How do I build a Metcalfe kit?

Building a Metcalfe kit is a great way to gain modelling experience. Building one should not be feared because they include instructions that are very easy to follow, and as a bonus, the completed kits look great!

Metcalfe make popular card kits of most buildings that are railway related. They are available in 00 gauge and N gauge. They describe their kits as "challenging yet rewarding to construct". 

Building a Metcalfe kit is an excellent place to start if you are new to modelling because you will acquire skills such as patience and the ability to follow written instructions.

With every kit you will get all of the components that you will need to create your model and an easy to follow instruction manual. The tools you will need to complete the kit are:

• A modelling knife
• A pair of sharp pointed scissors
• A steel ruler
• Card glue
• A cutting surface such as a sheet of thick card or a cutting mat
• Tweezers to hold the smaller components

The construction of the kit is as simple as following the instruction manual one step at a time. The process typically involves removing individual components from their clearly marked inlays and gluing the parts either together or to the progressing model.

For a successful build, the best advice would be take your time; trying to construct any kit in a lunch break is sure to end in disaster. Take as long as you need and be sure to allow glue time to dry properly overnight between the build stages. If building the kit starts to become a chore then you should set it aside for another day. After all modelling is supposed to be fun.

All of the kit's components are already printed so there is no need to paint the model afterwards. Once built you can simply place it on your railway and enjoy.