Craftsman kits for structures

Craftsman Kits are minimal in many aspects.

Documentation being the First and Worst example.

Try for some pictures of the completed building, Probably the best source od detail existing.

It depends on the manufacturer. Bar Mills gives an exploded parts diagram, JV Models does not, as examples.

A bit of hard earned advice, if the part requires glue, pre-paint or stain , then sand off the paint on the actual glue joint. Especially with stain, if you have some glue ooze from the joint that dries too fast, or you don't notice it until it's dry, the glue doesn't stain well at all.

 Before you glue a sub-assembly to the building, such as a window frame, ask yourself if you'll be able to reach it once installed. If the answer is no, then paint/stain it.

The problem is not just with craftsman kits.   I have assembled plastic kits with minimal instructions:  IHC Victorian "Painted Ladies" Houses (few pictures and almost no words) and Intermountain Reefer kits (lots of prototype parts terminology and almost no pictures).

A refreshing exception to the rule is the Altoona Model Works craftsman kits.  They come with a detailed step by step instruction book with many pictures in a plastic ring binder that will lay flat.  They also laser cut many parts and templates.

Bob

      Thanks for your comments.  It appears that there are no standards for these kits. Now that I know this, I'm fine with it.  I will treat the kits as if they are 3D puzzels that are open to some interpretation.  It would be interesting to see how different people choose to finish the same kit (without kit bashing).

      Mike CT - I completed my first kit by Downtown Deco, and am halfway finished with one by Rusty Stumps. 

      Tom B

Interesting comment, Boxcoupler....it would be interesting, also, to see how

ten identical kits, built by ten different modelers,  "according to the instructions" came out looking alike OR not looking alike.

Instructions, exploded view or 3-D style,  can be difficult and time consuming to generate.  I have done a few and it's not that easy.....so I understand why some small manufactures do not include.....but it is helpful.

One of the major tasks we have been undertaking with the Korber Models line since we purchased the company has been re doing much of the documentation.

In the past much of the instructions were not as detailed as they could be, we have tried to add drawings and photos were possible to aid in construction.  It does take time to craft useful and clear instructions, a down fall of many kits.

Here is a look at upgraded instructions for a Korber 304 engine house.  Rich got input from several modelers.  (16 pages, with a lot of pictures, available on line).   This model dates to the late 70's. there are also floor and truss templates.   New windows, a huge improvement.

I have owned several craftsman kit in the past.. never really built any of them!

the reason for the old owns was that you got a set of "blueprints and a bunch of cast metal details, sheets of uncut siding, strips of wood and something to tell you what to cut!  those instructions were complete and detailed, it would also required very advanced model making tools to finally assemble the darn thing

 today with laser cut pieces ready to be snapped out of the sheet and high level of detail I am guessing the the manufacturers feel if you can't figure this out buy it assembled.  ( kind of  snobbish approach.

I the past I have bought craftsman kits, opened the box and then dragged out the chip board and made my own. I found that crazy glue and cardboard can make some wonderful stuff!

It seems that "craftsman kit" now means we did the hard work you figure it out. when it used to be we figured it out for you, now you do the hard work!

BUT, what is really worse is instructions that are very detailed, translated by  person ( or computer) whose first language is manchurian!  thankfully most craftsman kits are made in the USA ( I think)

I beg to differ with the above assertion "manufacturers feel if you can't figure this out, buy it assembled." I believe most manufacturers simply assume you know much more than you do. The other problem is that kit manufacturers are not necessarily writers so the instructions are oftentimes not clear.

I assume you've never done it before and  tailor my instructions accordingly.

IMO. General construction knowledge come into play also.  Advanced kits are buildings, with building parts, many modelers would have issues knowing some of these terms.  You would probably find some of these words in the instructions of an advanced kit or model. 
purlin
soffit
fascia
stud
rafter
balloon framing
post and beam framing
joist
rafter
sill
stool
sash
lintel
transom
double hung
threshold
truss
stringer
tread
rise
casement
chair rail
I copied this exploded view from a BTS kit.


