Friends,

I would like to build over the winter the factory and the brewery and the bus depot and interlink them all so as to construct a sort-of manufacturing place!

Are the kits not for the novice or are they reasonably easy to glue etc?

As an aside, will rolling stock go under the roof of the bus depot because I do not want buses but entry portals to the manufacturing complex?

Regards, Peter.

These Kits are fairly easy to build with easy to follow instructions, you should be alright with them. As to the size of the Bus garage doors I have no direct experience of this kit but from the pictures I would think railway stock should go through them OK.

The brewery is one of my favourite kits and an enjoyable build.

Seeing what you have already done, Peter, I would say you'd do a great job.

Dave G

I have to agree with all the posts above, you should be fine but make sure you have a sharp knife, and take your time.

Any problems just shout and we will see if we can give any input.

Peter, I'm 80, had one cataract op and due another, a headband magnifier works for me, I still seem to manage handling things. I built the factory last year as well as the corner pub and shop which I modified, I've also scratch built a number of terraced houses. They're currently sat on a diorama until I eventually move out of this house into a flat and build a new layout.

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I won't say it's easy, but it only needs a bit of practice. Maybe start with something like the low relief terrace houses, fronts or backs or some other buildings which will be placed nearer the back of the layout.

Biggest problem I've had with the factory and boiler house is that with it installed near the front of a layout the chimney is very vulnerable, easily caught by a sleeve or the lead of a soldering iron, and many other things.

Nice photo, Mike. 

Dave G

Nice model, too. Is that smoke coming out of the chimney?

They are good kits. All you need is a good light, sharp knife, rocket glue and a cutting mat.

Take your time and read the instructions carefully.

My little tip is to use double sided tape to stick with windows in in these kits, it holds them a lot better than glue does.

For sticking windows I have found that by using a combination of both liquid polystyrene and white PVA they stick really well.

What I do is first using the brush of the liquid poly wipe it on the outer edges of the window where it will be stuck to the inside of the building, put that aside for a minute. Then using either a brush or one of those small plastic bottles with a fine nozzle, put a small fillet of PVA around the window opening but spread it out using a cocktail stick or similar to ensure it doesn't run onto the window acetate.

By now, the liquid poly should've started to eat into the acetate to provide a key for glueing, with tweezers pick up the window and put it in place checking that it is square in the opening. 

To hide the white edges of window openings and external folds I have a packet of the cheap coloured fibre pens and choose a suitable colour to run down the edge before glueing up.  Once you get glue onto the card, the pens don't work, that's why I suggest before you glue it up.

Job done.

The bus garage doors are 33mm high and 54mm wide and will take a wagon/engine

I have always enjoyed making up Metcalfe buildings they were the first buildings I made.  I have now moved on to scalescenes and similar buildings but still do Metcalfe but I always use a head magnifer

Good tip about the windows

My biggest problem is that how ever carefully I try I always get glue somewhere it should not be.  Now I use Rocket card glue and a matt spray that helps but it still happens

Caz's note about coloured pens for the corners is a good one.

Couldn't find any fine fibre tips so I do a similar with watercolour pencils. Just have them very sharp and the *slightest* bit damp and carefully run down the fold. Makes a huge difference to the finished article.

Sainsbury's were doing a whole set very cheaply just the other week.

Dave G

Hi Peter, despite my addiction to scalescenes kits, I think the Metcalfe brewery is one of my favourites. It is relatively easy to build just take your time. Forgive me if you know but the kits are pre-cut with just a tiny cut required to remove each piece from its sheet, in addition the instructions are clear and in the case of the brewery each section can be assembled before you need to work our how you want them to join up.

Good luck and looking forward to your progress.

Jerry

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on September 23, 2014, 05:31:14 PM
Hi Peter, despite my addiction to scalescenes kits, I think the Metcalfe brewery is one of my favourites. It is relatively easy to build just take your time. Forgive me if you know but the kits are pre-cut with just a tiny cut required to remove each piece from its sheet, in addition the instructions are clear and in the case of the brewery each section can be assembled before you need to work our how you want them to join up.

Good luck and looking forward to your progress.

Jerry

Thankyou Jerry,

I have never constructed ANY buildings in "N" before so it is very much of a "learning curve"!

I just need something to do of a winter evening when the layout room is too cold and inhospitable!

Regards Peter.

My sincere thanks to everyone thus far for the advice, the tips and general information, it is just what I needed!

Regards, Peter.