Kit building, Is it fun or torture Options

[Ozzie21]

As pointed out by a poster on a previous thread we wandered off track and started a topic within a topic. So I've started a new topic Kit building! fun or torture!! How many of us have heard about a particular kit of such and such a model, bought it, got home only to find that it's thousand parts with an instruction sheet that reads " Fit parts 1 to 1000 and see picture". I can remember back when kits came with exploded diagrams and written instructions on how to put them together. Now you get a picture with lots of little symbols and arrows and a picture of a finished product and you build it and it looks nothing like the picture. The Dapol kits are fairly simple although they are starting to show their age as the moulds are starting to wear. The Cooper Craft kits are really good with excellent detail, Romford wheels, brass bearings but the instructions could use a little work. Parkside are similar in quality and both have an excellent range. Walthers and IHC, both american, have an excellent range of building kits that could be modified to suit for say industrial buildings and if you want a massive turntable Walthers have one though I doubt that any English modeller would need a 120' turntable. So how many kits do you build? Plastic, card, metal? No need to limit this to plastic buildings and rolling stock as there are quite a few metal kits out there.

Ozzie21

[Dennis David]

I've build kits by Piko, Kibri, Pola, Vollmer and Faller, Vollmer had the best instructions but I end up buying the buildings I fancy from whoever makes them. Never had any need to resort to cardboard for buildings though.

[Ozzie21]

Dennis, It wa quite common for me when I was teenager and getting 2quid a week to scratch build a building from carboard, actually artist board which is a bit thicker and better quality, and cover it with brickpaper. I used to make buildings from plans in MRC and RM. I built a lot of Alan Downes plans from RM. I think the series was called " In Search of Realism " in the early seventies.

Ozzie21

I've build kits by Piko, Kibri, Pola, Vollmer and Faller, Vollmer had the best instructions but I end up buying the buildings I fancy from whoever makes them. Never had any need to resort to cardboard for buildings though. 

[cig1705]

Kit building. Depends on manufacturer!

I hate Superquick kits. Every time I build them, it says something about some part of which I'm unsure, and then it takes me five minutes to scour the sheets for the correct part. By then, I've lost where I was on the instruction sheet (Normally, there are about four "instructions", each containing 30-odd sub-parts )!

Plastic kits- love 'em to bits. A lot of the buildings in my possession have been hacked about from Airfix kits- they go together really well, and are the "other side" of kit building. I'm modelling a preserved rail centre at the mo', and the Airfix prairie is ideal- particularly when you add a bit of detail, and knock it about to make it look like a "bog standard" 5100 class tank, ex-Barry (of course!).

German HO kits are also a joy to build. They can be quite complex, but are very satisfying, and so long as you just keep on doing what it says in the instructions, you'll get what you want...

Kind Regards,

RM

[Ozzie21]

Yes you have to love those ancient Airfix kits, their like a Timex take a beating and keep on ticking along. I'm in the process of bashing together a couple of water tanks to make a larger version and at $12 each they are a bargin. Ahh Superquick I see from your post they haven't changed still as much fun as ever. I'll have to get one now as it's been over 30yrs since I've built one and I like a challenge. As for the European stuff well Heljan and Faller I remember and Kirbri was a bit expensive so I didn't build them. Maybe I'll find something like Bath Green Park In amongst that lot.

Ozzie21

Kit building. Depends on manufacturer!

I hate Superquick kits. Every time I build them, it says something about some part of which I'm unsure, and then it takes me five minutes to scour the sheets for the correct part. By then, I've lost where I was on the instruction sheet (Normally, there are about four "instructions", each containing 30-odd sub-parts )!

Plastic kits- love 'em to bits. A lot of the buildings in my possession have been hacked about from Airfix kits- they go together really well,  and are the "other side" of kit building. I'm modelling a preserved rail centre at the mo', and the Airfix prairie is ideal- particularly when you add a bit of detail, and knock it about to make it look like a "bog standard" 5100 class tank, ex-Barry (of course!).

German HO kits are also a joy to build. They can be quite complex, but are very satisfying, and so long as you just keep on doing what it says in the instructions, you'll get what you want...

Kind Regards,

RM

[cig1705]

As to powered locos etc., methinks that DJH are the top range. Complex, yes, but you could build one of their Pacific locos out of the box without having built a DJH kit before- as long as you follow the (generally good) instructions. Alas, DJH stock is at the top end of the price range...

Nu-cast kits are quite good if you've built, say, the DJH starter kit and possibly the ex-LBSCR C2X or something simple like it first. They are cheaper and still relatively easy to build, with a massive range of engines for you to spend your life building. However, a lot of the kits are ex-K's kits, and are lacking on detail compared to DJH.