My thought. 
 If you know the definitions of 90% of the terms posted above,  you're ready for a craftsman kit.

Completely agree with you, Dennis. 

It's also very probable that many have bought kits are simply above the current experience level of the modeler.  There is a learning curve for most folks and jumping in with a kit that's 3 rungs ahead of your experience level can be exceptionally challenging, but  your mileage may vary.   

Generally, instructions tend to be minimal and few are independently "tested".  Having written instructions for my own kits, I tend to be excessively detailed in explanation since those instructions were derived from hands-on clinics to address the lowest common denominator.

I have found the instructions from BTS for their kits to be good; nearly every kit that I have ever assembled has had some "blind spot" in the instructions as well as some noticeable decline in detail and information towards the end point.  I just got a Ft. Wayne Horse Auction car kit and the print instructions are almost too small to read (think Sanskrit) and the figures boarder on being inscrutable (think Dead Sea Scrolls).  For more fun, go build a few La Belle CERA freight trailer where the instructions apply to building all 16 variations of the desired car, but also are mixed together with the instructions for 2 unrelated cars. 

After a while, you just relax and build stuff.  If you can't relax, you should probably take up a hobby or something,         

Many "craftsman" kits are great training for scratchbuiiding, because you will come to

that gap in the instructions where your thought is, "What the bleep am I supposed to

do now??", and then, you wing it.

The boss (LHS) reminded me of a bit of related humor.  Of course, you'd have to be old enough to remember this yourself...

Campbell kits...a long-standing staple of the HO market...would certainly fall into the 'craftsman' category.  Many, many moons ago, the Campbell folks offered a special kit at a NMRA convention.  The familiar red plaid box contained a closely fitting block of clear, knot-free wood with an instruction sheet that simply said , in effect, 'Carve away everything that isn't what you want remaining.' 

Well, you would have to be a craftsman (craftsperson?...to be PC), after all!

KD

dkdkrd.... thanks for reminding me that I am old.. I have some of the campbell kits ever see the pine tree?

and yes they are still unbuilt! 

And, yes, they are still available, too!  Walthers carries them.  But have you checked the prices lately?!?!?  I, too, have a bunch of the HO kits...but I've built more than I have remaining kits.  They taught me much about 'craftsman' kits.  For one thing, the old die-cut walls (especially after the cutting edges of their tooling become dull!) are NO match for the laser-cut walls of today's models.  Campbell, in fact, has at least one kit they've since converted to laser cutting.  I'm not sure about the other kits....I, myself, am into O scale now, and our (LHS) HO customers who have the moxie to do craftsman kits are mostly into the laser-cut brands.  The pine tree kits (I still have several in my own pile of scenery stuff.) are really quite nice, IMHO.  My favorite was Grandma's House...still have it, built and detailed...a classic...and I might use the old brown-around-the-edges, torn, and dog-eared instruction sheet/plans to scale the house for an O version. 

We're old?  Nah....as Groucho once said, "You're only as old as ...".  Oh, I'd better not finish the quote...der Forumeister might not allow it!

Happy Thursday!

KD

I love that quote!  did you know that it has scientifically proven?  Peoples who are active with young people have a dramatic reversal of age at a genetic level.. really. So groucho was a scientist and he didn't even know it!

I have a couple kits on my list of things to do. I'm not worried about being able to build them, Test fit, figure it out and then glue it.

Priority is Lower on the list now that I moved and have to rebuild the layout from start. 

But I'll get to them as they are going to be focal points on the layout.

That is why I bought them, these items are important, a plastic "sort of matches" will not do.

As my brother puts it:

You don't quit playing because you got old. You get old because you quit playing.

I have been accused of failing to grow up.

I reply, Absolutely ! Growing up leads to growing old, Growing old leads to Dying.

I'll have nothing to do with the entire process.

Besides, playing with the Grandkids and great nieces, Great nephews and such is FUN !

Groucho also said something appropriate about joining clubs  

maybe that is why those HO scale prototypical types get old so much faster than us!?

IMO, Quite rewarding, if you navigate your way through one of these kits. IMO.

BTS Cabin Creek Coal Tipple.