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Describing and illustrating a kit fully and truthfully

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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, November 3, 2013 10:24 PM

Doughless
They can have either my labor or my money, not both. 

Ours is a labor of love and the only "paycheck" we get is the enjoyment of building,painting,decaling,detailing etc.

Our hobby time is worth diddly squat.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by Doughless on Sunday, November 3, 2013 9:23 PM

csmincemoyer

All I have to say is please don't purchase a wood kit.  You will be greatly disappointed that the parts look like, well, wood and not the picture on the box.

 
 
I'm 50 and have been model building since age 8.  I guess I just see the issue too simply.
 
I want to know what I'm paying for, and what I will have to do to get it to look the way I want it to before I buy it.
 
The trade off is simple...more labor by me means less money for the producer.  The producer should not present its product in a way that tries to win both sides of the issue. Me spending $50 for a kit that requires hours to either build or to hand paint, seems a lot like the producer profiting off of my time and labor.  I'll pay no more than $20 for a kit like that, whether it be slabs of styrene or a pile of sticks with instructions..  They can have either my labor or my money, not both. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
.
 
 
 
 

- Douglas

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Posted by ChadLRyan on Sunday, November 3, 2013 8:32 PM

Mr. B;
AWESOME!!!

Chad L Ryan
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, November 3, 2013 8:20 PM

I don't care what color anything in the kit is.  Most of my structures have very little of the original color, and what there is is weathered.  Even some of the window glass gets fogged, or replaced with Canopy Cement so it's clear, but so lens-like that you can't see through it.  There isn't a roof on my layout that looks like what was in the box, either.

I buy kits because I like to turn each of them into my own unique model.  I take great pride in taking a simple 4-walls-and-a-roof kit, with the window frames molded on in a "plastic" color, and turning it into a one-of-a-kind building.

For this Cornerstone kit, I used 5 basic colors for the front wall alone, in addition to 2 or 3 trim colors.

The "accessory" from that car ad may be seen in the third floor turret window.  (I put in window shades, but I can't get her to use them.)

If this building came out of the box that way, I wouldn't buy it.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by Geared Steam on Sunday, November 3, 2013 8:16 PM

Gravely's huh?

Those are for kids

Here's what I use

beXPpObKWFo

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, November 3, 2013 8:08 PM

csmincemoyer

All I have to say is please don't purchase a wood kit.  You will be greatly disappointed that the parts look like, well, wood and not the picture on the box.

Oddly enough sometimes the wood kit is painted though the detail parts need painting.

One of my first kits was the Atlas Lumber Yard.  Nice kit, one end wall had some cast tools on it which looked really nice with a little paint.

I always assume the kit needs some painting, although in my younger days I sometimes skipped painting in my hurry to finish the kit.

Enjoy

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by csmincemoyer on Sunday, November 3, 2013 7:48 PM

All I have to say is please don't purchase a wood kit.  You will be greatly disappointed that the parts look like, well, wood and not the picture on the box.

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Posted by kbkchooch on Sunday, November 3, 2013 7:39 PM

Old Professor,

I won't get into the deceit vs that how it is debate. Other than to say its all marketing designed to get you to bite. Women have been doing it for years with makeup and padded bras, nobody is screaming at them.

I've been doing this modeling thing since I was young. Ho building kits, 125th scale model cars, and even farm equipment models.  Personally I kinda hate pre-colored models. Building the pre-colored models guarantee that somewhere, somebody has one exactly like it. So does his co-worker, cousin and Pastor.

Here's an IHC kits, which was molded in colors just like the picture on the box,

Now here's the same kit, painted as MY minds eye saw it.

  In my mind, its much more realistic and believable. And my co-workers, cousin and Pastor all have a different version of it.

Don't be afraid to take some of the masking techniques to supplement your unsteady hands. Try some different techniques. It's never too late to learn something to gain the result you want. 

After all, I built and painted this structure 4 weeks after having a stroke. It became part of my therapy. Big Smile

Karl

NCE über alles! Thumbs Up

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Posted by Doughless on Sunday, November 3, 2013 7:08 PM

I agree about requesting a refund.  No way. 

