Front view of the Nativity scene in the bay window, December 2018.
In 2016, Tom decided to make a Christmas Nativity créche as a display for the front bay window. The créche sits on a 2 foot x 3 foot mounting board, and stands about 33 inches tall.
The design was originally made using just 1x2 pine furring strips for stanchions, and the back was completely enclosed by a 3/4 inch finished pine wall. Later, Tom modified the design by roughly cutting out the back wall panels, leaving the structural stanchions so the figures in the créche could be viewed from all sides.
In 2017, Tom added sidewalls made of 1/4" finished birch plywood, then covered them with a rock design, ink-jet printed on sticky-paper made by Avery, to simulate a low rock-wall foundation. He also added a small hayloft inside. The base of the créche is covered with aquarium sand, held in place by layers of spray-glue. The roof is covered in real dried moss on "sticky paper" sold by Joann's Fabric Stores.
In order to raise the Nativity over the bottom edge of the bay window, Tom built a simple wood frame of 2x4 lumber, painted white to match the base of the bay window. The Angel on top stands on a 3 inch x 4 inch piece of thin clear plexiglass, supported by small struts of plexiglass and superglued to the roof peak. We use white "sticky-tack" to hold the Angel in place, to prevent an unseemly "fall from grace" should the créche accidentally get bumped.
The 14 figures are a beautiful set in 1/6th scale, made by Three Kings Gifts and sold by Amazon. The figures are all made of cast resin and beautifully painted. Each of the Three Kings carries in his gift box a small quantity of gold, frankincense or myrrh.
Here's the pix:
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