B.T.S. Prichard's Barn Build

[Rick]

Tom, good work figuring out a better way than what the instructions state.
Looking straight and square from here.

[PRR Modeler]

You should be writing the instructions Tom. Nice job so far.

[deemery]

I will say, writing instructions is tough.  You don't want to insult the reader, but you want to make sure the instructions are sufficient.  And it's easy to make an assumption that "it's obvious..." when it's not to someone who hasn't previously built the kit.  When I've done instructions (for a couple of kit makers), I've generally gone towards more detail, but that makes for very long instructions that some find difficult or at least annoying.

dave

[ACL1504]

Tom, good work figuring out a better way than what the instructions state.
Looking straight and square from here.

Rick,

Thanks my friend. Not only straight and square, but level as well. 

Tom

[ACL1504]

You should be writing the instructions Tom. Nice job so far.

Curt,

Thank you, much appreciated.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I will say, writing instructions is tough.  You don't want to insult the reader, but you want to make sure the instructions are sufficient.  And it's easy to make an assumption that "it's obvious..." when it's not to someone who hasn't previously built the kit.  When I've done instructions (for a couple of kit makers), I've generally gone towards more detail, but that makes for very long instructions that some find difficult or at least annoying.

dave

Dave,

I agree, writing instructions is tough. I've written instructions for a couple of kit manufacturers. And, one asked if he could use my Forum thread posts for his instructions.

As you stated, more detail isn't going to take that much more of an effort. Many other sections of the instructions are excellent in reference to the barn kit.

Tom

[Jerry]

Nice work as usual.  And some great tips for anyone else building this kit.

Jerry

[Philip]

I'd rather be insulted than short changed in the assembly instructions.

Nice rendering of that mess Tom. As a retired carpenter, I see plumb, level and sq 

A great grambrel roof. I like the extra vent steps for easier assembly.

I guess every kit maker has some fault.... 

[ACL1504]

Nice work as usual.  And some great tips for anyone else building this kit.

Jerry

Jerry,

Thank you sir, I appreciate the comment.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I'd rather be insulted than short changed in the assembly instructions.

Nice rendering of that mess Tom. As a retired carpenter, I see plumb, level and sq 

A great grambrel roof. I like the extra vent steps for easier assembly.

I guess every kit maker has some fault.... 

Philip,

Thank you also. And, yes, every kit maker has an issue at one time or another.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I will say this for BTS, even though the one section was a bit unclear, there are 7 pages of instructions and a complete list of all 120+ parts in the kit.

Philip mentioned level and here is proof.

[ACL1504]

The four center trusses are very delicate and can easily be broken. When building this barn, it would be a great idea to glue on "rat runners". This did greatly reduce the flimsiness of the trusses.



One of the other things I planned to do but changed my mind was to add individual exterior vertical boards to the barn.

However, only two side of the barn can be viewed by a visitor. So, there was no reason to spend the time on individual boards.

My decision was also made after closer inspection of the kit wall sheathing.

BTS did such an excellent job on the laser cutting that the walls look like individual boards. There is actually a tiny gap between the vertical wall boards. I'll show this later in this post.

I'm using Hunterline Barn Red A&I to stain the walls and other parts.

[ACL1504]

The kit barn walls are 1/64" thick ply and very delicate, just like the roof trusses.

I used the fine side of a sanding stick to sand the exterior and open more of the wood grain to receive the red stain.




You can see the difference in the left and right end wall sheathing below. The left wall is sanded.

[ACL1504]

I brushed on the red barn stain at the top and gradually thinned it as I worked towards the bottom. It is heavier at the top as the barn red wouldn't be as "bleached out" at the top. The roof overhang would shade the upper part of the wall.

I set the walls to the side and left dry over night.



This morning, when all walls were dry, I used the same fine side of the sanding stick and lightly sanded the red stain.

I left a section, on the left side, un-sanded to show you the difference.

[deemery]

Nice effect, Tom.  Will you then do an A&I wash or similar weathering over the red?

dave