2020 Village collaboration of Linda Starek and Pete Oehmen. This display contains what are known as "composition" putz houses....more than cardboard, actually plaster-of-paris reinforced with fiber that was used for a short time in the 1930's as inexpensive train layout accessories. They do have cellophane windows and doors and a hole in the back for a light. Also included are smokers. Made of the same material with an open back for an incense cone and a hole at the top for smoke to escape. A late 40's American Flyer train goes go around the village on the tracks.

The idea for the use of these composition houses in this year's village was Oehmen's. The execution, except for the tunnel, was Starek's. MORE PHOTOS COMING. I have to do some re-sizing and such

Another photo

and more

And another one

Wow - this is really impressive! Thx for sharing these pictures! Can please someone share the composition/material of the ‘plateau’ that the higher levels sits upon? Looks so realistic on a close-up view.

Thx!

John

John, Thanks for the kind words. Pete built the base of the tunnel and I used "rock paper" to cover it. Believe it or not I got the paper in Spain. They do a lot of creche building at the holidays and it's readily available in the stores. I have made it by using brown paper bags and lightly sponging black, white and brown paint on and while wet put a very light dusting of fine sand on it before it dries.

The paper then can be crushed and applied to any base. I use a staple gun. Hope that helps.

Linda

Thanks Linda! Very creative and looks so natural! Going to have to research this further!

John

The castle scene close-up