Laser Cut Buildings for Model Railways - Pros and Cons
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
- I review the pros and cons of using laser cut buildings in your model railway layout.
Laser cut buildings are growing in popularity in the N, OO/HO and O gauge community - but are they a good alternative to cardboard, plastic or resin? Find out more.
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So good to discover a lady who loves model railways as much as I do
I buy laser cut kits for assembling into painting jar holders. And, I may be a bit kinky, but I like the smell that fills my hobby room. I also like the smell, where I used to use a bench saw to cut the plywood parts for building dolls houses. They smell the same as laser cut, but without the burning!
I stumbled upon your channel by chance, very glad I did - you have a really lovely presentation style, and the video is evidently very well thought out, well scripted and well edited - beautifully produced start to finish. Instant subscribe, I'm looking forward to your future videos and now off to watch your previous ones. 😊
Thank you! It's so lovely to get such fantastic feedback!
Brings back memories of the original QuickSet. Beautiful models once completed
That would be Superquik
It's great to find a fresh, new and really well-presented model railway channel to lose myself in! Duly subscribed and working my way through your earlier productions
Thanks for the lovely feedback!
I also found your channel by chance~ So glad I did!
Welcome!!
Hello there. Just started viewing your videos. You have a very clear, watchable and informative presentation style. The sound & camerwork is excellent too: much better than most other rakway modellers on YT.
I've now subscribed and look forward to more videos.
Good luck,
Stephen
Thank you Stephen - more videos coming soon. I'm at Tolworth this weekend.
Wow, they look better than expected.
Thanks for sharing.
Mon
Great video, Dawn...👍
Great video, I’m also a fan of laser cut kits and in my latest video I have used a company called fair price models, they have windows and includes the window glazing, but no signs - Mark
Thanks Mark - great to have windows included. Laminating does require a completely clean surface - nothing like dog hair to ruin a perfectly good window! I'll have a look at your videos 🙂
To quote Anthony Daniels "..thank the maker..." Finally a RUclips offering I can relax to. Excellent presentation and production values. I looked up the supplier and getting a REAL British pub on my layout here in Yankland would only set my back 30 quid. Not bad. I usually kitbash or make my own structures but sometimes its wonderful to build a nice kit as is. Thank you and cheers.
Edit: British is capitalized, ya yob.
Thanks Mark - glad you liked it!
Thank you. I think the major Con is cost. The price of laser kits has surpassed a majority of modeler's budgets.
Not necessarily Kevin - I know kits can be expensive for larger gauges, but I've found the company I've been using is really reasonable for what I need. Though of course, you'll never beat scratch building from whatever you have lying around the house for keeping costs down. :-)
I guess reasonable is subjective. I own Narrow Gauge Modeling company so I have a fairly deep understanding of the US market. I believe the costs are such it is now doing much to contract the hobby and it is why I applaud your creativity which is one of the ways around that cost.
@@modelrailwayquest
I have used in the greenwood kits a lot and I have had some really good results, I do however modify and add details such as laser cut roof tile strips, 3D printed chimney pots, window frames from Wills and guttering / downpipes made from plastic strips. I also cover the edges of the chimneys with small strips of embossed plastic sheet to hide the plywood edges.
great tip. I love all the personal modifications I see on laser cut kits... that's where it gets fun! :-)
Nice vid. Informative and helpful. Great job.
Nicely said, thanks for sharing…
Just come across your channel - excellent! Ive subscribed. Cheers Euan
Thanks so much!
Personally I love the smell of burnt wood... and bacon, but that's a Saturday morning treat!
Stumbled onto your channel by accident and will be tuning in to see how these kit turn out, hoping to make some model buildings for a friends new layout and as I'm new to the world of model scenics its good to see what alternatives are out there.
Nice presentation in your video too...
Thanks Martin - I'll be doing a video on different modifications for kits soon... thanks for tuning in.
