AN ONGOING NEWSLETTER August 2016


Dry Goods Store
by Gisby

This review was lost in the files for a couple of years at least, so I am releasing it now. Enjoy!

Today I'm reviewing another kit, courtesy of 'Products for Wargamers'. For more of their kits in review, please see 'The Dressmaker's Shop,' 'Hamilton Hardware' and 'The Golden Shower.'

As always from this manufacturer, it is well designed and laid out, with perfect fit and lots of detail.

In spite of being a supposedly simple building, the front is quite decorative, with large windows and decoration.

Doors are designed to be cut open easily, but windows are solid. The building has a flat roof that can be made removable.

A front walkway is provided, a laser-cut sign, and two hitching posts. (They will custom-cut signs to order, so you can have personalised buildings very easily.)

The kit builds up well straight from the box, and looks good even without painting.

I made a few changes to the building, to increase functionality and so it would fit in with my collection better.

I cut the front windows open, using the etched lines as a guide. You can usually push a sharp blade through the material, cutting inwards from the corners, leaving a clean opening.

Because the front windows are large, some care needs to be taken, as MDF is nice and strong only until you stress or bend it. Without care you risk breaking the window frames.

(If you DO, all is not lost: glue them with white glue and leave to dry under a pile of books: When you add the external framing it will add strength and clean up any rough edges.)

I cut the roof to size, and glued it inside the building as a floor: It already had the board detail, and it worked great. This way I didn't need to make a floor. (I hate making floors) The floor adds a lot of structural strength to the building.

The original awning.I added a deeper walkway and an awning from coffee stirrers and used the hitching posts from the kit.

The awning was originally just planks over a frame. I thought it looked a bit flimsy, so I added an edge made from coffe stirrers, with matchstick trim.

Upon reflection, an awning might have been a mistake. It hides the rather pretty front, and might in fact take away from the look of the building.

I also think I might have been better to have used a lighter-coloured trim. The dark trim gets a bit lost.

The roof is a piece of styrene plastic, painted to represent tar paper. Flat roofs are easy.

All told, a great kit straight from the bag, and a good base for customizing. Simple to build, but good looking, decorative, and a very versatile style of building.

Products for Wargamers


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