It just impacts whether or not I want to buy another Walthers kit or, more importantly for Walthers, how much I am willing to pay for one.  Considering that I might or might not have to use my painting skills,  I try to look for dirt cheap deep discounts on ebay, and get the hobby shop or previous owner to take the hit. 

I just assume I have to take time to paint all Walthers building kits, like a lower priced DPM, RIX, or City Classic product.

 

- Douglas

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, November 3, 2013 7:01 PM

BATMAN

Well I'm going to go get on the John Deere and cut my acre of leaves. They say nothin runs like a Deere!

I just hope lawn tractors aren't in season yet. We move pretty slow.Laugh

I just finished cutting my acre of leaves, but as you know, it was not with a Deere.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by don7 on Sunday, November 3, 2013 6:37 PM

I can not believe the OP thought that a response from Walthers was in order.

Based on the substance of the gripe, I thought it was from a very young, someone new to modeling.

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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, November 3, 2013 6:23 PM

Well,there is two Walthers buildings that comes as the box shows Bob's Trucking and the shipping company..Both comes in shiny blue. Both can be built several ways.

 

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by Doughless on Sunday, November 3, 2013 6:06 PM

DSchmitt

Doughless

Old.Professor

  Is there any way I can determine what the box contains?


 
No, not without buying it first. 
 
BTW, what is the MSRP for those two kits, together?
 
 

 
 
Besides being a Model Railroader, I an also a 1/35 scale Armor modeler. 
 
 There are many web sites where  reviews of Armor models can be found . .......
 
It seems it would be quite easy for interested persons to do "in Box" reviews and post them on this forum.
 

That's a good idea....

And in the old days of AHM and TYCO and all of those train set type of kits, the picture on the box showed what would be built after you assembled the separate colored contents of the box.

Maybe Walthers should just skip the artistry, and just show an assembled kit on the cover, as boring and as grey or brown as it would be.

Basically, the contents of the box assembled by following the instructions in the box.

- Douglas

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Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:48 PM

Doughless

Old.Professor

  Is there any way I can determine what the box contains?


 
No, not without buying it first. 
 
BTW, what is the MSRP for those two kits, together?
 
 

 
 
Besides being a Model Railroader, I an also a 1/35 scale Armor modeler. 
 
 There are many web sites where  reviews of Armor models can be found . They range from "in box" reviews which generally have photos of the completed model from the packaging, and the reviewers impression of the kit prior to building it usually supplemented by photos of the  sprues,  to "full build reviews" with numerous photos of the build.
 
A very high percentage of the kits offered over the years can be found, and there are often multiple reviews of the same kit, so a lot of different opinions are available. 
 
While many of the reviews are in separate  "Review" sections of the sites. (the may be done by the web site owner/staff, but many sites allow reviews submitted by members). Reviews can also be found in Forum  threads on numerous threads.  In both cases comments  on the kits and reviews by others is encouraged.
 
It seems it would be quite easy for interested persons to do "in Box" reviews and post them on this forum.
 
Under "Subscriber Extras", this site does allow Subscribers to submit reviews of products, but does not allow them to submit photos.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by Doughless on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:47 PM

BATMAN

I recently ordered this online. When it arrived all that was in the package was the car. Talk about getting ripped off!Angry

 ">

And if you did order the car from this picture...the car was probably painted. 

- Douglas

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Posted by ChadLRyan on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:30 PM

Brent,
I hope your JD Mower has the extra Lighting, it is pitch Dark in Iowa now...
I would really like a JD Multipurpose, but I would have to add Ditch Lights & a Strobe light on to it...
Oh, and too bad about the Bugatti order, that offer was just for the first 5 customers, like the Catalytic Warranty..

Good Luck.

Chad L Ryan
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    November 2012
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Posted by UPinCT on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:25 PM

All seriousness aside. To the OP.  I hear you about not having the steady hand anymore.  I had brain surgery last year (no joke)  even before that I couldn't thread the eye of a needle to save my life.  What now works for me is mask and spray to get to detail spots.  In the follow pic of the Walther's Power House kit,  everything that is now painted grey was molded red.  The grey areas, ie the window lentils, door caps, and caps to the roof where impossible for me to paint free hand.  

