Thanks. Feel like a dummy, I looked at the gallery and missed that group of pictures first go around. Now I will be looking ahead to lights at some point. I wil get some pics up when done with the kit since I will likely move on it but will be a little bit. Did get two of the Blair Line company houses done for the mine and son is working on the third. Nice kits. Will post some of progress since pics of others Virginian layouts helped.
The American Model Builders HO kit, 701, is evidently the exact same structure but wouldn't you know it, the AMB catalog photos of it are the same general angle and side.
BUT ... you are in luck. The American Model Builders website includes a "photo gallery" of pictures submitted by customers. The first item on the gallery is three shots of the 601 kit as assembled and detailed by a modeler from Sweden. I think it gives the information you seek.
http://www.laserkit.com/laserkit.htm
As an aside, Monroe Models' website also had a photo gallery of their models as assembled by various customers. I think that is an idea that more manufacturers of kits should feature.
As for difficulty, for what it is worth the Walthers catalog description of the N scale kit says it is "designed for easy construction." With most laser cut kits, the only cutting you do is removing the parts from the sheet of wood. The parts fit each other like the parts to plastic kits do. Removing laser cut parts from the sheet they come from needs a sharp fresh blade (and at my age, opti-visors or other vision aids to see the small "gates" that hold the parts on to the sheet). So they are easier than the older type of craftsman wood kits.
I believe Cody Grivno has had some articles in MR in recent years about building this kind of kit, and Jeff Wilson's two books on structures for Kalmbach cover laser cut kits with lots of good advice. Some guys by the way "paint" their wood kits without paint (to avoid warping) and instead use applications of colored chalks or powders before assembly. This takes some thinking ahead if you want contrasting color for trim, windows and doors for example. Using powders makes the buildings look weathered. If using real paint remember that painting both sides can reduce or eliminate the wood's tendency to warp a little.
Dave Nelson
Looks like your thread could use a good "bump" ! I searched and took a look at the kit your considering, and I see what you are saying, every picture of this building is the same. It must be the picture on the cover of the box.
I've never built a craftsman kit, but there are lots of modelers on here that have.
If that's the building you like, maybe just pull the trigger and get it, and see what the other sides of the building look like. Actually, whats the difference? You could still build it and alter it to fit what you want.
I model in HO, but I sure like what some N scale modelers do. There's a couple of modelers in here that have done some fantastic scratch build, and craftsman kits.
Keep us posted with some pictures!
Mike.
My You Tube
Working on my N scale version of The Virginian layout and was looking at American Model Builders kit 601 general service building for the yard but can only find the same one picture of it. Anyone build this or have pictures of the truck loading side? Any feedback on AMB lazer cut kits?
Thanks