BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

[blueriver]

Hi,
I am starting to construct some plastic building kits for my railroad and I was wondering what kinds of tricks or ways can I construct my buildings so the walls stay square and perpendicular to each other? When I did some years ago some of the buildings would lean or not be put together well. I know there are some clamps featured in MR but they are a little expensive right now. Does anyone have any special tricks or homemade solutions?

I really appreciate your responses.

Thanks

blueriver

[Anonymous]

A trick I saw in MR was a creative use of the right angles that slide up and down on a ruler - forget what they care called. Here in Vancouver you can buy cheaper ones at a dollar store. You purchase two of these, and put the second right angle thing ma bobby on to the same sliding ruler as the first. Slide them closed or open to the width of your building and use them to square up your walls.

[dknelson]

Micro Mark catalog offers some products included a steel board marked in 1/2 inch squares with magnets that old things at perfect 90 degree angles. I think Andy Sperandeo described a trick using an old 35 mm slide -- usually there are plenty of bad slides that can be sacrified -- they make decent little aids for measuring a perfect 90 degree angle.
Dave Nelson

[nfmisso]

I believe Rick is referring to something like this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=4185
with just the square head.

[cwclark]

I use .40 pieces of styrene strips and glue them to the inside of the building wall corners in 1" intervals ..since the strips are square the walls will turn out square ... I use a rubber band to hold the walls together until the glue dries...Chuck[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi
Squared paper under a sheet of glass works well a long with some rubber band clamps.
Be carefull not to get glue between the clamp and the building the clams are plastic.
Use a small square to square the walls and a large square can be used to hold the wall vertical el cheapo squares are good enough for this. set the building up on the glass when building it so it is on a flat surface..
Make sure the parts are flash free and well fiting before applying glue it is amazing how many models are spoiled by not being cleand up properly.
Another tip paint the inside of the building black before assembly so that if you light it up later the only place the light comes out is through the windows or open doors
regards John