Etched brass- Uuugh! Too hard for me to build. I can stumble my way through, say, a side tank kit with metal or pre-rolled boiler, or an EMU kit, but more complex stuff, no. Etched brass sides are pretty good, though. Cheap way to build an EMU or odd vehicle round a redundant coach, and something I can do!

Kind regards,

RM

[Ben Manicom]

I am not really a massive kit builder as my construction skills are limited But i would recommend dapol kits to all modellers they may not be totally accurate but they are fun and easy to build after that I would recommend coopercraft kits as they are simple and include uncommon prototypes including provender wagons I have never really attempted card kits are they any good?

[CeeDeeI]

If you want to have a go at a card kit Ben I can recommend Metcalfe. Excellent instructions and you finish up with a nice model. They don't do rolling stock though, only buildings.

[spongebob]

I've done two superquick card buildings, the first was a goods depot which wasn't too difficult the second was the footbridge kit. I think my choice of adhesive had something to do with it but I couldn't get the stairs to stay attached to the bridge part. Eventually resorted to sellotape. It worked.
I've also done 2 parkside kits, the first was a bogied wagon which again was for the most part straight forward despite the lack of blow up diagrams however the bogies are a bit tight and don't tend to go round curves. The other was a brake van which was easy enough. Its a pity you don't get at least a basic decal sheet with them as it would really help finish the job off.
I have a metcalfe platform kit to try out and their pub which looks pretty complex.

[Ben Manicom]

Thanks I have tried two parkside kits one Plate wagon which is too light to b used effectivly on my trackwork and a Python cct which has a knack of derailing everywhere are brass kits and whitemetla kits hard to do as i have never tried

[cig1705]

Thanks I have tried two parkside kits one Plate wagon which is too light to b used effectivly on my trackwork and a Python cct which has a knack of derailing everywhere are brass kits and whitemetla kits hard to do as i have never tried

Ben,

Depends on who made the metal kits. May I suggest you begin with a DJH kit? They are quite expensive, but their starter kit is £60 for the diesel (Cl. 02), and £70 for the industrial steam loco (w.outside motion). Both come with motor, wheels, gears etc., and can be assembled with glue.

You may want to progress to a DJH inside motion 0-6-0, or outside/inside motion tank loco before going any further.

SouthEastern finecast are another "good manufacturer" particularly for the S.R. or G.W.R modeller, whilst Nu-Cast (type either into a search engine to see prices, whilst www.sefinecast.co.uk lists the SEF+ SE Flushglaze range). Other than that, I suggest you ask someone else about whitemetal stuff- very mixed bunch. If you want an etched brass model, why not start with sides, particularly if you are a S.R. modeller (the best kind there is :-) ), since there are lots of EMUs you can create from redundant coaches.

Your "too light" Parkside kit probably needs some weight. Model Rail (check this issue or www.model-rail.com) supplies some tiny lead balls called "liquid Lead" that you can hide under a load, or mount on the underframe. You can also stick 'em in locos (such as motorised Airfix/Dapol railbuses etc.) and coaches...

Kind Regards,

RM

P.S. One manufacturer I forgot to mention is G.E.M. models. They produce a very nice NLR 0-6-0T in whitemetal (as seen on Cromford and High Peak Line and now at Bluebell). You can get very easy to build G.E.M. chassis, and M.J.T. etched brass sides for those essential EMU conversions from www.mainlytrains.com- highly advised, with great service and prompt delivery!

[dwb]

>I have a metcalfe platform kit to try out
Start saving your empty breakfast cereal boxes, you need them for the "foundation" of the decking. My one platform so far has been immensely satisfying. It's about 5 foot long with a gentle curve at one end. You can barely see the joins between the platform surface tops. The self adhesive edging is a nice touch.

Metcalfe kits make up into nice models. I prefer them to Superquick though it's almost 30 years since I built my first Superquick. It doesn't look like they've changed either. :-(

I use one those roller pizza cutter style blades for cutting and a 12" steel rule.

David

[spongebob]

I got the metcalfe kits a couple of years ago but after the superquick footbridge incident decided against assembling them. I reckon I'll need a fair few platform kits as I would love to run a full length HST and 225 set. With coaches a foot plus in length it may have to remain a dream.
I have seen the 2 DJH starter loco's and wouldn't mind having a go at one of them. Maybe have to get off my butt and go do some modelling soon.

[cig1705]

Metclafe viaduct looks good- RM says it looks like a SR viaduct...

Hmmmm... could do with an MN heading up six Pullmans across viaduct to harbour!

Metcalfe kits, whilst marginally more expensive, have vastly better instructions, quality and a better range than Superquick, though there are some things (e.g. Regency houses) that Metclafe don't do, but Superquick do offer

[spongebob]

I think its a single track one in 00 but i'm sure you could kit bash 2 into a double. I also plan if this layout ever gets beyond the planning stage to have a fancy bridge of some sort over the staircase into the loft. Maybe a curving viaduct would be ideal.