Do you like long and detailed kit instructions or...

[downtowndeco]

...simpler, shorter instructions?

I posted this on another site but wanted to get this forum members take on it.

Some modelers enjoy stretching a project out into as many little steps as possible. Others want instant gratification. Many are in between. They want the satisfaction of building something themselves, they want it to look good, yet they want to try & complete a halfway decent looking layout in this life time.

With that in mind, what sort of instruction sets do you like the best? One's where every little detail and dab of paint is spelled out for you in laborious detail (Rube Goldberg style) or simpler instructions, where the basic construction of the kit is spelled out clearly but you don't have to wade through a bible to figure out how to put the thing together?

Another way of looking at it is if you could build a model in 2 weeks that looks just as good as the one it took you 6 weeks to put together, would you buy the one that was easier/quicker to assemble?

I used to work in film as a scenic artist & the mind set in Hollywood was if you could make something look good in 2 hours instead of 6, you always took the shorter route. We never created work just for the sake of creating work. It was the end result that mattered.

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco

[corsair7]

...simpler, shorter instructions?

I posted this on another site but wanted to get this forum members take on it.

Some modelers enjoy stretching a project out into as many little steps as possible. Others want instant gratification. Many are in between. They want the satisfaction of building something themselves, they want it to look good, yet they want to try & complete a halfway decent looking layout in this life time.

With that in mind, what sort of instruction sets do you like the best? One's where every little detail and dab of paint is spelled out for you in laborious detail (Rube Goldberg style) or simpler instructions, where the basic construction of the kit is spelled out clearly but you don't have to wade through a bible to figure out how to put the thing together?

Another way of looking at it is if you could build a model in 2 weeks that looks just as good as the one it took you 6 weeks to put together, would you buy the one that was easier/quicker to assemble?

I used to work in film as a scenic artist & the mind set in Hollywood was if you could make something look good in 2 hours instead of 6, you always took the shorter route. We never created work just for the sake of creating work. It was the end result that mattered.

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco

It depends on what type of kit I am building. I usually look only at the pictures because I've been building models for about seven years less than I've been alive. I usually look over the instructions before I start the kit anyway.

If I've never built that kind of kit before, I'll pay alot of attention to the instructions (especially if the kit has working parts) before I build it and I'll also follow the sequence of instructions as well.

Frankly, most kit instructions either aren't detailed enough or are much to detailed. Furthermore, those who write them don't always speak English and the instructions reflect that.

Irv

[MisterBeasley]

Good timing.  I'm in the midst of construction of the Branchline Trains "Weimer's Mill" kit.  It's my very first "craftsman" model.  I, too, have been building models only about 7 years less than I've been alive, but this is still a unique experience.

I love it.  I haven't had nearly this much fun putting together a model since I've re-started my model railroading activities after a very long dormant period.

But, I have to wonder about the intent of the question.  Are you asking, "Given the same kit, would you prefer simple, basic instructions, or detailed, step-by-baby-step instructions?"  Or are you asking, "For a given building, would you rather build a simpler kit, or a more detailed, complex kit?"

I suppose, for the first kit of any type, I'd rather have enough instructions that I don't mis-understand what they're saying and make a mistake.  I'm following Branchline's instructions very carefully, and I've stepped up my awareness of gluing technique and careful trimming and pre-fitting as well.  But, I'm a very detail-oriented kind of guy.  After studying this kit and the paperwork for a week or so, I then spent two weeks scratch-building an interior, because I thought it would be a nice touch.  I'm happy with it, even though it meant an additional couple of weeks before I even got to Step 1 of the directions.

I realize now that I'm hooked.  I really enjoy building this laser-cut wood kit, and it will really belong on my layout, as well.  But, my next project will be one of the plastic kits that's stacked up in my workroom.  It's just the way it goes in this hobby.

[loathar]

I don't need every little dab of glue or brush stroke of paint spelled out, but something a little more detailed than a half baked line drawing would be nice. Some of the old AHM kits come with a whole sprue of detail parts and not a hint on where they could go.
The depth of detail in the instructions doesn't have much bearing on how long it takes me to build a kit. It would be nice if the odds and ends were covered a little better though.

 

[tstage]

I like well-written instructions.  And that does NOT necessarily equate to long and detailed instructions.  Good instructions should:

1. Have just enough verbiage to clearly convey what the author is trying to get across- No more, no less.  To quote Albert Einstein: "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
2. Include timely and descriptive pictures or diagrams for clarity, when necessary.

A well-written instruction might need to be "wordy" in order for a kit to be successfully put together in the shortest amount of time and with the greatest amount of accuracy.  Then again, it might not need to be as wordy in order to accomplish the same feat.

