Finally started working on two Island Model Works Marc kits, if you can call them that. They came pretty darn bare bones for the price. No real parts, just windows (that don't fit!), trucks, shell and base.
I'm running into a few problems and would definitely appreciate some suggestions if anyone has ever done these or similar. This is my first time with an IMW product.
I painted, then did a test assembly. I made the windows fit by sanding down each side of the windows after painting the backs of them black. (they come greenish). I then used a silver sharpie to paint the middle of the window. Here is how the windows come (after painting them)
Okay so with a little elbow grease the window issue can be overcome. But now the trucks are causing the body to sit too high.
Actually it's not the trucks. (though I did sand the top ring on them down just a little to see if it helped) As it turns out it seems to be the inside of the shell itself:
Or more preciesly where the base sits on the inside:
I thought about sanding the bumpers onside the shell down, but this proved very difficult.
What do you guys suggest? What about sanding the entire base down?
Thanks guys!
Rob
they do look a bit top heavy but you are making progress and doing a good job so far. it looks like even if you do recess the floor into the shell some more they will still look wrong because they sit too high on the trucks. i haven't looked at photos of the real thing. perhaps that whole truck mounting tab needs to go and then you can fabricate some sort of bolster that will work better just long as the trucks have room to swivel under the car body. (remove material from the underside?) the photo on their web site doesn't reveal how high the body is sitting up off the trucks. since they seem rather proud of their stuff one would think they would do a better job of design/engineering.
sadly, this is the state of the hobby sometimes nowadays. oh well, i used to complain about some of the two dollar kits years ago too.
i recently did battle with some tichy flat cars that sat way too high. offset shank couplers wouldn't even come close to helping so i tried leaving the steel weight out only to find that the bodies all had a twist to them so when the car was assembled, it looked like a dog wetting on a fireplug. glueing the weight in would hold the body straight so i had to cut the underframes down. doable but why should i have to? tichy did offer to replace them but they were historical society limited production kits.
i feel your pain. good luck and show us some photos of the fix when you get it done.
grizlump