Looking through Walther’s catalog, I really like several of the HO scale structure kits from manufacturers like JL Innovative design and LaserKit, but I’m a little concerned with how difficult these would be to assemble. I’m used to the standard Walthers plastic kits and have no problem with them, but the number of styles is of course limited.
Does anyone have experience with the so called ‘craft’ kits such as those from the above companies or kits that are similar from others?
Jarrell
I’m in a similar boat to you. I’d never built any laser cut wood structure until recently. My experience had been with Cornerstone Walther’s and DPM kits. Rather than trying to tackle a major wood structure. You may want to try to put together something simple. I ran across some kits from Mountain Precision Products (http://www.mpp-models.com) at a local train show. They have some “easy” to buld small kits for watch boxes. I’ve already put one together and am getting more comfortable with wood kits.
They have some other easy to build kits like barns and utility buildings. I suggest trying these before you move up to a building that the model companies say require at least “several evenings to complete”.
Good luck.
EdW
JL Innovations, Blair Line, Bar Mills, and Laser Kit make great buidlings. The more complexe ones take a fair about of skill and patiance to put together. Start out with a couple simple projects, like Bar Mills Shack Pack, to get a feel for them.
Nick
- We ARE Penn State! -
Modern wood laser cut structures are great. They might not assemble as fast as a plastic kit, but they’re light years ahead of “one stick at at a time” craftsman kits of days of old. Branchline and AMB both sell kits that heavily rely on “peel and stick” components, which make assembly a breeze. Prepaint the parts before you start to build, and you can assemble most of them within a couple of hours.
My best advice is to get your feet wet with one of the simpler, less expensive kits. AMB sells a company house, kit #798, for $11, and Branchline sells the “Drayton house”, a simple shotgun house, for $15. Gather up some paint, some wood glue, and lots of #11 blades, and start building.
They are not that difficult and they look great. The only word of caution/advice I can give is in the glue department. AMB usually recommends CA (superglue) which can give very little time to get things right. Wood glue works, but it takes a long time to set. I haven’t gotten one yet, but its on the list, is one of the speciallized clamps for holding corners together. That way you can glue and not worry about it being square.
Rick
Thank you all for the great advice. I’d seen the ‘peel and stick’ advertisements and I was wondering if it really was as simple as the maker claimed. These kits really do look great, they seem to have so much character. I probably will pick one of the lower priced, simpler ones to ‘experiment’ on and progress up IF I feel comfortable with it.
Thanks again,
Jarrell
Time to stretch our skills at the next level. The better kits are going to have detailed instructions and steps to completion. Read thoroughly so you understand what and how you will complete each step. Be patient, if it doesn’t make sense, some one here can probably elaborate or reword the process so you can accompli***he task. There are really no mysteries to be unraveled, possibly some new techniques to be learned and mastered.
When you are done there will be the pride of acomplishment (“I built that”). With the skills you acquire the step to creating your own unique structures will be closer to being with in reach (either scratch built or kit bashed).
Most of all have fun creating something for your empire.
Will