RSLaserkits Cheltenham Station Build by Modelersguild.com
If someone had told me two months ago, that there is such a thing as a Z scale Craftsman kit, I'd tell them they were crazy. Today I am that crazy fool telling you about a Z scale Craftsman kit, interested ? Good...
Z Scale kits have an appeal to them that other kits lack. The smallest of available scales Z adds that sense that if I can do this I can model anything.
These RS Laser make a very nice kit. The kits parts are small and very delicate, however with a sharp knife, some toothpicks for glue, time and patience. Yes you will break some part, but you can fix it. Rich sends extra parts it seems in all of his small kits, so don't fret. Follow along as this build grows into a micro masterpiece (well at least to me).
We started the build by painting the parts in the sheet. Not realy paint, a stain marker was used, dark brown (my freelanced road colours).The main walls were painted using antique white acrylic, go easy on soaking the wood, you don't want to warp it.
Once the paint has properly dried we can peal off the paper on the back of the trim. This reveals the two sided tape (ingenious) making the process of adding the trim very easy.Once
When added the trims realy look great. Now set the aside we are going to work on the windows.
The windows are wood and are also very delicate. If you have not changed to a sharp blade yet, nows the time. Don't say I didn't warn ya. Paint the windows (or stain).
The windows have two-sided tape on them so carefully peal of sticky protection and place the glazings on with a pair of tweezers.
To add the windows to the walls isn't all that hard really. Get a small container to put the windows in. Using a SHARP knife cut out the windows. Now that they have the glazing added they are much more stable and you can handle them easily with tweezers.
This is not a scientific method by no means so bare with me. lick your finger, touch the white glue, dab it off. In the window opening, slide your finger to one side and some will bead up there, do the same to the other side. Remember, use too much glue and you will have glue to clean off your model, so go lite. Wipe off excess glue. We added glue to an entire wall then added the windows. We added the windows through the backs of the walls.
Once we have the windows and doors sorted we move to assembling the main structure. Using our squaring device we glued from the inside corners.
Let dry then connect the two, again gluing from the inside corner. Let dry completely.
Ron Pare