Yes!!! I bought a laser cutter just for making my own buildings. It means every single building is a bespoke custom designed structure fit for the site. It's... it's not good value for money though.
I used to think a lot of laser cut kits were a bit over-priced, but after operating a laser for almost a year I think they're probably under-priced! Materials are cheap, but the laser itself is very expensive. And there's expensive consumables for the laser too, like the mirrors and laser tube which can need replacing depending on use.
If you ever want anything custom cut, let me know! I'm happy to chuck some cardboard in an envelope and send it your way.
Another enjoyable video, Dawn. I've not tried one of their kits yet, I've done some Petite Properties kits, and Scale Model Scenery are also good as they come with paper wraps and prefinished roof tiles, cheers James 🙂
Thanks James - will take a look at your suggestions.
have you tried Metcalfe ?? I've used loads - some made as per instructions - some totally re-arranged structures. they're great imo
@raymondo162 I've tried. They are great little kits, although I haven't tried kit bashing them yet. Maybe I'll have a go at that one day. Give my grandson's Dylington Model Railway channel a watch. You'll see some on there,we've turned off the comments on it to protect him......cheers James 🙂👍
Thank you. 🤗
Great video!
Thank you!
I’v just bought a shop kit from In The Greenwood, and whilst I’m very impressed with the quality, accuracy, and sturdiness of the kit, I just wish they’d completely cut out the window frames, rather than leaving them flush with the outer walls, adding to that, if you glaze the windows, it means the glazing is sat behind the frame by a good 3mm
Unless I cut the glazing accurately, to sit inside the frame.
Windows have always been a bugbear for me, I believe it comes from the days of the old Aifix/Dapol kits with prison windows, when I would spend a couple of hours thinning back the frames.
Making the windows is not my favourite thing, I admit... I think having the glazing is better than none at all, but agree there's a bit of a gap problem.
I do like lasercut kits, I use them since quite a while. For me the smell is not the problem, what need to be looked at are the corners of the building. Here it depends on the kit, some have a kind of cover for corners. And another thing: painting is essential, and brings out your individual building. My biggest one was a continental station building (Strobl, narrow gauge station, on my layout Donnersbachkogel), it is just an eyecatcher. Just ordered the whole West Highland stuff from PECO. Will bring me some satisfying hours in the Christmas break.
Sounds fantastic - please do send photos of your progress on the West Highland kits, if you'd like to share.
Will do. But only after Christmas of course...
Hi there from South Africa great video! instead of using laminating plastic you could also use plastic from discarded blister packaging, I think it's petg. Woolies here in SA uses a lot of it for packaging fruit and salads, there's a lot of flat clear pieces in this sort of packaging, it's super tough and Durable, it's also nice and thin
Thank you for the tip! Happy New Year!
@@modelrailwayquest Thank you and to you and your family.
Freakin' Awesome Sauce! :D Instant Subscribe! :D
Thanks so much - appreciate the subscribe.
Thanks for the video. In the USA laser cut kits don’t have a smell. I wonder what’s different about the wood used by both.
Really? How interesting.... hmmm, let me see, maybe a trip out to the States is in order to investigate! :-)
For cardboard models, did you consider those of Scalescenes? The low relief shops set (T008a) includes interior detailing, variety of shop signs (including editable versions). I am sure that if you printed them in greyscale instead of colour, then they would meet your monochrome requirements.
I'll take a look - thanks for the tip Kevin. :-)|
These kits are fantastic very realistic I thought
you were doing really well until the final reveal............ the pain with laser cut is that the edges come pre-blackened, and if you try to remove the charcoal you get dodgy joins......... OR you pre-paint ALL the edges - it's another advantage of Metcalfe's offerings. the smell is a secondary issue imo
How did the weight rule out Plastic buildings? Laser-cut plywood weighs more than plastic buildings. When it comes to price there is also not much beating scratch building with styrene sheets (except for cardboard).
