if one was to put this on a plywood base, what is the best way to attach the posts? glue and nail up from the bottom with pin nailer? do I have to drill a hole and use a dowel up into the bottom of each post (which sounds like a bit much?). I would appreciate any advice. there is a rim around the underside of the plywood so there is some space under the plywood.
It could be glued all the way around since there is a rim all the way on the bottom. A little weight on it while the glue dries and it would be fine. Getting pins up into it is a possibility but would be tougher to do and wouldn’t really add more strength than the glue would. If you’re impatient you could even super glue and an activator to set it off all along the base. That would do well in this case.
There is no "bottom plate" in the version my wife wants copied. The posts are toenailed (if you can believe it -what a pain that must have been!) with finish nails. Yes, the version in this video is much easier because of the horizontal sill plate which would make my situation essentially moot. However I would have only the end grain of the posts in contact with the plywood and relying just on glue for that doesn't seem adequate. Also, I'm not sure how I would get adequate clamping force or weight, if any. I suppose I'd have to attach each post first and then glue and and/or fasten and put some kind of weight down on top of the posts and let that dry before proceeding what the rest of the building? The horizontal plates at the bottom of the walls sure would make things easier wouldn't they? But she wants an exact replica of what her daddy made her when she was 10 lol. 🤦
