Building the Black Gate

Part one: The Gateway

© Lotrscenerybuilder 2008

Step 1:

Draw a horizontal line onto a plate of 4mm MDF to separate a strip with a height of 9.4cm. Next, copy the Frodo A front-element into this strip, with fourteen vertical strips of 1cm in width (these vertical strips have no use really, but it’s a nice exercise in drawing). Copy also the Frodo B backside-element and the Frodo C side-element (twice). You find all the measurements coming with the templates. If your strip of MDF is long enough, you can make a ‘string’ of all four elements (ours wasn’t).

You might want to use a handsaw for sawing long, straight stretches. To separate the different elements we use a fretsaw with a minimal sawcut. Sand the edges lightly.

Glue both side-elements not upon, but against the back-element (the total width of the back-panel becomes thus 13.2 + 2 x 0.4 = 14.0cm).

Glue the front-element into position. Make sure that the frame is able to stand dead straight; check the angle with a set square. Make adjustments if necessary.