Tuesday Tip: Razor Blades, Organizers, Tweezers, and Toothpicks

A couple of Christmases ago(!), I got some stacks of lumber to help detail my Wethersfield Lumber Company scene. Well, actually, they weren't stacks yet - they were in kit form. Ugh. Noch gives you enough material to do eight stacks of lumber in four different configurations. But you have to put them together.

Here's what you get in the box:

Looked a bit intimidating to me at first, but the key to success - other than being methodical and taking your time (and taking a break from it if it becomes too monotonous) - is to get back to basics:

• Use a razor blade to remove the laser-cut parts from the carrier sheet
• Use an organizer to keep all the like parts together and separate from one another (bonus if you label the compartments with the part numbers, or at least organize them in the order they'll be used)
• Use a comfortable pair of tweezers to handle the parts
• Use a toothpick to apply very small amounts of wood glue

Believe it or not, when you have the right tools, a nice area to work, and a little bit of patience, assembly actually becomes - dare I say it? - fun! It definitely helped to do this over a couple of evenings and not try to do them all in one sitting. It also helped to listen to some favorite model railroad podcasts along the way.

And before you know it, you'll be done and have some very nicely detailed lumber stacks for your layout!

Now I just gotta finish Wethersfield Lumber so I can have someplace to put these!