Guidelines To Follow When Building A Laser Cut Building Kit

Photo  # 1   The Town Of San Marino On The Upper level Of The "Original" JJJ&E

 This article was published in the January/February 2008 issue of N Scale Magazine.

When I first started building the "Original" JJJ&E over seven years ago, the main structures I used on the layout were Walthers plastic building kits. I built about a half dozen of these kits and soon became disenchanted with them. Eventually each structure managed to be completed and, after weathering, they all found places on the "Original" JJJ&E.

I then started to build laser cut building structures for the "Original" JJJ&E and have used them ever since as the primary building structures for the layout.

Many companies today make quality N scale laser cut building kits. American Model Builders, Bar Mills, Blair Lines, N Scale Architects and Model Tech Studios are just a few of the major players in the N scale laser cut building arena. Most of the laser cut buildings on the "Original" JJJ&E are from N Scale Architect, Bar Mills and American Model Builders.

As I completed many of these laser cut building kits, I developed a series of guidelines to use. I found these guidelines very helpful and can be used for any laser cut building kit with minute variations.

I'm going to use American Model Builders Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick as an example in explaining my guidelines to follow ( See Photo  # 1 ). This structure has very finely detailed parts and is a very interesting addition to any layout.

Photo  # 2  American Model Builders Glenwood No. 2 Oil Derrick

The most important guideline to follow is to read the instructions very carefully before you start building the kit. You should read them two or three times to get a full understanding of how to put the kit together. Not following this guideline will make eventual satisfactory completeion of the kit very difficult and at times, aggravating.

You must make sure you have all the parts listed in the instruction sheets. You don't want to find out after you've started building the kit that parts are missing or broken. If you find that some parts are missing or broken, contact the manufacturer of the kit directly, They will gladly replace any missing or broken parts if they are notified of the problem.

Next, follow the instructions very carefully. There is usually a reason for the sequence of instructions when building a laser cut building kit.

Before you airbrush any of the laser cut building parts, brace the larger laser cut pieces with small scraps of balsa wood that you may have in your scrap box. I usually save extra pieces of wood from all the kits I've built for the "Original" JJJ&E. I glue these scrap pieces of wood to the backside of each of the larger parts with Aileen's wood glue ( See Photo  # 3 ). This will help prevent any warping when the laser cut pieces are air brushed with a primer on both sides.

Photo  # 3  Aileen's Wood Glue

The Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick laser cut building kit deviates slightly from the last guideline. The parts are so fine that its impossible to brace the individual pieces. When it comes time to airbrush these parts with a primer, they must be airbrushed with very light coats of paint..

The laser cut parts should be lightly airbrushed while attached to the parts board with a primer. Airbrushing the parts on both sides will eliminate most of the warping that might occur. In the case of the Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick kit, I found a primer that would be suitable for a final color ( See Photo's # 3, # 4 and # 5 ).

Photo  # 4 Parts Board For Oil Derrick

     Photo  # 5  Parts Board For Oil Derrick

             Photo  # 6  Parts Board For Oil Derrick

After the prime coat is dry ( usually 24-36 hours ), you can airbrush a final coat of paint on the laser cut pieces. In the case of the Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick, I lightly airbrushed a second primer coat, as this was to be the final coat of paint. I used an 18/0 very fine sable brush to touch up any irregularities in the final coat..

Now you are ready to build the kit after waiting for the final coat of paint to dry ( 24 hours ).

When gluing the laser cut pieces together, use a wood glue that sets up fairly rapidly. As I said previously, I use Aileen's wood glue ( See Photo  # 3 ). There are other wood glues on the market that could also be used. On rare occasions, you can use CA cement when an immediate bond is required.

After the laser cut building structure is completed, you can touch up the structure by hand painting any areas that need attention.