Scratch building structures is next on my list! :-)
I’m not sure I agree in the adding of all the advertising material in the kit or we will back to the days of Airfix kits where all models looked the same, and all used the adverts that came in the kit.
What type of paint do you use with laser kits, acrylic, enamels or even oils and how do you apply them.
Is it a different technique depending if it’s a wood or a card laser kit ?
Terry
I agree in some respects. I think the more confident modellers are happy to make their own signage etc. But perhaps for beginners, those little extras might be a good thing? I'll be doing a tutorial on making up the kits, including the painting, so stay tuned!
Hi, first timer……I have subbed and liked.
Now, I can’t get over you choosing a cheaper option then bemoaning the lack of features!? Somethings got to give hasn’t it and I really doubt you will get as you asked for a mere 50p to £1, so much labour in making it all as I feel you have discovered? Also your workarounds are unique!
Yup, all laser cut, burnt may be a better description, will have been tainted I just cannot see how it may be avoided?
I thought from your title that you were going to be making and cutting yourself, why don’t you? You are creative enough and modify with ease!
😊
Good piece, I shall be back!
Bob
England
Thanks Bob.... it's slippery slope. This will lead to me making and cutting my own... then I'll be buying my own woodland for timber! :-)
What kind of paint do you use on your laser kits?
The answer is... whatever I have lying around. :-) I've used basic emulsion tester pots - the kind you get from hardware stores to try out paints on your living room wall for example. There's been a nice selection of greys (for my monochrome model railway). But acrylics work nicely too. One tip: you'll need a primer coat if you want to paint any of the kit walls white... takes a few coats to become opaque.
I thought I saw a lady in a model railroading video, but it turned out I was just having a stroke.
If I understand correctly you only build monochrome???? Please explain, thank you.
Hi there - no, just this layout. Brief Encounter is a monochrome layout but I am just about to start working on my next layout in colour - though it's a desert scene, so I can't promise there will be much colour other than shades of sand! :-)
I'm not a modeller but curious why you have it in 'black and white'
I'm using the kits as part of my Brief Encounter monochrome model railway, so this tutorial works alongside the main video. I've used 32 shades of grey so far! I needed to bear that in mind when choosing buildings as I needed them to be a blank canvas so to speak. Not all my layouts are B&W - just to reassure you! :-)
@@modelrailwayquest Ah that explains it, for what it's worth I thought you presented it very well. It amazes me how far technology has come over the years in things like DCC and the models you worked on
Really helpful; thank you - will give the supplier a “go”. Is there a video on painting the kits, please?
Great ! Yes, I'll be posting a video on modifying the kits - including painting tips and how to add some extras (such as the features on the shops on my Brief Encounter mononchrome layout).
@@modelrailwayquest Excellent and thank you- will look out for the video. Have ordered a kit to see how it goes. Happy Christmas meanwhile.
Merry Christmas to you!
A really effective method for getting great Stained Glass windows, especially if you light the buildings is to go to your local colour copier company and have them print on clear overhead projector sheets, best to wait until you have lots of windows to gut out and put them all on a single sheet. Best to look for the extra thick sheets (they are around 240 micron or 0.24mm thick) you can get ones you can print on with an inkjet but the colour copier laser toner seems to give a deeper colour.
With regard to the smell, firstly always sand off any char before painting, the paint will stick to the char which may well just flake off, secondly once you sand off the char get rid of the dust and leave the sanded parts in a well ventilated room (a garage is good) for a week before painting and most of the smell will go, just be grateful you are not using laser cut leather, the smell of burnt leather is not nice ;-)
Thanks David - great tips and advice. Will try this. I haven't had the 'pleasure' of working with burnt leather, and now you've warned me, I won't be in a hurry to either! :-)
Dai Young funeral services, buy one get one free
Bethan's Baps
Someone has a good sense of humour.
They're not plywood, they're fibre board