I've have yet to put together a kit that has successfully achieved both points.  There always seems to be something nebulous in the translation.  I end up having to either read and re-read the instructions until I eventually figure it out, or I end up stumbling across the solution.  Having written protocols for my work, I know how challenging it can be to adequately convey what you want to say, in as few words as possible.

Good instructions should always describe what needs to be accomplished before the next step is to be considered.  Descriptions, helpful tips, suggestions, and warning all help to make this possible.

Tom

[Ibeamlicker]

I dont think you can have too many instructions or tips,you can follow them or stray any way you want,but at least you can have a clue.

[PASMITH]

I really do not like building kits. 90% of my structures are scratch built and all of my locos and cars are bashed or scratch built to one degree or another.

Perhaps it is because I hate to follow instructions. More likely it's because I cannot find kits that fit my era and place. I find it much easier to design and custom build based on my own needs. With regard to kit instructions, I would like to see much more information on the prototype particularly when it comes to early era rolling stock. For example, what was the color and where, when and why was it used.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[Catt]

I like my instructions to tell me in a straight forward understandable way how to assemble the darn thing.I don't need my hand held every step of the way but I don't want to be left wondering how the hell does this part go on ,or even where does it go.

I like painting and assembly tips but would prefer they be seperate from the instructions,unless of course they are along the lines of "paint these parts/this part before assembly"

Pictures of the construction process are a definate plus.

Two weeks of construction instead of 6 weeks is a very definate plus in my book.

[twhite]

I like all the help I can get from the instructions. 

Of course, some of them--for instance a lot of plastic building kits are just diagrams, but I was certainly glad for the VERY detailed instructions that came with my ME Tall Viaduct.  Without them I'd have had NO idea where all those struts went, LOL! 

Unfortunately, I've had the experience of opening a car kit that reminds me of another car kit I've built in the past and thereby ignoring the directions and ending up with a MESS!  Happened to me with a wood craftsman caboose kit a couple of years ago, the parts looked similar to way back when, when I used to build Silver Streak wooden cabooses, so I blithely ignored the instructions and went on 'memory'.  BAD move!  Luckily, mid-way through I was able to correct my mistakes, went back to the instructions and it turned out okay, except for one little 'problem', I'd reversed the roof and sub-roof sections, so the top part of the caboose is 'inside-out.'   It's now my "Doofus" caboose. 

Tom

[Arjay1969]

Speaking only for myself, I like clear, concise assembly instructions, accompanied by photos showing possible detail placement.  I almost never build kits exactly the way the instructions show (change a window here, add a door there, rearrange roof details, etc.), so I like having ideas, but not specific instructions.

 

Case in point:  I loved the old "3-in-one" kits from Roundhouse.  They came with a bunch of materials to build a model from, but aside from basic "here's how to build the basic structure" instructions, they mostly gave you photos to work from as far as details.

 Just my

 

[citylimits]

I imagine that you are asking this question in relation to the DD kits you produce, Randy. So it's this that I will comment on.

Of the several DD kits I have built I have never scratched my head wondering where to go in the next step in construction. BTW, I have been modeling for years, but would not say that I am a craftsman modeler by any means. So as somebody who does need clear instructions I think that what you have provided in your kits has been adequate to finish a decent representation of what you probably had in mind when you designed the kit.

Often the finishing and detailing/weathering of a kit of the type produced by DD is the key to producing a model to be proud of. Construction is of its self not difficult, however the finishing is where the skill lies and this is often helped with suggestions from the kits manufacturer to enable a modeler to achieve this. Also, your kits are probably built buy modelers who have some modeling experience and who are familiar with the techniques required to built a DD kit.

I have found that a decent imagination is of help also and this is often the result of keen observational qualities - research and a desire to produce a finish that is unique to the individual modeler.

Other kit manufactueres include instructions that range from absolute crap containing dis-information to instructions that are akin to an encyclopedia.

So, after all that, I have found the instructions you include with DD kits are adequate, helpful and are probably all that is needed.

Bruce

 

[aloco]

Well, I built fourteen Life-Like Proto 2000 ACF type 21 tank cars (a mix of 8,000 and 10,000 gallon versions) and they had detailed instructions.  However, I was able to build them quickly because I left out a few steps in the assembly process.  I chose not to install a few flimsy plastic details (e.g. body grab irons and piping for brake rigging) because they would only get broken off while handling the cars.  I built the cars to run, not to admire for exquisite detail. 

[Kurt_Laughlin]

I have been building model kits (mostly aircraft and tanks) for close to 40 years, and have been receiving various model magazines and club member publications for about as long.  I have NEVER heard of anyone complaining that the instructions were too detailed, only that they were sparse or non-existent.  Note that detailed does not equate to complex - detailed and exhaustive instructions are only useful if CLEARLY WRITTEN.

