I've discovered that moving to a larger scale (7mm to the foot in this case) has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include being able to more accurately model some of the details, the disadvantage is that the extra detail actually often means smaller parts. For example....
This reversing lever (at least I assume that's what it is) is made of eight separate etched pieces all soldered together. Fortunately seven of the layers all contain a hole for the pivot wire so are "fairly" easy to align and hold in position while they are soldered together; the eighth piece was a little more fiddly.
It may have been a little fiddly to put together but I'm really happy with the way it's turned out. I didn't know how well some of the finer parts would hold up to the etching process or how it would look once assembled but I'd call this a success.
I can certainly understand why some people enjoy the larger scales for the level of detail it allows, but I'm not sure how true the idea of the larger scales being easier on the eyesight really is.
Larger scales may not be easier on the eyesight but they have to be easier in general. Putting that together looks more like a chore than a pleasure to me. But then I'm not a model maker.
ReplyDeleteOver on the forum someone made the following comment which I think sums up the issue perfectly
Delete"Larger scales may make the mechanisms easier - especially in a loco as tiny as this - but the modelling has to be carried out down to the same level of visible detail. The difference is that the larger the scale, the more detail is potentially visible, and needs to be modelled! So we're obliged to model to the limit of eyesight, because that's what we can see."
Fortunately I have a great magnifying lamp which makes dealing with the small parts easier ;)