This time work went towards the windmill. The windmills standing on the walls of this 17th century city, were in these days all made of wood. The type was called Standerdmolen. Because these mills completely rested and turned on a large frame called a standerd.
The reconstruction of this mill required mostly thorough research to still existing windmills of the same type. A hand full still exist today stemming from the same year as our subject. We have to take care to just copy everything we see, since these windmills underwent various restorations and renovations over the years. In most of these windmills often steel frames and structures were added in time to reinforce the aging wood.
The internals of old windmills is are marvels of engineering. Because almost everything is made from wood, simplicity is key here. Every object you find inside has a purpose. The wood was often connected with various wood connection methods like pegs or dovetails. The whole "chest" rests on the massive "stonebeam" which in turn sits on the standerd, and allows the windmill to be turned into the wind.
All the mechanics and cogs in the system are made of wood, with a few exceptions for the parts of the actual grinding wheel-set. A very big wheel, connected to the main axel, drives a smaller frame, which in turn makes the wheels grind over each other. The same wheel can also be engaged to a lifting mechanism called the "luias" which is an old term for a winch that lifts up the sacks of grain to the top floor.
The mill is not completely finished yet, we need to add the staircase and the hide to make it fully functional. Next blog we will put some work in creating proper materials of wood, stone and roofing that can be used throughout the scene.