Kit directions

[Mecrr22]

I have been building several structure kits lately and have come to conclusion that many times it's not how complex the kit is ,its the quality of the instructions that makes the difference.  I suspect writing good instructions is as hard as designing a good kit and I salute those who have good instructions

[jlgrove]

...instructions...yuck....I think Bar Mills does the best job overall.....

[tommot]

I think there is a direct correlation between the price of the kit and the quality of the directions.

[ReadingBob]

Based on my limited experience I think Fine Scale Miniatures sets the standard for instructions.  I haven't built anything from Sierra West Scale Models or some of the other vendors noted for having good instructions so maybe there's some out there that are comparable to FSM.  I've rarely had issues with FSM instructions and when I have, they've been very minor.

I've found that in some kits the instructions are more of a general suggestion on how to build kit then a step by step guide.  Kind of like the Pirates Code.   

Barbossa: First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement so I must do nothing. And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner.       

[Slim Jerkins]

FSM, Sierra West and South River have the best instructions going IMO. Sierra West and South River are a little more workbench friendly in that you have a spiral bound manual that lays flat on the bench. You don't have to wrestle with a a sheet the size of a road map as you do with a FSM kit.


As far as drawings go, S.S. Limited and Builders in Scale always had a nice set of drawings in their kits. The Oscar for drawings would have to go to Campbell I think.


I was considering making a "clinic in a box" thing for LED structure lighting. The big kicker though is printing costs. For small runs they're ridiculous.


-slim

[Dave K.]

Good instructions are very important, IMHO. Especially if you want a new modeler to have success and stay in the hobby and buy more kits. 

[Dave K.]

Slim...would posting such a cllinic online (maybe with an access code provided to customers?) alleviate the printing cost issue? I know Jimmy was doing some kits with downloadable instructions. I like being able to zoom in on pictures when necessary.

[madharry]

South River get my vote.

Mike

[ACL1504]

South River get my vote.

Mike

FSM, SRMW, Sierra West and Rail Scale Miniatures are all superior.

My 3 cents worth!

Tom

[deemery]

For beginners, nothing beats a Campbell kit's instructions.  FSM instructions are really like a course in scratchbuilding and particularly finishing.  I've learned some useful tips from FOS and Bar Mills instructions.  I've never built a South River kit, and only looked at a Sierra kit.  (Anyone have used/surplus South River instructions they'd like to donate to me?)


I've also written (drafted) some kit instructions for a couple of projects.  There's a tension between providing too much information (including some concerns about printing costs and 'will your book of instructions fit in my little box?" ) and just enough information for the modeler to build the kit.  If your instructions are too detailed, the modeler will get bored and ignore them, or maybe even be insulted by the 'Dick & Jane' instructions.  Too little instructions, and the modeler misses something or gets it wrong.  It's often the case when you're developing a kit (or the instructions for same) you build the kit multiple times, and discover 'the best way' to do something that you want to share.


The standard the other way is set by Groovy Jeff's "Zip-Kits" where he warns you there are 'minimal instructions'.    I really struggled with the water wheel zip-kit, it took me 2 tries to get it right. Funaro & Camarlengo resin car kits also contain 'minimal instructions', but they're getting better.


Providing on-line adjuncts to the kit instructions, including high resolution color photos or even videos, seems to be an idea that is growing in popularity.  The problem, of course, is for those who aren't on-line or don't want to have to deal with their computer to build a model. 


dave

[martin.ojaste]

If I could think that instructions that not only tell what to do, but why you are doing it, would help produce better models. Having instructions that say assemble the garage according to figure A, are not so good.

[Slim Jerkins]

Slim...would posting such a cllinic online (maybe with an access code provided to customers?) alleviate the printing cost issue? I know Jimmy was doing some kits with downloadable instructions. I like being able to zoom in on pictures when necessary.

Dave - that brings up a whole 'nuther topic. I like being able to zoom in on a picture too. Pictures are worth many words. I think Scott Mason tried doing an online clinic/demo thing years ago. Maybe it was a webcast.  MRH has their Trainmasters subscription based program.


The other day I ordered a set of plans for this thing: http://derekhugger.com/contrivance.html
( I encourage everyone to check out this guys stuff even if you aren't into woodworking)
His plans aren't cheap but I can really appreciate the work that went into making them.


In general, we're an honest bunch. I've shipped orders before receiving a check and waiting for it to clear. Haven't been burned (yet!). But there are some who are going to say, "Whoah! Thirty bucks for a set of plans that I have to use my own paper and ink to print out? Ludicrous!" I think we all have met that kind of guy in one form or another.


Main reason I started Microlumina (in bullet points)

   
• I read articles written in the hobby publications about LEDs that made working with them sound about as easy as brain surgery.
• I observed clinics on LEDs that started out with Ohm's Law and ended up with microprocessor programming all within 50 minutes.
• I observed clinics that explained how LEDs were manufactured. (yeah - we all want to know how the sausage gets made.   
• I knew that LED's weren't that complicated if explained in an easily digestible manner and decided to start doing my own clinic at a local NMRA event.
• Clinic was well received and attendees from other NMRA divisions requested I present at their conventions.
• NMRA believes information should be free. (to dues-paying members)
• Gasoline, hotels, food and registration fees are not free.
• I started to sell some of the harder to find/unique supplies to cover costs - with my rule to always keep the clinic from becoming an infomercial.
• I really enjoy filling out extra state and federal tax forms. 

So Dave, I like on-line downloadable content. Rather than messing with access codes and whatnot I'd probably just post it on up on the web for the taking (Like the LightBites articles). Thankfully, there's an angel out there that can host the content for me. I just have to make sure that "cookies are enabled." We're talking the baked kind of cookies - not the spammy kind.


Wow! did I go off topic or what???


Sorry


-slim

[Glassman]

Thanks Slim..... I went to the website and now I have something else to run on the cnc. But is was very cool and I wanted to try one. Thanks.

[sdrees]

I have built kits from South River, FSM, and Sierra West Scale Models.  I have built more of the Sierra West Kits than the others because they fit the theme of my model railroad.  The instruction books for Sierra West I like best because Brett goes into a lot of detail step by step instruction on how to do the  finish work on the model. He also has his web site with videos on how to do a lot of the finish work.

South River and FSM have instructions on the finish work but not as detailed as Brett's. Brett as he brings out new models comes up with new and better techniques each time.

Sierra West also includes a lot of pictures of his models as does South River.  Sierra West also has a lot of pictures on his web site.  Often, I print the pictures out and post them above my work bench for reference. 

Sierra West's instruction book is also a pleasure to read and you will do it several times before you start your project.   

I have applied the techniques that I have learned from Sierra West to my scratch built models with very good results.

[KCS Trains]

I agree with Steve.  Most of my experience is with Sierra West kits and I really like how Brett lays out his instructions and pictures.  In his latest creation, O'Neills Fabrication, the instruction manual is over 100 pages and is full of great photos to help clarify the instructions.

BTW, I'm really looking forward to the Microlumina workshop next week.  For me, I need it really "dumbed down" for me to understand.

Phil