427 photo 427.jpg

So after first painting the entire wall sections a more pleasing to me brick red, I used automobile masking tape (available at Wall Mart) because it produces a sharper edge than regular painters tape, to mask off the kit so only the sections to be painted grey where exposed.  I then sprayed with a rattle can,  I use mostly Krylon as it is cheaper than Testor's.  

Although I understand how you feel, with all due respect I do not think Walthers will even respond to your request for a refund.

Mask and spray some stuff, you will find you'll end up with a better looking model, Derek

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Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:18 PM

Well I'm going to go get on the John Deere and cut my acre of leaves. They say nothin runs like a Deere!

I just hope lawn tractors aren't in season yet. We move pretty slow.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by Geared Steam on Sunday, November 3, 2013 5:05 PM

So, you are the guy?

Guy(s) btw, your out of Cheerios!

Smile, Wink & Grin 

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:59 PM

richhotrain

Brent, you have no right to post a photo of my wife without my permission.  Super Angry

Rich

So did you get the car too! Or just the girl?

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:55 PM

UPinCT

richhotrain

Brent, you have no right to post a photo of my wife without my permission.  Super Angry

Rich

Uh Oh, That's my girlfriend!

So, you are the guy?

 

Alton Junction

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Posted by UPinCT on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:51 PM

richhotrain

Brent, you have no right to post a photo of my wife without my permission.  Super Angry

Rich

Uh Oh, That's my girlfriend!

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:48 PM

Brent, you have no right to post a photo of my wife without my permission.  Super Angry

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:46 PM

I recently ordered this online. When it arrived all that was in the package was the car. Talk about getting ripped off!Angry

 ">

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, November 3, 2013 4:03 PM

Wait a minute.  We're joking, right?

I have two sets of those kits, the Freight House and the Freight Office.  They are beautiful kits.

Nowhere on the box does it say that the kits are molded in various colors. 

And those are not the only Cornerstone kits where the window frames are molded into the brick walls.

Plus, how could you work on the kits for several hours only to wake up and realize that all of the parts are the same color on the sprue?

And now you want a full credit from Walthers for the cost of the kits?  

Tell you what, send me the buildings and I will paint them for you.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by locoi1sa on Sunday, November 3, 2013 2:55 PM

Press some masking tape firmly over the wall with the windows. Cut the tape from the wall section around the frame with a hobby knife and new blade. Spray in a well ventilated area the color of choice and peel tape from wall when dry.

  Washes of white or light grey will get your mortar lines decent enough.

  One of the reasons it is called model railroading.

        Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

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Posted by Old.Professor on Sunday, November 3, 2013 1:45 PM

I don't think I have a steady enough hand (any more) to paint a large number of cast-in window frames. Nor do I think I would find that enjoyable. If the window frames had been on separate sprues, I could have painted them.

It seems that buying a kit is a gamble concerning the colors that parts are cast in. Experience is not useful. Sometimes you'll get all parts one color; other times there will be multiple colors, and there's no way to know until you've paid your money and opened the box.

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Posted by selector on Sunday, November 3, 2013 1:17 PM

It varies by kit.  I recall the cement modern coaling tower was cast in a 'cement' colour, except for maybe the chutes, but I believe even they were the same colour.  I am pretty sure I built the Atlas three stall roundhouse.  It's components were in various colours.  For example, the sills at the bottoms of the windows were a light 'cement' colour, whereas the wall into which they were set were a reddish-brown brick colour.  Window frames and roof, and the doors, were green.

The Valley Cement by Walthers is all one colour.  Everthing, the roof-mounted ductwork and blowers/cyclones, the conveyor, the rotary kiln/dryer...all the same 'cement' colour as the modern coaling tower.

-Crandell

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Posted by Doughless on Sunday, November 3, 2013 1:05 PM

Old.Professor

  Is there any way I can determine what the box contains?


 
No, not without buying it first. 
 
BTW, what is the MSRP for those two kits, together?
 
 

- Douglas

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, November 3, 2013 12:54 PM

Nope.  And a dealer isn't going to remove the shrink-wrap because others will demand that the price be reduced because it's not sealed.  (Unless he has a shrink-wrap machine in the back somewhere.)

Is there a problem with painting the windows a different color?  Or, are you adverse to painting?  Just askin'...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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