You can now weather your building kit with earth tone washes and/or Bragdon Weathering powders. In the case of the Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick, I lightly dry brushed the wood floor of the kit with Rail Tie Brown and Black. I also used Bragdon Weathering powders in this area. I didn't touch the oil derrick structure itself, as the parts were too thin and delicate anyd any dry brushing would cause undue warping of these fine parts. I did add some Bragdon Weathering powders to the oil derrick structure ( See Photo's  # 7, # 8 & #9 ). Woodland Scenics figures were also placed on the structure.

        Photo  # 7  Bragdon Weathering Powders Added To Oil Derrick Structure Along With Woodland Scenics Figures

     Photo  # 8   Bragdon Weathering Powders Added To Oil Derrick Structure Along With Woodland Scenics Figures

        Photo  # 9   Bragdon Weathering Powders Added To Oil Derrick Structure Along With Woodland Scenics Figures

Now its time to place the finished Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick on the layout and add scenic touches near the building foundation. At this time, the "original" JJJ&E is undergoing a fourth expansion and the Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick has been placed in a temporary position the layout ( See Photo # 10 ).

           Photo  # 10  Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick Placed In Temporary Position On The Layout

         Photo  # 11 The Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick Can be Seen In The Distance Above The Tree Line

The Glenwood # 2 Oil Derrick can be seen in the background of the layout above the tree line ( Photo # 11 ).

Laser cut building kits take many hours to finish and weather. The first laser cut kit  I built for the "Original" JJJ&E was the Fish Pier, which has become one of the "signature" buildings on the "Original" JJJ&E. The Fish Pier is located near the St. Albans Tunnel on the lower level of the layout. It took 14 hours to complete, weather and place on the layout ( See Photo # 12 & # 12A ). The double track mainline can be seen in the background. Preiser and Woodland Scenics action figures were added to to the scene to make the structure look more realistic. Adding water around the Fish Pier also adds to the realism.

Photo  # 12  The Fish Pier Is One Of The "Signature" Buildings On The "Original" JJJ&E

              Photo  # 12A  The Fish Pier Is One Of The "Signature" Buildings On The "Original" JJJ&E

In the main Switching Yard on the "Original" JJJ&E is a Gear Factory, a small water tank and a sanding station that have been completely weathered and in place on the layout. Foundation scenery hasn't yet been added to completely finish the three structures (See Photo  # 13 ). Some of the Unitrack in Photo # 13 hasn't been weathered and ballasted. The two track siding is part of the fourth addition to the layout.

             Photo  # 13   The Gear Factory, Small Water Tower & Sanding Station In Place In Switching Yard

An Ice Station is also temporarily in place in the Switching Yard. This area is still a work in progress. The backdrop seam has to be hidden by adding trees against the backdrop. The Ice Station and platform is also a delicate structure and care must be taken in airbrushing this structure. Woodland Scenics action figures have also been added to the Ice Station ( Photo # 14 ). This laser cut building kit is made by North East Models and was a great kit to put together.

    Photo # 14  Ice Station And Platform In Switching Yard

The Unitrack in the background of Photo # 14 hasn't been weathered and ballasted yet. Ground scenery also has to be added to complete the scene.

More laser cut structures have been placed on part of the fourth addition to the "Original" JJJ&E adjacent to the St. Albans Tunnel ( See Photo # 15 ).   

      Photo  # 15 Laser Cut Buildings Added To Fourth Addition Adjacent To The St. Albans Tunnel

 Finally we see part of the town of San Marino on the upper level of the "Original" JJJ&E. These buildings are all laser cut buildings . The distinctive building with the corrugated  metal roof is "The Idaho Hotel", another "signature" building on the layout. The "Idaho Hotel" is a limited run ( 250 ) laser cut building kit made by Bar Mills. All of these buildings have been weathered and detailed ( See Photo # 16 )

  Photo  # 16 All The Buildings In This Photo Are Laser Cut Buildings. This Is The Center Of San Marino.

Laser cut buildings are fun to build and weather. They add "character" to a layout as you can see when viewing the structures in San Marino  on the "Original" JJJ&E ( Photo  # 16).

Try to build a laser cut building kit soon. You'll be pleasantly surprised with the finished product.

Stay cool and run steam..........