Building and Finishing Laser Kits
The recent release of laser-cut wood craftsman structure kits has really in- creased the selection of scale build- ings available to the model railroad- er. This is particularly evident in S scale where it is possible to choose from hundreds of kits as opposed to only a handful that was offered only a short time ago. An added bonus of these kits is
that since their laser cutting is ex- tremely precise they are extremely easy to assemble with a minimum of tools and finishes. As improbable as it may seem, anyone who can build a plastic building or item of rolling stock can successfully construct a laser kit.
Start with the finish – Since the lion’s share of laser kits are com- prised almost exclusively of either wood or cardstock components, be- fore the project begins these pieces will need to have some sort of sealant applied. This will stabilize the porous parts and minimize warping yielding a more attractive and longer lasting model. How the modeler wishes the completed mod- el to appear, either heavily weath- ered or better maintained, is best de- termined by the type of sealer used. If the project will be heavily weath- ered begin with a stain and sealer combination such as Minwax’s® Wood Finish™ Stain. For a newer,
ABOVE: It will help to pre-stain and seal the wooden parts to prevent warping. Any commer- cial stain or spray finish will work. BELOW: Pre-paint as many pieces as you can to help make for an assembly process with neat and clean edges between colors and parts.
s16 BUILDING IN S SCALE • SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN MAGAZINE
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