles, with a spline in the back for strength.
The intended profile is marked and cut out on the bandsaw. Then the pieces are glued up and the final shaping is done with a spindle sander and hand tools.
The medallion on the face is made up of moulding. The circular decorations on the side are glued up from hardwood discs purchased at the local hobby shop.
Four completed brackets are primed and ready.
The fascia and bed mould are just two strips of 1×4 with a 3/4″ roundover, four sets of varying length to fit between the brackets. The dentils are 1-1/2 x 1-3/4, cut from clean 2×4’s.
These are nailed and glued, and the dentils are glued and nailed as well.
The plates need to be carefully notched to fit together well. Biscuits and dowels are added so the pieces will be easily assembled when they go on the wall.
All done.