Gaugemaster kits

[Justin Smith]

Am I missing something here.....
My son persuaded me to buy a footbridge for our N gauge layout when we were in Rails : A Gaugemaster GMKD38.
I can remember when I built Airfix kits years ago and they had minute pegs which fitted into small holes which ensured the parts were in exactly the correct place and also, just as importantly, semi held them whilst the glue set
We have just come to build the Gaugemaster footbridge but I cannot see any pegs or holes to put them in at all.
Is this really correct ?
Quite apart from the fact one could glue the parts together in the wrong place, how does one hold the pieces in exactly the right position whilst the glue sets ?
TBH if I'd have known it was going to be like that I'd never have bought it, the penny should have dropped as I could see there was no instructions in the kit, and it cost £10 !
Not impressed......

 

[GusB]

Am I missing something here.....
My son persuaded me to buy a footbridge for our N gauge layout when we were in Rails : A Gaugemaster GMKD38.
I can remember when I built Airfix kits years ago and they had minute pegs which fitted into small holes which ensured the parts were in exactly the correct place and also, just as importantly, semi held them whilst the glue set
We have just come to build the Gaugemaster footbridge but I cannot see any pegs or holes to put them in at all.
Is this really correct ?
Quite apart from the fact one could glue the parts together in the wrong place, how does one hold the pieces in exactly the right position whilst the glue sets ?
TBH if I'd have known it was going to be like that I'd never have bought it, the penny should have dropped as I could see there was no instructions in the kit, and it cost £10 !
Not impressed......

Gaugemaster have the instructions available for download on the product page:

Steel Footbridge Kit

www.gaugemasterretail.com

 

[Cowley]

I’ve used a few Kestrel bits and bobs and they’re not particularly high quality. They can be useful as a basis for creating something semi scratch built though and to be fair they are very cheap compared to a lot of stuff on the market.

This started off as two Kestrel kits, all of it glued together whilst trying to hold five things at once.

 

[Justin Smith]

I’ve used a few Kestrel bits and bobs and they’re not particularly high quality. They can be useful as a basis for creating something semi scratch built though and to be fair they are very cheap compared to a lot of stuff on the market.

This started off as two Kestrel kits, all of it glued together whilst trying to hold five things at once.

View attachment 115295

How long did you have to hold the bits together before the glue set enough ?
And, in fact, how did you actually hold them together ?!? With your fingers ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 May 2022 ==

Gaugemaster have the instructions available for download on the product page:

Steel Footbridge Kit

www.gaugemasterretail.com

Thanks for that. I saw them but I cannot say I was impressed with the instructions anymore than the actual kits, not a diagram or picture to be seen. Airfix it is not !
Bearing all this in mind I think £10 for that footbridge is very expensive, though that's pretty much the same as everything to do with model railways. They're like weddings, add the word "model railway" (or wedding) to any product and you can, it seems, double the price !

 

[TheEdge]

Thanks for that. I saw them but I cannot say I was impressed with the instructions anymore than the actual kits, not a diagram or picture to be seen. Airfix it is not !

Kestrel is also super budget and very much the lowest of the low. But as @Cowley says it serves a purpose.

Bearing all this in mind I think £10 for that footbridge is very expensive,

Little bit on the pricey end of Kestrel to be fair

though that's pretty much the same as everything to do with model railways. They're like weddings, add the word "model railway" (or wedding) to any product and you can, it seems, double the price !

Sometimes yes, but sometimes no. Shop around and there are some good deals to be found and good brands. Tabletop gaming offerings are a good place to look

 

[Gloster]

I hadn’t realised that the old Kestrel kits were now a Gaugemaster brand. They are not the most brilliant kits and the roofs are a disappointment, but they are not too bad as starters. My feeling is that the best thing is to get the first joint square and leave it to dry, after which you have a solid start. Once you have got it the glue on use any old bits (scrap wood, old boxes, tin cans, the missus’ curling tongs, etc.) as a jig to hold it square and leave it until the joint is fully solid.

 

[Cowley]

I hadn’t realised that the old Kestrel kits were now a Gaugemaster brand. They are not the most brilliant kits and the roofs are a disappointment, but they are not too bad as starters. My feeling is that the best thing is to get the first joint square and leave it to dry, after which you have a solid start. Once you have got it the glue on use any old bits (scrap wood, old boxes, tin cans, the missus’ curling tongs, etc.) as a jig to hold it square and leave it until the joint is fully solid.

I must admit that I just went for it with Roket Cyano glue (the blue one).
10 seconds working time and nerves of steel me…

 

[Sprinter107]

With the n gauge Kestral kits, would anyone happen to know if their modern station buildings are based on WCML 1960s structures. They look similar to the ones at Ditton Junction, but because its all clear plastic its a bit difficult to tell. If so, its just what i'm looking for.

 

[Gloster]

With the n gauge Kestral kits, would anyone happen to know if their modern station buildings are based on WCML 1960s structures. They look similar to the ones at Ditton Junction, but because its all clear plastic its a bit difficult to tell. If so, its just what i'm looking for.

I doubt if either of the previous owners of Kestrel would have gone to the expense of getting scale drawings of a particular building: they were never intended to be more than cheap generic kits. They might have got a few pictures of a specific building, but changes to simplify manufacture would probably occur. You can only compare the model with the real station and make your own decision.

 

[Justin Smith]

I must admit that I just went for it with Roket Cyano glue (the blue one).
10 seconds working time and nerves of steel me…

Is that "Superglue" ?

 

[TheEdge]

Is that "Superglue" ?

No.

I believe they are on about blue Rocket Glue. Its a very fast acting plastic cement, you don't get a huge amount of working time with it so you need to be sure before you glue. Superglue (cyanoacrylate) is totally different and isn't the thing to use on plastic kits.

 

[Cowley]

Yes. What @TheEdge said.

 

[DJ_K666]

Those Helping Hand things are useful for things like this. As well as an engineers' square which will get you close. I have been known to stick things in a lump of blu tack to hold them in position before. The method of building wagons that I use is end, side and floor. Get them all square and lined up and it gives you the basis as well as requiring less hands. Also a block of metal maybe 1" x 1" x 2" helps as a guide.

And I think I have the old Airfix footbridge somewhere. I'm reluctant to build it as it's pretty historical. Same with the meat van in the box that's still wrapped jn cellophane.
I'll buy the Dapol version and build that instead.

Hi @Cowley. Good to see another RMWebber on here.

 

[Cowley]

Hi @Cowley. Good to see another RMWebber on here.

Hello! I’ll send you a pm later.