Micromodels Building Tips and Tricks
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To Tab or not to Tab that is the question....
Lots of Micromodel parts have tabs, i.e where walls come together or something similar. I suggest you cut the tabs off and glue the parts edge to edge, you get a much cleaner and more even join and it is much easier to hide the seams.
So why do we even put tabs on the parts? Well some people like them, and its much easier to cut them off then add them afterwards. Geoffrey Heighway seemed to be of two minds about tabs, some models had lots others had few. So we try to follow his lead. - How's that for a vague answer...
When building 4-Little Space ships SP-1, you need gold foil to cover the legs of the lander. --- Hershey's Kisses with almonds have the perfect foil for this! You can buy them online if you cant find them in your local store.
Specific notes
on building the UN model:
Begin by mounting the base plan onto sturdy cardboard, thus making a
solid foundation upon which to build the model. The position of individual structures is clearly shown on the
base plan. Score carefully along
the fold lines of each part before cutting out, using a straightedge and a dull
blade. For parts that are folded up rather than down, scoring on the opposite
side of the card is will be helpful. This can be done by pricking several points
though the card with pin or sharp blade to indicate the location of score line,
then turning card over and scoring those lines with a ruler between the pricked
points on the unprinted side. The
modern white glues, especially the drier formats such as Aleene’s “Tacky
Glue” are excellent for building, drying relatively rapidly, without wrinkling
or shrinking the card.
Building 3: The cornice line conceals a roof that is lowered.
The side facing the roadway is doubled on the inside surface with the
extra strip printed just below the building on card 2.
The cornice for the side facing the East River is formed by printed just
above the building on card 2; this piece is folded lengthwise and attached to
the edge of the roof.
Building 4: Note that there is a sunscreen (or “brise soleil” that
goes around the building at the bottom of the second floor. This is formed by
three separate parts, interrupted by the connecting building 6.
Building 5: The sides
of the building are curved to match the contour. At the smaller south end, the
stained glass wall 5A is inset by approximately 2 mm, so that the stair way
remains inside the end of the building. The end piece should then frame the
opening in the end of the building like the proscenium in a theater.
The two platforms and ramps on the sides of the building are mirror
images, except that note that the one facing the East River is shorter,
because of the presence of building 6
Grounds: A small curved wall is printed on Card 6, whose location is
illustrated on Card 7