Buildings-Instructions

[Muskieman]

I've assembling Buildings from models, from my modeling experience these have got to be the worst instructions. I thought the Cornerstone series was the bad so I switched to Life-like, even worse. Have any of you run into any decent instruction or are they all horrible?

 

[Red Oak & Western]

I just attended the Craftsman Structure Show and picked up several kits. The instructions for the Rusty Stumps Freight House were a real surprise. They're 42 – 5"x8" pages (comb bound), plus 3 – 8 ½"x 11" layout sheets. Step by step, do this, do that, take a break while the glue dries. Looks really good. Then again, I didn't think the instructions that came with the DPM Brownstone were that bad – but what do you expect for a kit with only 6 parts? But I agree, Cornerstone instructions are pretty marginal. I guess some manufacturers just assume a certain level of experience.

 

[rlundy90]

First of all, no matter how good the instructions are it is still easy to make a mistake or misinterpret them. Dry fit everything and make sure of the fit.This isn't quite as important in plastic kits as wood but still applies. Some instructions are very vague. Ertyl is one of the worst I have come across, just having an exploded diagram of the building. I have heard IHC is really bad too, but can't say from personel experience. I build mostly wood kits and can say Campbells, SS Ltd and Branchline have very good instructions while some of the others could be a lot more complete. If you read what instructions are there very carefully and dry fit eveything according to the exploded diagrams you should usually have very few problems, but take into consideration even the best instructions contain mistakes. Just take it slow and make sure you completely understand what it is you are supposed to do and you should be allright. Ron

 

[Muskieman]

Yea I know, it's just that Merchants Row 3 just sent me over the edge. Exploded diagram would have been an improvment on that. Even emailed Walthers on it & they said the instructions weren't clear & needed improvement. Thanks, just wondering if anyone else had the same experience.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

The Faller kit I built had decent instructions. Well, decent diagrams at least. It was better than, "1. assemble left wall 2. assemble right wall. etc."

 

[UP2CSX]

Muskie, I agree about the instructions for Merchant's Row III were bad. The ones for the Worthington Hotel were even worse. There are a ton of angles to get right and the instuctions show internal parts that don't fit and other parts that don't seem to have a purpose at all. I think Walthers calls this a Gold Ribbon kit because you deserve a gold ribbon if you finally get it built.

 

[jbaakko]

I think Walthers calls this a Gold Ribbon kit because you deserve a gold ribbon if you finally get it built.

LOL, that just made my day!

 

[Muskieman]

Muskie, I agree about the instructions for Merchant's Row III were bad. I think Walthers calls this a Gold Ribbon kit because you deserve a gold ribbon if you finally get it built.

The angled doors that went inside the building were my big problem. I set them up before I glued (as always) then I looked at the box & the directions & then I applied the glue then I studied the box more & relized the I glued the wrong set in & had to cut them out. I emailed Walthers & he couldn't tell me how they went for the directions. I emailed him back & asked "if you can't help me, who can?" he wrote back "Not too much I can do about the instructions"

 

[HaggisKennedy]

IHC is bad also. Just an exploded drawing, IIRC. Though some kits are so simple, that is generally enough.

The Walthers seem to be the best as far as instructions go for mass-market plastic kits. At least that's been my impression. But, having said that, the best instructions are usually the craftsman kits, like the laser-cut wood kits.

A have a number of building kits that are sitting unbuilt (what a surprise!). Mainly because there's no real room on my current layout for them. But, when I get around to building the big layout, there should be space. Presuming those buildings are still applicable.

I get a lot of buildings off of eBay. Some interesting stuff, which are specific fits to specific needs. Same with the stuff I get from train shows. I'm being careful because I can easily have more buildings than I can use on the big layout.

I have a lot of Walthers modular, and DPM pieces as well, to fill in the gaps. Those don't need much in the way of instructions once you get used to how they all go together. And, be prebuilt buildings need no assembly either, unless it's to kitbash or detail.

Kennedy