Modelers can always skip steps and words that they don't need.  They can't add what they don't know, however.

If you asking about kit complexity, I enjoy a wide range.  Static vehicle models emphasize detail and tend to be more complex.  For model railroading, there is a need for production throughput as much as anything.  There's no time to make every model an exact replica and really no need, so a wide range of detail and complexity is desirable.

KL

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I like the instructions to be short, direct and to the point. I have quite severe dyslexia and having to read long detailed to the nth degree instructions drives my eyes nuts! After just a little while all the words start merging together.

[tomikawaTT]

What I would like to see is a two-tiered set of instructions.

Tier I would be a simple checklist - "Install Part A at location X after prepainting."

Tier II, keyed to the checklist steps, would be a more detailed explanation of the Tier I procedure, including such things as, "Flat side up," or, "Remove all of the sprue and flash from Part A before prepainting.  Do NOT paint the surface that has to be glued."

That way an experienced kitbasher-scratchbuilder can steam along at flank speed, while a tyro will have a hand to hold all the way through.

Just my .  For what I need, I have no choice except to scratch build or, rarely, kitbash.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[Beach Bill]

Building from a quality kit is one of the really enjoyable aspects of the hobby (in my opinion, of course).  I've done some scratchbuilding and still full enjoy that when no kit matches what I "need" to build, but opening and starting a quality kit is just a joy to me.

 The example of top-notch instructions in my view would be the line of Campbell wood kits.  Things are orderly and well written, and there is a well-drawn schematic which shows ALL of the parts.  There is usually mention of options on how to finish the walls or roofing or whatever to simulate various levels of weathering.  Although I had last built some Campbell's "Farm House" kits over 20 years ago, I this year went back and built two more of them to create a longer row of company houses for the coal mine community.  I found the process just as enjoyable as I remembered. 

On the other end of the spectrum, I have just moved into the realm of adding some styrene plastic building kits.  Most everything on my layout had been "backwoods" wood structures, but on my new layout I found a place to add the backside of a city scene with a need for some brick buildings.  This summer I have built one such building "as designed" and another building was kit-bashed from two plastic kits.  I'm beginning another city kit right now.  These are from a prominent line of HO plastic buildings associated with a large mail-order firm.  The schematic drawings do not show or identify all of the parts, nor does the "succinct" narrative instruction mention all of the parts.  These are not particularly hard kits, and I was able to figure out how things go together fairly easily, but it seems to me that less experienced modelers would encounter some problems.   There is no mention of suggestions for painting or weathering or adding signs or anything that would make the model look anything other than plastic.  Again, I have some experience to allow me to overcome that, but some may be buying these kits as their first experience.  There should at least be some mention of testing one's choice of paint on a scrap piece of siding to make sure that the solvents don't create a problem.

 When I've encountered overly detailed instructions (for my particular level of experience), I can easily skim through those directions to pick out the construction order and not dwell on the need to sand things or whatever may be appropriate.

I would think preparing kit instructions should be like preparing an important speech - the crucial thing is Audience Analysis.  The instructions should be thorough enough to properly lead anyone who is tackling a kit of that difficulty for the first time.  If the instructions add skills such as weathering techniques for the more experienced, that is a bonus.

Bill

[R. T. POTEET]

I have encountered instructions that were so sketchy that they left me scratching my head in bewilderment; on the other hand I have encountered instructions that were so wordy - and complicated - that I celebrated two birthdays getting to the end of page 1.

I believe the proper word is: K.I.S.S.!

Bad instructions, however, are far better than no instructions at all. Back in my HO-Scale days I purchased a kit from a very reputable - and equally expensive - manufacturer off-the-shelf from my local; I suppose I should have opened it at the shop but waited until I got it home. If you guessed that there were no instructions included you would have hit the nail right on the head. My local was somewhat surprised because he had never had this kind of trouble with this manufacturer before. He ordered a replacement for me and if you guessed that this one arrived with no instructions either you would once again have hit the nail firmly on the head. I did not reorder a second time. This manufacturer is still in business but since I am no longer in HO-Scale I have never had occasion to attempt another purchase.

[skiloff]

I've just taken a course in Adult Education and one of the things we talked about was learning styles.  There are four main learning styles (with many variations of each), so trying to cater to all styles can be a challenge without having four different sets of instructions.  Well, really three, because there are the ones that don't even look at the instructions. 

Others have said it here, but essentially you can't go wrong with very detailed instructions that aren't overly complex.  Some will find too much detail annoying, but better to have too much than not enough and lose half your audience in one fell swoop.  My learning style likes detail.  I read through the instructions several times before beginning and continually look ahead as I go.  Its just the way I am.  There is no such thing as too much detail to me, as long as the detail is relevant to what I'm doing. 

 My 2 cents.