Assembly Instructions : Page 2
Gluing
Wood and MDF parts may be glued with PVA wood glue, Cyanoacrylate adhesive (super-glue) or
epoxy resin (Araldite). Beware of vary cheap glues, their joints may fail in time! If you do use a
“super-glue”, go for one which takes a few seconds to set rather than an instant “grab” one. This will
give you a few seconds to adjust the parts position before it is too late.
Metal parts (e.g. coupling hooks) are best fixed with Cyano/super glue.
Painting
This is very much a matter of personal choice. As poplar plywood is used for the body, leaving the
model mostly unpainted can be very attractive however if you plan to run your trains in all weathers,
some form of protection (especially on the MDF parts) will be needed; a couple of coats of acrylic
matt varnish from a “rattle can” is easy way of achieving this.
Suggest Colour Scheme
Paint the “strapping strips”, corner plates, tilt plates and door latches with a dark grey acrylic paint
(e.g. Tamiya) before you glue them to the body. Apply 2 or 3 thinned coats (tip use surgical spirit
rather than Tamiya thinners to thin Tamiya paint), this should seal the MDF against moisture.
Stain the body parts before gluing together. With a cloth, lightly smear on wood dye bought from
your DIY store. Go slowly as the very pale wood absorbs the colour quickly. Alternatively to achieve
the silver grey look of weathered wood , stain with very weak mix of black india ink in surgical spirit
applied with a small paint brush.
The chassis can be treated and protected with Exterior wood stain. Small tins in a variety of colours
are available from your DIY chain store. Apply two to three coats with a small paint brush until you
have an even colouring.
Tools
The following tools will be required:
•
A sharp modelling knife or scalpel
•
1.5 mm and 4mm drill bits
•
A small file, sand paper or an emery board “nail file”
The following tools are recommended
•
A cutting matt
•
A small steel ruler
•
Some small clamps, bulldog clips or rubber bands
•
A round section “needle file”
•
A metal working vice with smooth jaws or a wood working vice
