Branchline Laser Art Thelma House
Branchline Trains
323 Park Avenue
East Hartford, CT 06108
1-877-240-4484 ext.201
branchline-trains.com/laserart/intro.htm
Item # 419 O Scale
MSRP $77.50
Also available in HO
scale, Item #619, MSRP $34.95 and
N Scale in combination with the Stanley House, Item #819, MSRP $28.75
Inevitably
as we design our layouts adding residential structures usually comes as
an after thought in our city planning. Most residential model structures
invariably take up a lot of our precious real estate that we would
prefer to use for more track, service facilities and rolling stock. The
Laser Art line from Branchline Trains is offering a number of smaller
homes that fit right in along the trackside and provide credible if not
cozy accommodations.
By the
beginning of the twentieth century in addition to published plan books
that an aspiring home owner could take to a local builder to have
constructed on site from local materials, a number of firms began
offering modestly priced complete house kits. These kits for a fixed
price provided everything needed from the lumber right down to the nails
and paint. These kits would be delivered by rail to the nearest railhead
for local pick up. All one had to do was to arrange for a local builder
to erect the structure on a plot of land.
The Thelma
house was one of the Alladin Company’s catalog plans that was available
in kit form. If it was paid for in advance the kit could be purchased
for less than $500.00. To our modern budgets this seems very
inexpensive, however, when one considers that an average worker’s wage
was between one and two dollars a day pride of home ownership was still
a major commitment.
The kit
consists of a number of laser cut basswood, thin plywood, paper and
clear styrene components that are cleanly executed. The parts are so
clean that a minimum of sanding and fitting is necessary. The
instruction sheet is one of the best I have seen for a kit in this price
range. Each step is clearly illustrated and supported by clear and
concise text. The Thelma house is a great first or second laser project
for anyone who is new to laser kit construction.
Before
beginning construction all of the parts were first primed on both sides
where practical with an inexpensive flat spray primer and then painted
with satin finish household spray cans purchased at the local home
improvement store. Once dry, the parts were removed from their carriers
and assembled with carpenters glue. The build up of the model went
quickly and without incident. The only issue in construction design is
that the ‘brick’ foundation walls stand proud of the clapboard
sheathing. While this is unusual on the prototype it is not
objectionable on the finished model and could be remedied by the modeler
should this be considered necessary.
The final
step once the structure was completed was the addition of the laser cut
paper shingles. The instructions recommend using a white glue to attach
them to the roof. In the past due to variations in humidity and
temperature I have had a problem with this style of shingle buckling
when white glue is used. I experimented using a craft glue stick to
affix the shingles and had excellent results. It is easy to get an even
application of glue to the shingle strip and there is enough working
time to line up the shingles.
A house
number was added to the front using some left over numbers from another
project. I also added shades to the windows using tape from the first
aid kit and made ‘lace’ curtains from surgical gauze. All that is left
to do is add some chairs to the front porch and a sleeping dog.
Overall
the finished building measures twelve inches on a side by eleven inches
high at the gable. It is small enough to fit on most layouts, yet has a
presence of scale. Several of the Laser Art residences will populate
‘Railroad Ave.’ on my next project. The Thelma house proved enjoyable
and easy to build.
–
Rviewed by Chuck Hladik
