Just a quick thread on assembling Inter-Action Hobbies Wood Pallets (https://www.interactionhobbies.com/HO-Scale-Kit-Wood-Pallets-18-Pallets_p_96.html). These are a net looking little detail. I tend to prefer this over most of the metal castings of wood pallets I've encountered in the past.
There are 18 pallets included in the package.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226165905-57168191.jpeg)
Inside you'll find instructions and three laser cut sheets of components (top and bottom deck boards and stringers).
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226165906-571692121.jpeg)
The first step is to remove the stringers from the carrier sheet.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226165906-571701463.jpeg)
Though it's not really necessary I clean up the top and bottom of the stringers by giving them a gentle swipe over and emery board.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226165906-571712172.jpeg)
Then glue the stringers to the top deck boards by adding just a tiny drop of glue to the ends and middle of each deck board. There is a laser cut guideline which indicates where the middle stringer goes.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226165906-57172812.jpeg)
Carefully position the stringers in place. Note, the instructions say that no more than six pallets should be assembled at a time. I already did one set of six and here I am working on the second set of six. My old camera decided to not recognize memory stick when I was taking pictures while I did the first six. ::)
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170033-57173479.jpeg)
More in a moment... ;)
Now, take the sheet containing the bottom deck boards and apply glue to the end and middle of each deck board for the six pallets being assembled.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170033-571751722.jpeg)
Here's the hardest step in the process, position the sheet containing the bottom deck boards over the stringers that have been glued to the top deck boards. It's a wee bit hard to see that you have the alignment perfect.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170033-571761855.jpeg)
Weigh things down until the glue sets.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170033-571771045.jpeg)
Now cut out the pallets. I used a single edged razor blade and carefully cut the deck boards from the carrier sheets. Both the top and bottom deck boards. If a deck board happened to pop off, I just glued it back in place.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170118-571781818.jpeg)
They look really good as is, but I gave them a wash of thinned out "Weathered Wood" from AK Interactive. This is a water-based paint, so I dipped my brush in some water before picking up some paint. No need for consistency here. Some pallets can be darker than others.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170118-571791125.jpeg)
The final step was to paint one side of some of the pallets red, blue or green (toned down a bit with some white). Other colors would work as well. Sometimes the pallets are painted like to keep track of who owns them.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170119-571801660.jpeg)
And that's it. Now I have a bunch of pallets to clutter up some loading docks and scatter about.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/56-230226170119-571812485.jpeg)
Thanks for checking out this thread and kudos to Inter-Action Hobbies for providing us with a neat little detail to liven things up. ;D
Nice. Last century I bought some HO pallet kits of light brown injection molded styrene. They've held up to travel with my modules, but these will be much easier to color realistically. I'll see if I still have the package.
Thanks for the SBS, Bob...I have a package of these on the shelf..time to give them a try
terry
Nice pallets. Might need some of that wood wash as well. :)
Jeff
Nice little pallets. You did a nice job on them.
I meant to ask you where did you get the white glue bottle??
Jerry
Bob,
Yes, these are certainly better than the metal pallets. Well done.
Tom
Those look great, didn't know they offered them. Agree with Tom, they present much better than white metal pallets. Nice job on those Bob. Mark
Quote from: jbvb on February 23, 2026, 07:41:31 PMNice. Last century I bought some HO pallet kits of light brown injection molded styrene. They've held up to travel with my modules, but these will be much easier to color realistically. I'll see if I still have the package.
:) These are pretty neat. These are much easier to get a realistic color than painting metal or plastic to look like wood. In my opinion anyway.
Quote from: Vietnam Seabee on February 24, 2026, 06:48:23 AMThanks for the SBS, Bob...I have a package of these on the shelf..time to give them a try
terry
Go for it Terry. I didn't get them finished in one sitting, as you may have figured out by the different t-shirts in the pictures, But I'm easily distracted at times. ;D
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on February 24, 2026, 12:00:47 PMNice pallets. Might need some of that wood wash as well. :)
Jeff
Thanks, Jeff! That "Weathered Wood" color came in a set of wood colors from AK. It's the one I use most often. I'll have to look to see if they sell it seperately. ::)
Quote from: Jerry on February 24, 2026, 01:00:00 PMNice little pallets. You did a nice job on them.
I meant to ask you where did you get the white glue bottle??
Jerry
Hi Jerry. I got those glue bottles at the now defunct JoAnn Fabrics. There were four or five in the package and it was around $5 it memory serves me correctly. I'm guessing Hobby Lobby or Michaels would have something similar. If not, there's always Amazon.
Quote from: ACL1504 on February 24, 2026, 04:54:16 PMBob,
Yes, these are certainly better than the metal pallets. Well done.
Tom
Thank, Tom! I think so too. ;)
Quote from: craftsmankits on February 24, 2026, 05:57:57 PMThose look great, didn't know they offered them. Agree with Tom, they present much better than white metal pallets. Nice job on those Bob. Mark
Thank you, Mark! Inter-Action Hobbies has a lot of interesting details. I like the soda and cigarette vending machines they offer as well. Not to mention the ice machines. I'll do a thread on some of those after my next build.
Neat pallets Bob..... 8)